The Ultimate Guide To Horse
Training
Flexing
Your Horse
Eric Bravo
Horse Training Videos
When training a
horse to be ridden, one of the most important aspects of that training
is teaching him to respond to the reins. A horse should respond to
light cues, so you don't have to tug on the rein as hard as you can to
get him to turn. Instead you want to be able to lightly flutter the
rein and have him follow your direction.
Unfortunately there is also a chance that at some point during your horse's life there is going to be an emergency situation. You may be riding your horse on the trail and he may spook and bolt. To shut down a runaway horse, you'll need an emergency stop. This entails sliding your hand down one rein and pulling the head back towards the stirrup.
Now if you've never practiced this with your horse, doing it for the first time in an emergency situation is not likely to be successful.
Hence the need for flexing-a vital aspect of horse training that far too many horse owners ignore. Flexing is a way to train your horse so that the emergency stop is as automatic as breathing. Flexing will also make your everyday riding experiences far more pleasant as well, because the horse will be push button responsive if he is trained to flex. Flexing must be done frequently, on the ground and in the saddle. Incorporate it into your daily training routine with the horse flexing to each side at least 10 times.
To flex your horse on the ground, stand at the whithers. Let's say you're on the left side, the nose of your horse is pointing forward. Rest your right arm over the back of your horse. Then slide your left hand down the left rein and pull the nose of the horse back towards you. When his head turns completely around as far as it will go, that's a successful flex.
Don't just pull the horse toward you as hard as you can. Instead, bump the rein and release when the horse gives (bump and release). Accept small steps of progress. The very first time, the horse may only move his head two inches. When he does, release the pressure on the rein (but keep holding it). Then bump again to ask for two more inches. Soon enough his head will be turned all the way around.
Repeat 3-5 times and then do the exercise on the right side of the horse. Every horse is different so some horses will flex lightly the very first time, while for others it may literally take you weeks to get them doing it well.
Flexing on the ground is important but flexing in the saddle may be one of the most important aspects of horse training there is. Once a horse flexes well you can use flexing to shut them down in any emergency situation such as bucking or if the horse bolts.
In the saddle, starting with the left rein, slide your left hand down about 5-6 inches and then start bumping the rein toward you to ask the horse to turn his head back toward the left stirrup. Repeat 3-5 times and then do it using the right rein.
Here is a quick horse training video preview showing Eric Bravo flexing his horse.
You may be interested in our horse training video software, which lets you view Eric’s horse training videos right on your computer, and its Mac and PC compatible.
For more information about horse training videos software, click here
Unfortunately there is also a chance that at some point during your horse's life there is going to be an emergency situation. You may be riding your horse on the trail and he may spook and bolt. To shut down a runaway horse, you'll need an emergency stop. This entails sliding your hand down one rein and pulling the head back towards the stirrup.
Now if you've never practiced this with your horse, doing it for the first time in an emergency situation is not likely to be successful.
Hence the need for flexing-a vital aspect of horse training that far too many horse owners ignore. Flexing is a way to train your horse so that the emergency stop is as automatic as breathing. Flexing will also make your everyday riding experiences far more pleasant as well, because the horse will be push button responsive if he is trained to flex. Flexing must be done frequently, on the ground and in the saddle. Incorporate it into your daily training routine with the horse flexing to each side at least 10 times.
To flex your horse on the ground, stand at the whithers. Let's say you're on the left side, the nose of your horse is pointing forward. Rest your right arm over the back of your horse. Then slide your left hand down the left rein and pull the nose of the horse back towards you. When his head turns completely around as far as it will go, that's a successful flex.
Don't just pull the horse toward you as hard as you can. Instead, bump the rein and release when the horse gives (bump and release). Accept small steps of progress. The very first time, the horse may only move his head two inches. When he does, release the pressure on the rein (but keep holding it). Then bump again to ask for two more inches. Soon enough his head will be turned all the way around.
Repeat 3-5 times and then do the exercise on the right side of the horse. Every horse is different so some horses will flex lightly the very first time, while for others it may literally take you weeks to get them doing it well.
Flexing on the ground is important but flexing in the saddle may be one of the most important aspects of horse training there is. Once a horse flexes well you can use flexing to shut them down in any emergency situation such as bucking or if the horse bolts.
In the saddle, starting with the left rein, slide your left hand down about 5-6 inches and then start bumping the rein toward you to ask the horse to turn his head back toward the left stirrup. Repeat 3-5 times and then do it using the right rein.
Here is a quick horse training video preview showing Eric Bravo flexing his horse.
You may be interested in our horse training video software, which lets you view Eric’s horse training videos right on your computer, and its Mac and PC compatible.
For more information about horse training videos software, click here