Comments on: Flexion: 50% legs, 50% hands http://reinersblog.com/flexion/flexion-50-legs-50-hands/ Documenting the experiences and commentary of a fledgling reiner in her quest to train a performance horse Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:22:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Al Popovich http://reinersblog.com/flexion/flexion-50-legs-50-hands/#comment-235 Al Popovich Tue, 15 Jan 2008 23:04:09 +0000 http://reinersblog.com/flexion/flexion-50-legs-50-hands/#comment-235 Putting impulsion in to em usually requires more than legs, especially as he gets more advanced. Your legs and hands will have a bunch of little cues that will tell him exactly what you want, move shoulders, move hips, move lateral, collect, extend, etc. To change gaits or speed within in a gate comes alot from your seat and body. Kinda hard for me to explain but you move forward and he goes, sit down and relax and he slows. Not sure that makes sense? More feel than technique I think. Sometimes I think we get to thinking about our hands and legs and kinda forget about everything in between. Putting impulsion in to em usually requires more than legs, especially as he gets more advanced. Your legs and hands will have a bunch of little cues that will tell him exactly what you want, move shoulders, move hips, move lateral, collect, extend, etc.

To change gaits or speed within in a gate comes alot from your seat and body. Kinda hard for me to explain but you move forward and he goes, sit down and relax and he slows. Not sure that makes sense? More feel than technique I think.

Sometimes I think we get to thinking about our hands and legs and kinda forget about everything in between.

]]> By: MJ http://reinersblog.com/flexion/flexion-50-legs-50-hands/#comment-234 MJ Tue, 15 Jan 2008 21:25:31 +0000 http://reinersblog.com/flexion/flexion-50-legs-50-hands/#comment-234 The dentist isn't coming until Saturday. I'm going to do like Al said and bring some bits. I want to find out if the snaffle is hurting him somehow. I put him back into the Billy Allen mouthpiece for now because I want to make sure he's not in any pain. I'll find out on Saturday! I can't believe how expensive it is though. Jim sure is a good papa to his horses. The dentist isn’t coming until Saturday. I’m going to do like Al said and bring some bits. I want to find out if the snaffle is hurting him somehow. I put him back into the Billy Allen mouthpiece for now because I want to make sure he’s not in any pain. I’ll find out on Saturday!

I can’t believe how expensive it is though. Jim sure is a good papa to his horses.

]]> By: Amanda http://reinersblog.com/flexion/flexion-50-legs-50-hands/#comment-233 Amanda Tue, 15 Jan 2008 19:51:10 +0000 http://reinersblog.com/flexion/flexion-50-legs-50-hands/#comment-233 Oh & what did the dentist (vet) say about Leos teeth? Oh & what did the dentist (vet) say about Leos teeth?

]]> By: Amanda http://reinersblog.com/flexion/flexion-50-legs-50-hands/#comment-232 Amanda Tue, 15 Jan 2008 19:27:50 +0000 http://reinersblog.com/flexion/flexion-50-legs-50-hands/#comment-232 No bumping at the trot, only use that for the standstill. Continue steady leg pressure at the trot & squeeze a little harder with your legs as you pull on the reins to ask him to soften because he'll probably want to slow or stop once you pull back on the reins, more steady leg pressure keeps him moving forward. No bumping at the trot, only use that for the standstill. Continue steady leg pressure at the trot & squeeze a little harder with your legs as you pull on the reins to ask him to soften because he’ll probably want to slow or stop once you pull back on the reins, more steady leg pressure keeps him moving forward.

]]> By: MJ http://reinersblog.com/flexion/flexion-50-legs-50-hands/#comment-231 MJ Tue, 15 Jan 2008 19:08:10 +0000 http://reinersblog.com/flexion/flexion-50-legs-50-hands/#comment-231 So the trot is a steady squeeze and then once the horse is trotting, I use the bumping and rein pressure for the yield? Great description by the way. So the trot is a steady squeeze and then once the horse is trotting, I use the bumping and rein pressure for the yield?

Great description by the way.

]]> By: Amanda http://reinersblog.com/flexion/flexion-50-legs-50-hands/#comment-230 Amanda Tue, 15 Jan 2008 18:03:59 +0000 http://reinersblog.com/flexion/flexion-50-legs-50-hands/#comment-230 Yes, at the standstill you bump with your calves & pull the reins back to ask them to soften, if they start moving forward you pull more on the reins to stop the forward movement. As soon as they are standing still & soften you stop bumping & drop the reins to reward them. Do small bumps with your legs, not big aggressive ones. Its like you're driving them into their face but they're not moving. At the walk you squeeze with steady pressure with your calves to get them moving forward first, then pull on the reins slowly & squeeze steadily a little more with your calves to let them know their still suppose to be moving forward & soften at the same time, as soon as they soften drop the reins, but keep them moving forward, then pick up the reins & repeat. Its confusing for them at first, thats why its good to have the walk down pat before moving to the trot & the standstill before the walk. Its like a teeter todder, you have to have just the right amount of rein pressure vs. leg pressure or else you'll get too much forward movement or too much stop. Yes, at the standstill you bump with your calves & pull the reins back to ask them to soften, if they start moving forward you pull more on the reins to stop the forward movement. As soon as they are standing still & soften you stop bumping & drop the reins to reward them. Do small bumps with your legs, not big aggressive ones. Its like you’re driving them into their face but they’re not moving. At the walk you squeeze with steady pressure with your calves to get them moving forward first, then pull on the reins slowly & squeeze steadily a little more with your calves to let them know their still suppose to be moving forward & soften at the same time, as soon as they soften drop the reins, but keep them moving forward, then pick up the reins & repeat. Its confusing for them at first, thats why its good to have the walk down pat before moving to the trot & the standstill before the walk. Its like a teeter todder, you have to have just the right amount of rein pressure vs. leg pressure or else you’ll get too much forward movement or too much stop.

]]> By: MJ http://reinersblog.com/flexion/flexion-50-legs-50-hands/#comment-229 MJ Tue, 15 Jan 2008 17:25:36 +0000 http://reinersblog.com/flexion/flexion-50-legs-50-hands/#comment-229 Actually, "jiggle" was the wrong word. Les shows how to alternate soft pulls in time with the horse's rhythm. So, if you're supposed to bump with your legs to encourage flexion, how does the horse differentiate between that and the cue for a trot? Do I just use a steady squeese for the trot? The equine dentist that I found is also a vet. His last name is even Vetter if you can believe that. He has a good Web site--very informative. I'll post the link. Al, ya, I did reward him for speeding up. DANG IT! FOILED AGAIN! Actually, “jiggle” was the wrong word. Les shows how to alternate soft pulls in time with the horse’s rhythm.

So, if you’re supposed to bump with your legs to encourage flexion, how does the horse differentiate between that and the cue for a trot? Do I just use a steady squeese for the trot?

The equine dentist that I found is also a vet. His last name is even Vetter if you can believe that. He has a good Web site–very informative. I’ll post the link.

Al, ya, I did reward him for speeding up. DANG IT! FOILED AGAIN!

]]> By: Amanda http://reinersblog.com/flexion/flexion-50-legs-50-hands/#comment-226 Amanda Mon, 14 Jan 2008 16:08:27 +0000 http://reinersblog.com/flexion/flexion-50-legs-50-hands/#comment-226 I agree about checking out the inside of Leos mouth while the dentist is there, course by now he's already come & gone. My vet does the basic floating & pulling on mine. I'm so happy my vet is really into letting the owner know whats going on at all times & explaining everything well. When he gelded & pulled Docs wolf teeth, I was right next to him watching everything because it was the first time I'd seen any of that. It really interested me, except when he pulled the teeth, having loads of dental work done on myself, I could just imagine how that hurt without any novacaine! He was knocked out, but still! Now the gelding I'm sure hurt too, but I don't have any, ahem, personal experience with that!! ;) Sounds like you're figuring out how much leg to use, thats good. Sounds like Les does it a little different than I do, I don't "jiggle" the reins, I take a hold of them & plant my hands on the top of my thighs & drive him into his face & when his head drops I let go of the reins to reward him. Just a little different way of doing it. But have you worked on vertical flexion at the standstill & walk? I'd make sure those are real good before doing to the trot. It always gets tougher to do when you start adding speed. I agree about checking out the inside of Leos mouth while the dentist is there, course by now he’s already come & gone. My vet does the basic floating & pulling on mine. I’m so happy my vet is really into letting the owner know whats going on at all times & explaining everything well. When he gelded & pulled Docs wolf teeth, I was right next to him watching everything because it was the first time I’d seen any of that. It really interested me, except when he pulled the teeth, having loads of dental work done on myself, I could just imagine how that hurt without any novacaine! He was knocked out, but still! Now the gelding I’m sure hurt too, but I don’t have any, ahem, personal experience with that!! ;)

Sounds like you’re figuring out how much leg to use, thats good. Sounds like Les does it a little different than I do, I don’t “jiggle” the reins, I take a hold of them & plant my hands on the top of my thighs & drive him into his face & when his head drops I let go of the reins to reward him. Just a little different way of doing it. But have you worked on vertical flexion at the standstill & walk? I’d make sure those are real good before doing to the trot. It always gets tougher to do when you start adding speed.

]]> By: Al Popovich http://reinersblog.com/flexion/flexion-50-legs-50-hands/#comment-225 Al Popovich Mon, 14 Jan 2008 11:44:35 +0000 http://reinersblog.com/flexion/flexion-50-legs-50-hands/#comment-225 Sounds like your getting the hang of using your legs. You'll find it is extremely important as you get better at it. With Leo being a "go" horse it'll take a little work. One thing you have to keep in mind is when you add and take away your leg it is basically adding and subtracting pressure. So when you add some leg and he speeds up you take your leg off...did you just reward him for speeding up? Maybe, maybe not, kinda depends on how Leo looks at it. What you work toward is when he feels your leg on one side he automatically tips his nose in that direction. Can work on it some at a stand still. At his stage you'll teach with legs and hands but as he progresses the leg percentages go up. Dentistry is a pretty cool thing to watch for me. Our vet uses power equipment. He tranqs em when he does it. I've heard that equine dentists can't use tranqs cause they aren't a licensed vet. I also heard most do anyway. I really can't imagine it being possible doing it without em. Anyways, take the opportunity to look around in there and see how things are put together. Let him show you the before and after so you really know what he's doing. Have your bits handy so you can look at em and maybe say "oh, that's how this one works". Look at his tongue, bars and roof...all horses are different and it makes a difference how they take to a bit. Sounds like your getting the hang of using your legs. You’ll find it is extremely important as you get better at it.

With Leo being a “go” horse it’ll take a little work. One thing you have to keep in mind is when you add and take away your leg it is basically adding and subtracting pressure. So when you add some leg and he speeds up you take your leg off…did you just reward him for speeding up? Maybe, maybe not, kinda depends on how Leo looks at it.

What you work toward is when he feels your leg on one side he automatically tips his nose in that direction. Can work on it some at a stand still. At his stage you’ll teach with legs and hands but as he progresses the leg percentages go up.

Dentistry is a pretty cool thing to watch for me. Our vet uses power equipment. He tranqs em when he does it. I’ve heard that equine dentists can’t use tranqs cause they aren’t a licensed vet. I also heard most do anyway. I really can’t imagine it being possible doing it without em. Anyways, take the opportunity to look around in there and see how things are put together. Let him show you the before and after so you really know what he’s doing. Have your bits handy so you can look at em and maybe say “oh, that’s how this one works”. Look at his tongue, bars and roof…all horses are different and it makes a difference how they take to a bit.

]]>