Master Horseman/Classical Dressage Trainer Will Faerber demonstrates how to encourage your horse to raise its back, engage its hind end and “get connected.” …
This is one of my favorite video’s. I’ve watch it and shown it to horsey
friends most be over 20 times in the last year.
My only problem is. It still doesn’t explain how to get the horse to
stretch into the contact. It explains how it feels and how it should look.
But not how to get there.
What do I do with my body and hands to encourage my horse to stretch down?
How much contact should I have before and during the stretch. How do I show
him what I want? Do I keep my hands active?
Guys, when he says it takes a year, he doesn’t mean you can’t get the horse
“on the bit” in one year. You can. He means it will take one year for the
horse to develop the muscles properly!
Excellent advice! I’m riding a 7 year old twice a week and he stretches
just fine at a walk and trot, but the moment he’s cantering his chin goes
up and he avoids the bit… how can I stop this?
Damn… I finally understand! All this time I have been thinking about the
head, and pulling it in with tones of different methods! Because if you ask
someone how to get a horse on the bit, that’s what they say!
I feel I finally understand the concept of “On the Bit” properly!!! More
people need to watch this video!!!
The way you get the horse to stretch down into the bit is simple. You
reward him for the smallest stretch by giving some on the rein. This means
you move your hand away from your body and towards his head. If he keeps
giving, then slowly release the rein through your finger tips. If he stops
giving or raises his head up, then shorten the reins until you have a
little pressure in his mouth and start over. The minute he gives (goes over
the back and lowers his head) that is the minute you give him more reign.
I was also told to always keep connection, if I was trying to get my horse
to lower his head at the trot would I still keep light connection or give
him some rein to see if he will stretch. I used to ride a small
thoroughbred/welsh pony who would go wonderful ( very round and light) on a
complete loose rein, but when staying to gain contact he would brace.
beginning dressage for me with Felisa Richards…so much to learn but my
horse, TB mare, Raiderette is a natural…she is so very very intelligent
and oh so sweet!
My horse is an ottb he was a race horse for 5 years. He doesn’t want to
stretch his neck. He will give up his back sometimes but he’s not strong
enough to keep it there. As a race horse he never did stretch the neck
down. Idk what to do. He is so willing to collect but it’s a false
collection because he won’t give up his back. Does anyone have insight from
owning an ottb?
This is a very enlightened trainer, and everyone should listen to EXACTLY
what he is talking about.
I do have one disagreement: his comment about “Descente du Main.” His
definition is incorrect. At least according to the Grand Dame of Classical
Dressage, Sylvia Loch.
The “Descente du Main” is according to De La Gueriniere : “..at that level
of high collection at which the horse no longer seeks contact with the bit
for guidance, STAYS in collection on a loose rein. ” In essence the idea
was that he was so well schooled and so balanced, that he did not need the
rider helping him anymore he could work completely on his own.–at least
that is what Sylvia Loch says her incredible book: “The History of
Dressage.”
I was given an ex-show saddlebred gelding (who’s 7) and if you’ve seen how
they are trained and showed, they carry their heads very high. It’s what
makes them “flashy”. I was wondering if you had any advice on how to teach
him to carry his head lower. I can get him to collect and put himself in a
“frame” at the walk but as soon as I ask for the trot his head goes sky
high and he fights me constantly and won’t bend at the pole. Instead he’ll
toss his whole head and neck up and down till we walk. I’ve already had him
cleared by the vet and farrier and he has no leg/back injuries and I’ve
tried putting the nose nets on to discourage the tossing of his head but
I’ve had no such luck. I really want to avoid using a martingale and draw
reins on him. Any solid advice would be greatly appreciated.
Loved this video. I am attempting to engage my OTTBs back with a trainer,
and videos like these really help – Particularly the hollow vs round
pictures.
If you let your horse “find the bit” then pull him up wouldn’t he then be
putting all his weight on the bit? therefore not he forehand? wouldn’t you
then be teaching him to push against the bit instead of self carriage?
One of my favorite videos! I always go back to it as a reference to see if
I am achieving the goals with my horse as a represented on the video.
Thanks!
Just wanted to ask. My horse wasn’t engaging her back, she was head high
and she’d go faster if I slackened the reins. I’ve stopped riding her to
correct this and started to lung her. Any tips on how to get her to engage
her back end and fix this problem? She doesn’t really put her head down
whilst she’s being lunged either
This was fairly helpful! The horse goes well at home, and it is ez to get
the stretchy circles and work on a long rein. However, at shows (hunter)
all bets are off. He is ottb, and becomes so nervous he hollows, head is
thrown in the air and is wayyyyyy behind my leg. I do not use martingales
or any devices. I have a better understanding of the mechanics of his
reactions now. Thanks for the great video!
Very nice. No devices or special bits or harsh hands can do this only
encouragement to move and stretch and the riders body must be doing the
same. I appreciate that it is pointed out that this will create a very
buoyant feeling in the rider ( not the tense harsh seat riding you often
see) but equally important it takes 1 or more years to develop this.
Really, really good advice. People need to understand that doing it
incorrectly, like lifting weight incorrectly, will damage your horse’s
back. Too many U’d backs in dressage.
This video is very well done! Saw it a couple months ago and I keep
referring back to it. I pick something else up every time I see it! Really
has helped me understand what my trainer has been helping me with! She
teaches this way and now I see why it is taking so long for my horse to
step under correctly. So I just need to continue with patience. Thank you
for taking the time to put this video together!
Agree 100%! My old trainer always taught the “head down always and by any
means necessary”, and its always a fight to get him to keep it down. This
video made so much sense, i’m excited to find some exercises for tomorrow!
I have a TWH and would dearly love to see some videos addressing collection
and gaited dressage — especially since conventional wisdom advocates a
“heavy” seat to encourage the flatwalk and related gaits. That said, I do
love all these vids — keep ’em coming!
I love this video!!! This is how I was taught by my father Otto Sameit who
was a German riding intructor. I’m very sad he’s not with us anymore. I’m
very glad that someone is teaching this way, thank you.
Very helpful, because it’s true you see people riding and all they want to
do is get the horses head so arched that they’re behind the vertical, and
you can still see how the horse is so tense. My horse lowers his head right
down to the ground like I seen some of the horses do in this video. Which
is good I guess because that means I’m getting somewhere with him, and
allowing him to stretch out his neck. But the problem I have now is when I
am cantering with him, his head is very low.
This is such a great method! I have a 20 year old Arabian mare who was
trained with martingales and draw reins since she was 3 or 4 (I bought her
at 11) and a 5 year old half-Arab gelding I trained myself with just a
3-piece loose ring snaffle. My mare has done well at shows but her neck is
usually very tense when I ask for collection because she was rushed into
training as a filly. I used this method on my gelding, and now when I
shorten my reins he flexes at the poll and is relaxed!
Excellent video, and so important. I have one issue: the “takes one year to
develop the topline”. I cannot find evidence to support this in terms of
biomechanics and horse physiology. If done correctly, it should not take
anywhere NEAR that time, assuming the horse is reasonably healthy and ready
to begin work, even if completely out of shape. Muscles, posture, cardio,
tendons, ligaments, bones, muscle memory, I cannot find anything to
describe why the topline would take a year to build. Advanc
Hi, what is the purpose of lungeing with side reins? I have had several
classical dressage instructors and I have learnt how to correctly lunge
with just a lungeing cavesson and no other triangle reins or side reins.
I’d be interested to your reply, please! I’m sure you had a great reason
for using them!
This makes sooo much sense. My gelding is the classic “disconnected”
example, due to a long back and a weak hind end. But I will definitely be
using these techniques.. Thanks so much for posting!!
you can try letting the horse realize that when there’s contact, it’s soft
and light and pleasant. when he tries to fight it, it’s hard and
unpleasant. this is just what helped my horse, maybe it might work for you!
Hi Kathryn I do understand the importance of stretching . . . I had just
never heard anyone say it would take 2 years of riding everyday. I do not
plan to ever compete with my horse, but I do the stretching exercises every
time I ride and in ground work, knowing it is important. Just thought that
personally, that statement was very discouraging. As in, all or nothing.
Thanks for responding.
I’ve been learning this at the stables where I ride in Maryland for years,
but wasn’t sure exactly how to teach it at the camps I work at (actually
doing it and teaching it to kids are two very different things). This video
helps me figure out how to teach it better to the kids and adults I work
with, especially when we have the horses that behave better when you do
this with them but have riding instructors who have never learned this
stuff. Thanks!!!
Thank you Will! I have been teaching this method for over 20 years even to
my Jumper riders. It strengthens a horse to do any discipline. As an old
dressage trainer told me a looonnng time ago. “It takes 10 years to put
their head on the floor and another 10 to pick it back up.”
Beautiful! My TB Gelding has no topline. I broke him when he turned 7, and
he has no collection yet. very weak on the top and has a hard time driving
the back legs up under himself and rounding the back.
grace x
This is one of my favorite video’s. I’ve watch it and shown it to horsey
friends most be over 20 times in the last year.
My only problem is. It still doesn’t explain how to get the horse to
stretch into the contact. It explains how it feels and how it should look.
But not how to get there.
What do I do with my body and hands to encourage my horse to stretch down?
How much contact should I have before and during the stretch. How do I show
him what I want? Do I keep my hands active?
Hmain xxx
Guys, when he says it takes a year, he doesn’t mean you can’t get the horse
“on the bit” in one year. You can. He means it will take one year for the
horse to develop the muscles properly!
Sorcha W
Excellent advice! I’m riding a 7 year old twice a week and he stretches
just fine at a walk and trot, but the moment he’s cantering his chin goes
up and he avoids the bit… how can I stop this?
Hmain xxx
Damn… I finally understand! All this time I have been thinking about the
head, and pulling it in with tones of different methods! Because if you ask
someone how to get a horse on the bit, that’s what they say!
I feel I finally understand the concept of “On the Bit” properly!!! More
people need to watch this video!!!
Cynthia Sharon
The way you get the horse to stretch down into the bit is simple. You
reward him for the smallest stretch by giving some on the rein. This means
you move your hand away from your body and towards his head. If he keeps
giving, then slowly release the rein through your finger tips. If he stops
giving or raises his head up, then shorten the reins until you have a
little pressure in his mouth and start over. The minute he gives (goes over
the back and lowers his head) that is the minute you give him more reign.
Megan Anderson
I was also told to always keep connection, if I was trying to get my horse
to lower his head at the trot would I still keep light connection or give
him some rein to see if he will stretch. I used to ride a small
thoroughbred/welsh pony who would go wonderful ( very round and light) on a
complete loose rein, but when staying to gain contact he would brace.
calamity cate crismani
beginning dressage for me with Felisa Richards…so much to learn but my
horse, TB mare, Raiderette is a natural…she is so very very intelligent
and oh so sweet!
Megan Anderson
My horse is an ottb he was a race horse for 5 years. He doesn’t want to
stretch his neck. He will give up his back sometimes but he’s not strong
enough to keep it there. As a race horse he never did stretch the neck
down. Idk what to do. He is so willing to collect but it’s a false
collection because he won’t give up his back. Does anyone have insight from
owning an ottb?
faultroy
This is a very enlightened trainer, and everyone should listen to EXACTLY
what he is talking about.
I do have one disagreement: his comment about “Descente du Main.” His
definition is incorrect. At least according to the Grand Dame of Classical
Dressage, Sylvia Loch.
The “Descente du Main” is according to De La Gueriniere : “..at that level
of high collection at which the horse no longer seeks contact with the bit
for guidance, STAYS in collection on a loose rein. ” In essence the idea
was that he was so well schooled and so balanced, that he did not need the
rider helping him anymore he could work completely on his own.–at least
that is what Sylvia Loch says her incredible book: “The History of
Dressage.”
Cody Mazerolle
I was given an ex-show saddlebred gelding (who’s 7) and if you’ve seen how
they are trained and showed, they carry their heads very high. It’s what
makes them “flashy”. I was wondering if you had any advice on how to teach
him to carry his head lower. I can get him to collect and put himself in a
“frame” at the walk but as soon as I ask for the trot his head goes sky
high and he fights me constantly and won’t bend at the pole. Instead he’ll
toss his whole head and neck up and down till we walk. I’ve already had him
cleared by the vet and farrier and he has no leg/back injuries and I’ve
tried putting the nose nets on to discourage the tossing of his head but
I’ve had no such luck. I really want to avoid using a martingale and draw
reins on him. Any solid advice would be greatly appreciated.
Ashleigh Harris
Loved this video. I am attempting to engage my OTTBs back with a trainer,
and videos like these really help – Particularly the hollow vs round
pictures.
Becky Johnson
Alyssa Taylor
If you let your horse “find the bit” then pull him up wouldn’t he then be
putting all his weight on the bit? therefore not he forehand? wouldn’t you
then be teaching him to push against the bit instead of self carriage?
mbschan
One of my favorite videos! I always go back to it as a reference to see if
I am achieving the goals with my horse as a represented on the video.
Thanks!
Thewelsh arab
Just wanted to ask. My horse wasn’t engaging her back, she was head high
and she’d go faster if I slackened the reins. I’ve stopped riding her to
correct this and started to lung her. Any tips on how to get her to engage
her back end and fix this problem? She doesn’t really put her head down
whilst she’s being lunged either
claudiahorsevideos
This was fairly helpful! The horse goes well at home, and it is ez to get
the stretchy circles and work on a long rein. However, at shows (hunter)
all bets are off. He is ottb, and becomes so nervous he hollows, head is
thrown in the air and is wayyyyyy behind my leg. I do not use martingales
or any devices. I have a better understanding of the mechanics of his
reactions now. Thanks for the great video!
Lauren Mitchell
Lauren this is interesting
LaurenMichele Mcgarry
Very nice. No devices or special bits or harsh hands can do this only
encouragement to move and stretch and the riders body must be doing the
same. I appreciate that it is pointed out that this will create a very
buoyant feeling in the rider ( not the tense harsh seat riding you often
see) but equally important it takes 1 or more years to develop this.
melisa perschon
Rebecca Bradley
Awesome I shared with my riding students. They really needed to understand
what this means.
shirehorse91
Really, really good advice. People need to understand that doing it
incorrectly, like lifting weight incorrectly, will damage your horse’s
back. Too many U’d backs in dressage.
Sherry Tillotson
This video is very well done! Saw it a couple months ago and I keep
referring back to it. I pick something else up every time I see it! Really
has helped me understand what my trainer has been helping me with! She
teaches this way and now I see why it is taking so long for my horse to
step under correctly. So I just need to continue with patience. Thank you
for taking the time to put this video together!
Caballos Finca Malpasillo
Phoebe W
Keep pressing 7 XD
Carolina Neto
Amazing video 😀 My teacher is french and he teaches that! Very nice
explanation! Thanks for that lovely video
horsechix
Agree 100%! My old trainer always taught the “head down always and by any
means necessary”, and its always a fight to get him to keep it down. This
video made so much sense, i’m excited to find some exercises for tomorrow!
ccoetzer
Actually that’s what I understand as well and it makes me (as a novice)
feel “oh what the hell, why bother then”!
Ketan Patel
nice
Fruitygurl4ever
Very nice video!
TheMareXo
learned a lot from watching this, works well! thank you 🙂
mesatop5
I have a TWH and would dearly love to see some videos addressing collection
and gaited dressage — especially since conventional wisdom advocates a
“heavy” seat to encourage the flatwalk and related gaits. That said, I do
love all these vids — keep ’em coming!
horselovur
Whoa! This is so helpful and I was so excited when it showed American
Canyon Training Center because I live about twenty minutes from there!!
rebamac96
I love this I really wish I had great instruction when riding.
usmdressage
I love this video!!! This is how I was taught by my father Otto Sameit who
was a German riding intructor. I’m very sad he’s not with us anymore. I’m
very glad that someone is teaching this way, thank you.
MapleGirlNL
what if i have a horse that, if i let her head come to the ground, she
begin acting like a beginning horse and doesn’t listen to what i want to do?
1osalo
Why then did NUNO’s horses never look like this ?
20trudel
Very helpful, because it’s true you see people riding and all they want to
do is get the horses head so arched that they’re behind the vertical, and
you can still see how the horse is so tense. My horse lowers his head right
down to the ground like I seen some of the horses do in this video. Which
is good I guess because that means I’m getting somewhere with him, and
allowing him to stretch out his neck. But the problem I have now is when I
am cantering with him, his head is very low.
4x4Girl14
This is such a great method! I have a 20 year old Arabian mare who was
trained with martingales and draw reins since she was 3 or 4 (I bought her
at 11) and a 5 year old half-Arab gelding I trained myself with just a
3-piece loose ring snaffle. My mare has done well at shows but her neck is
usually very tense when I ask for collection because she was rushed into
training as a filly. I used this method on my gelding, and now when I
shorten my reins he flexes at the poll and is relaxed!
Kathy Sierra
Excellent video, and so important. I have one issue: the “takes one year to
develop the topline”. I cannot find evidence to support this in terms of
biomechanics and horse physiology. If done correctly, it should not take
anywhere NEAR that time, assuming the horse is reasonably healthy and ready
to begin work, even if completely out of shape. Muscles, posture, cardio,
tendons, ligaments, bones, muscle memory, I cannot find anything to
describe why the topline would take a year to build. Advanc
goldenfloria
Hi, what is the purpose of lungeing with side reins? I have had several
classical dressage instructors and I have learnt how to correctly lunge
with just a lungeing cavesson and no other triangle reins or side reins.
I’d be interested to your reply, please! I’m sure you had a great reason
for using them!
KLo12151
This makes sooo much sense. My gelding is the classic “disconnected”
example, due to a long back and a weak hind end. But I will definitely be
using these techniques.. Thanks so much for posting!!
jeffreyRAWKS12798
you can try letting the horse realize that when there’s contact, it’s soft
and light and pleasant. when he tries to fight it, it’s hard and
unpleasant. this is just what helped my horse, maybe it might work for you!
Janet Gerl
Hi Kathryn I do understand the importance of stretching . . . I had just
never heard anyone say it would take 2 years of riding everyday. I do not
plan to ever compete with my horse, but I do the stretching exercises every
time I ride and in ground work, knowing it is important. Just thought that
personally, that statement was very discouraging. As in, all or nothing.
Thanks for responding.
Sydney F.
My horse is 17.2 thoroughbred with a loooong neck and he does 3’6″ jumpers
and for the life of me I can not get him to do this 🙁
rebamac96
amazing video
tiffanyxx1000
how do you get them to seek the bit, my horse lowers her head right down
when we are on a trail but i think shes just smelling the ground haha
Chevron704
I’ve been learning this at the stables where I ride in Maryland for years,
but wasn’t sure exactly how to teach it at the camps I work at (actually
doing it and teaching it to kids are two very different things). This video
helps me figure out how to teach it better to the kids and adults I work
with, especially when we have the horses that behave better when you do
this with them but have riding instructors who have never learned this
stuff. Thanks!!!
Shelby Liver
I started feeling my horse stretching up unto me with his back when we
changed his bit. 😀 It’s awesome now!
fenwickefarm1
Thank you Will! I have been teaching this method for over 20 years even to
my Jumper riders. It strengthens a horse to do any discipline. As an old
dressage trainer told me a looonnng time ago. “It takes 10 years to put
their head on the floor and another 10 to pick it back up.”
Elizabeth Peters
Beautiful! My TB Gelding has no topline. I broke him when he turned 7, and
he has no collection yet. very weak on the top and has a hard time driving
the back legs up under himself and rounding the back.