Free Up the Hips

Gymnastic Exercises for Horse and Rider, Part 2

by Alice Trindle

Use haunches-in maneuvers to free up the hips

Last month we began a series of articles on gymnastic exercises to help flex and supple both the horse and rider. This month, let us focus our attention on the hips and hindquarters of the horse.

Here are some reminders regarding definitions of terms commonly used in almost every equine discipline. However, sometimes these terms have different meanings or mental pictures attached to the maneuver, based on culture, geographic location, and inadequacies of translating from one language to another. Below are the Alice Trindle versions, so at least within this series of articles we are all on the same page!

Basic Terms

Bend: The slight arc in the horse's body to the right or left, just enough to see the eyelash in most cases, unless accomplishing suppling and flexing exercises.

Inside or Active Rein: The rein on the inside of the bend (i.e., in a bend to the left, the left rein is inside). The rider's fingers act in a hold-and-release or "sponge" fashion.

Outside or Supportive Rein: The rein on the outside of the bend (i.e., in a bend to the left, the right rein is outside); fingers act in a support or "suggestive" hold or feel.

Movement Terms

Shoulder-in: A maneuver in which the shoulders come slightly off the line, toward the inside of the arena, and ultimately three hoof prints are left (a three-track); the balance of the movement starts with the inside hind foot and flows to the outside shoulder and outside rein. The rider's weight/balance sits slightly in the direction of travel.

Haunches-in or Travers: A maneuver in which the hindquarters come slightly off the line, toward the inside of the arena, and hoof prints are a three-track; the balance of the movement begins with the outside hind foot and flows to the inside shoulder. The rider's balance sits in the direction of travel, to the inside of the bend

Half-pass: Traditionally accomplished on the diagonal line, bend and movement are sideways, both in the same direction (i.e., bend to the left and movement forward and sideways to the left). The rider's balance is to the inside of the bend, in the direction of travel, with the energy flowing from the outside hind foot to the inside shoulder.

Leg-yield: Traditionally accomplished on the diagonal line with the movement sideways opposite the bend (i.e., bend to the left and movement forward and sideways to the right). The rider sits or balances in the direction of travel or to the outside of the bend.

Reverse or Counter-bend: Posture and movement is similar to the leg-yield, but with less forward movement and the shoulders reaching more than the haunches.

This Month's Exercise

Haunches-in to Haunches-in on Circle (see online edition for article with original layout and diagram)

What: For this exercise, you'll be riding the long side of the arena with haunches to the inside, keeping this posture as you ride a large circle, then continuing down the long side in a haunches-in maneuver.

Why: To engage and strengthen inside hind leg, hip, and hock; flex the ribcage; soften the jowl; prepare for half-pass postures; and help horse and rider understand precise use of aids. 

When:  I use the haunches-in postures with horses at all stages of development, as soon as I have established willing movement forward with rhythm and balance. Normally, I begin schooling the hindquarters-in from the ground as a work-in-hand exercise. For the young horse, it helps to establish patience, listening to your aids, and connecting your focus and positioning to the feet. For the advancing horse that has a good grasp of the aids and free hips, I rarely use the haunches-in, but instead more half-pass exercises. 

How: Here again I use the square corner to help me visualize the geometry of this exercise. As I ride into the corner, tracking right, I double-check that I can see the horse’s right eye and a wrinkle or two in his jowl, keeping soft and a little gathered. As we progress through the corner, I picture his hips staying to the inside of the track as my focus picks up the new line and my balance shifts slightly from center to the right. I put a little "feel" in the right rein and place my left leg back slightly to encourage the hip to step to the right. I feel for the movement or energy flowing from the left hip to the right shoulder and rein. The bend stays to the right. As I approach the middle of the long side, I picture a large circle, then ride the horse's shoulders on that circle with his haunches slightly to the inside. When I reach the track again, I flow off in the same posture (haunches-in) for a few steps, then straighten and reward.

Cautions: Boy, this exercise is a big one for trying too hard, but that is just setting it up for frustration in both horse and rider. Relax, visualize, try it first on your two-leg horse, and then in ground school. By the time you attempt under saddle, the horse will be there!  Remember, too, that you are not pushing the hips away with your outside leg, but rather inviting him to come into your inside leg, following the balance of the movement. In the beginning, reward the first steps and build on that, holding the haunches-in posture longer and longer.

As always, more exercises and information are available at www.tnthorsemanship.com/articles.

Now it's time to move up the scale and free up those hips!  This month, start combining the January "Square Corner" exercises with this haunches-in maneuver. Your horse will become more supple, responsive, and I bet happier!

References:

Gymnastic Exercises for Horses by Eleanor Russell

Riding Essentials by Francois Lemaire de Ruffieu