Achieving Forward Movement

To achieve forward movement at the desired speed, first and foremost we must remain consistent with the following cues.

Squeeze with calves while holding a loose rein. Once horse moves forward, release leg pressure. If horse continues to increase speed once you release pressure, bring horse to a one rein stop, flex laterally until horse softens and relaxes then again squeeze and ask for forward movement .  Continue to do this until you get  a slow walk at first. Once your horse achieves a slow walk, ask for a faster walk, then a jog, then a trot etc....while on a loose rein. Remember your objective is for your horse to stay at the speed it had when you released your leg pressure. Avoid the temptation to pull on both reins in order to get your horse to slow down. Later, once your horse has learned this exercise and it tries to increase speed while in the show ring, you will be able to just bump your outside rein slightly with a finger and your horse will slow down, unlike the usual two rein bump on the bit that is much more detectable by judges.

If you are having problems getting your horse to move forward, again squeeze with calves. Count, one one thousand, two one thousand, three one thousand, then while still holding leg pressure cluck or kiss once and count again. If still no forward movement  use your hand and lightly tap your horse on hindquarters while still holding leg pressure. Be careful that your horse doesn't jump out from under you. Count again and if still no movement tap hindquarters slightly harder. Continue to increase pressure until horse moves forward then release leg pressure. When I get a horse that has "sticky" feet I will let them keep moving forward even if they are going faster then I want in order to free the feet up and get the horse comfortable while moving forward.  After the horse feels a little better I will bring him to a stop then flex, soften and repeat. Once the horse starts to move out for you, start working on your horse staying at the speed you had when you release leg pressure.  After a time your horse will move out with just a squeeze and a cluck. Then after more time, your horse will move out with just a squeeze.

                                           SUCCESS TIPS

Don't steer your horse. Let him go where ever he wants. We want him to concentrate on the speed of his forward movement not the direction too. If he goes to the rail or the corner  just squeeze, cluck and tap him out of it.

To help your horse understand the release of your leg cue, exaggerate the release by removing all contact on your horse from the knees down by holding feet out further then normal.

Make sure your horse does not move forward until you squeeze. If he does, bend him down to a stop, flex and wait then squeeze.

Resist the urge to kick your horse. Leg pressure and release is going to act as your gas peddle. Kicking will not achieve this. Sometimes it will even make a horse raise and shorten his rib cage making his feet even more sticky.

Some of you may be uncomfortable reaching so far back to tap your horse. Feel free to use a crop. Just make sure you tap lightly at first. You may even be able to get away with just tapping the air to get movement. Some horses  respond well to applying pressure to the shoulder instead of the hindquarters.