Collection Without Tack, Part 2

Progress from roundness at standing to moving with quality collection

by Paul Dufresne

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In the last issue I discussed how we start to teach a horse to offer roundness and control of the poll. We started this with a verbal cue and a touch of the lead line and halter, whip, bat, cordeo, hand, or a combination of these. To better understand this article, you should be familiar with the first installment.

The technique presented last month was started in a stationary position. I first voice the verbal cue “Round,” then touch the horse on the base of the neck with whatever teaching aid I am using. When the horse offers, I say, “Good” (meaning he is on the right track), and then if I want the horse to stop to be rewarded, I say, “Good boy” (or girl) and treat him (or her) in a rounded position. As soon as a horse starts to offer quite willingly I get him to take it to the next stage as soon as possible — into movement.

Moving with Roundness

We progress by asking the horse to move forward and cue for the roundness again. If the horse is unsure or stops before offering it, I would reward this, as he is guessing. Later, I will only reward rounding while moving when I ask for it. If the horse gets confused at any time, I will backtrack and reinforce rounding at a stand.

It is also important that when the horse first moves forward, he does so on a circle so that he learns to have a bit of lateral bend as well as the rounding. This facilitates the correct posture. It is important to teach for a more finished version of what we want right from the start, otherwise the horse may only offer a forced version of roundness without the natural relaxation necessary for a quality collected movement. The more collected the movement, the more stable the position becomes.

I also find it useful to teach the horse to round by touching on the lower part of the ribcage — where my leg will naturally hang when I ride with a good seat. This should be approximately where your girth or cinch will run. By cueing from there with a touch similar to the touch on the base of the neck, we might combine or do one following the other until the horse links the behavior to the different cue.

Most of you probably see the benefit of this if you are planning on riding your horse and wish to get roundness without pressure on the head or mouth. This will also improve vertical flexion when using a bridle. It is important to point out that the cue on the ribcage is not a constant pressure. Vary the pressure until the horse responds, then release. If the roundness is lost, ask again immediately.

Keep practicing the collection on a circle at a walk until the horse is freely offering roundness in a relaxed, collected walk. Then progress to a jog, working trot, extended trot, then possibly other movements such as canter, passage, and piaffe.

The slower gaits and simpler movements are always the best place to start or come back to if quality of roundness begins to deteriorate. You cannot over-prepare this part from the ground.

Moving Off the Ground

By this time, most people are starting to get a strong desire to experiment with riding. If so, you should make sure your horse responds very well to the yields in all directions with a light touch. I teach my horses to neck rein and direct rein with the whips or cordeo from the ground. Using a lead line and halter as a backup would be a very good step for those with limited experience.

The area you are training in should be relatively small with soft footing. To err on the safe side, practice dismounts at a walk and trot. If your horse becomes anxious, you should have a relaxation cue, such as doubling or stopping, and then you and the horse can regroup. Any time a horse gets confused or anxious, backtrack to a level he knows and build up again so he gains confidence. Repetition only helps if it occurs without anxiety.

When a horse does this reasonably well and you have some good riding prep, you can climb on his back and do the exercise, starting first at a standstill, then a slow walk. Mounting, dismounting and turning your attention away from the horse will break up the lesson into a series of smaller lessons. Our horses need times when we expect nothing of them, allowing ourselves to relax so they can follow our lead and do so as well.

Guidelines for success:

• Use a smaller training area: a round pen or paddock.

• Teach in micro sessions 3-7 minutes long.

• Progress from a stand to moving forward, from slower gaits to faster, from simple gaits to complex.

• If the horse is getting confused, step back to an easier level or start over.

• Start with the cue that your horse responds the most quickly to, then pair that cue with your finished cue.

• If the horse has good control of the poll with a lead line and halter, this is a good backup to reinforce the other cues.

• Use small treats, offered when the horse is patiently waiting and not being demanding.

• Enjoy yourself; watch the freedom of expression your horse will offer.