Everything Horses and Livestock® Magazine Sept 2018 Vol 3 Issue 3

Everything Horses and Livestock Magazine ®

MATTHEW JOBE C BAR J RANCH WINDSOR, MO 660-537-9542 WWW.CBARJ.COM LIKE US ON FACEBOOK asked too abruptly. It’s all about having them in a willing frame of mind. my horses to say yes sir and give me that soft face and great turn even if I have excitedly

she is soft, willing and ready to perform at her best. In a small warmup pen you can throw her the reins on the straight away and pick up and drive during the corners. Don’t be afraid to snatch the reins quickly. I want to train my horse for real world conditions. Let’s be honest here, we have all had taken our horses, music rockin, adrenaline pumping and grabbed them to turn faster or more abruptly than we should have. I like to train

face, but we have the hind end engaged and driving! We have all seen sway back horses or horses with a poor topline. If it’s a mare that’s had several colts, she has a reason/ excuse to have a weaker topline. However, if she hasn’t or it’s a gelding, then they may have become sway back from being ridden wrong most of their life…Head up, legs apart, hollow back. Remember horses learn by release of pressure. If we will simply hold our horses face and drive (kick) them into the bit, releasing our drive when feel them soften in our hand, we can teach them to stay off the bit. I do not see saw or pull on the bit. This is important! I simply hold the bit in one spot and I drive the hind end to it. This will get our horses riding around collected, softer in the bridle, and getting their hind end more engaged (more speed, better turns).

During my warm ups I spend most of my time picking up on my horse’s face and driving into the bit. When she softens I quit driving and throw her the reins. I will trot/lope 10 strides and pick up again. I will repeatedly do this both directions until I feel

17 Everything Horses and Livestock® | August 2018 | EHALmagazine.com