The rider can't help but impact the horse with his seat. Most modern men, however, are not aware of their corporeality, leave alone how the horse may read or react to it. Hence the introduction of systematic movement and awareness lessons at SomE. What's more, these lessons will benefit the rider's hand. In addition, the hand and its role in modern equitation will be taught systematically.
The rider's hand The tongue. In leading the horse with reins and bit the tongue plays a central role.
The tongue denotes balance, nourishment and communication. No speech, no physical health or well-being, no kisses without tongue. No acceptance of difficult facts. In addition, the horse's mouth handles things that in humans the hands take care of. Such as gathering food, caressing a friend or attacking enemies. The rider can call on the horse's mouth only on the basis of a steady contact coming from the horse. This contact is a compliment, a sign of friendship and trust. Via jaw and tongue it provides access to the horse's innermost being. The weight of the contact changes with the tasks at hand. Modern Practices. Classical equitation is well aware of this treasure in the rider's hands. Modern sports riders, however, more often than not choose another approach. They purposely shut down the horse's mouth and forbid movements of jaw and tongue. In addition they open the no-joint and thus effectively threaten and damage the horse. Average equine age today tells the rest of the story. The state of the mouth reflects the status of the horse's being. By the same token the rider's tactful hand may impact this status for the better. Problems. Many unwanted expressions exist in respect to the bit. Horses steadily pull or sporadically push into the bit. They try to avoid the contact to the rider's hand by lifting or shortening the neck. The jaw is clenched or moves incessantly. Horses move with a wide open mouth, they shift the jaw and twist or drop the tongue. All these irregularities speak of pains, stiffnesses, frustration and disrespect.
Reasons. These signs are the result of missing information and mishaps. Often turbulences in the horse's core are involved. The only safe and sound way to help such horses is to ride them in the walk, reins hanging, without touching the bit until the core is reestablished. Such horses may then be ready to understand and go for the proper use of the bit. By contrast the consolidated horse carries the neck steadily. The reins have one length. The horse releases the jaw and changes position on demand.
Young horses. The green horse does best without impacts from the rider's hand. When the horse responds to the rider's offer to come to his hand, it usually prefers a half-tension rein. This sort of rein usage permits the rider to call on the horse's supple jaw and pliable poll. Slightly hanging reins do transport signals from the rider's hands while protecting the horse's mouth from irregularities that may exist in the rider's or the horse's body.
Retroactivity. In the horizontal balance horses gain experience with the liberation of jaw and tongue. The healthy and trusting horse purposefully and actively mobilizes jaw and tongue. However, these movements can also be called forth retroactively. Actively, as coming from the horse, they express suppleness and consent. Retroactively, as initiated by the rider, they reestablish the horse's suppleness and consent. It pays off to prepare the communication of the rider's ring finger with the horse's jaw and tongue in hand while standing on the ground. Reins in one hand. The ideal of classical equitation is to direct the horse with both reins in one hand. This sort of rein usage frames the horse's neck between two indirect half-tension reins. The horse may seek contact to the rider's hand. It sets the poll while following the directions of the rider's eyes. Rein aides. A set of hand signals from classical French equitation teaches the horse lateral movements, turns around the shoulders/haunches and the half-halt. These signals proceed from the core. They position hands, wrists, lower arms and elbows to direct the lines of energy in the horse's body. Once the horse has understood these movements and controls the forces that bring them forth, the rider can call on them from his core. This said the question remains, why use a bit? Elevation. A study of the core confirms the indication of finely tuned, well mobilized horses in elevation. They rely on an upward contact to the rider's hand to facilitate jaw and tongue in support of their locomotion. Movements of the jaw reverberate through the horse's core all the way to its hind hoofs. Movements of the tongue, touching on lungs, heart and solar plexus, improve muscular output. The rider on account of the distribution of a three dimensional continuous fascia web in the horse's body quite literally hold the horse's heart in his hands.
Using the bit in kindness the rider may direct the young horse. He communicates. He aides the aging horse and help it to remain safe and sound for a lifetime.
