| A lot of dressage riders aren't clear on the difference | | | | completely different rein action to ask your horse to |
| between flexion at the jaw and flexion at the poll, and | | | | flex "in" than the action you used to ask for flexion to |
| how to ask their horses for each of these positions. | | | | the left or right. |
| Keep in mind that a dressage horse can flex three | | | | Ask your horse to flex "in" by moving the bit in his |
| ways-to the left, to the right, and "in". | | | | mouth. Be sure you only use ONE rein to move the bit. |
| When a horse flexes to the left or right, he's flexing at | | | | If you alternately saw on his mouth with your left and |
| the poll. When he does this, you'll just see his inside or | | | | right hands, he'll just bring his face closer to his chest. |
| outside eye or nostril. I call this position +1 or -1 because | | | | We often flex the horse's jaw. In fact, his jaw must be |
| you're bringing his head 1 inch to the inside or the | | | | flexed for him to be completely on the bit. BUT, the |
| outside of where his head would be positioned if his | | | | danger lies in flexing the jaw BEFORE you connect |
| chin was directly in front of the crease in the middle of | | | | him over his back. If you flex his jaw first, he's not |
| his chest. | | | | really connected. His face is just "in". The danger here |
| You'll ask for flexion at the poll to the left or right with | | | | is that you can fake yourself out. |
| an indirect rein aid. To give an indirect rein aid, give a | | | | You might think he's correctly on the bit because he |
| quick turn of the wrist so your thumb points to the | | | | feels soft in your hand when his jaw is flexed. But if |
| center of the circle, your fingernails point up toward | | | | you go to do something like a transition, you'll find out |
| your face, and your baby finger points up toward your | | | | that he's really not connected at all. |
| opposite shoulder. As you turn your wrist this way, | | | | During the transition, your dressage horse will raise his |
| bring your hand very close to the withers, but don't | | | | head and neck and look hollow because all you have |
| cross over them. As soon as you've turned your wrist, | | | | control over is a flexed jaw. He wasn't honestly on the |
| return to the "starting position"where your thumb is the | | | | bit to begin with! You need to ride your horse from |
| highest point of the hand. Be sure you support with | | | | back to front. Close your legs and send your horse |
| your outside rein as you do this so you "catch" his poll | | | | forward through your outside hand to get his back |
| rather than bend his entire neck. | | | | round. And ONLY after you've sent him forward |
| When a horse flexes "in", he flexes at the jaw, and he | | | | through your outside hand should you flex his jaw as |
| closes the angle at his throatlatch. You'll use a | | | | the final ingredient of putting him on the bit. |