In the saddle
Come into power
Power up your horse’s hindquarters to transform him into a strong and elevated mover
In this feature. . . ►
Strengthen your horse’s hindlegs ► Create maximum engagement ► Achieve a better canter
What is it that sets apart the ordinary from the extraordinary? Well, when it comes to a horse’s movement, it’s an elegant, uphill pace that makes him look as though he’s floating above the ground – that really gives him the wow factor. Think it’s something a horse either has or doesn’t? Think again. Any rider can inject their horse’s paces with a little extra pizzazz. How? By focusing on improving his balance, straightness and strength so he’s able to take more weight onto his hindlegs.
Lift and reach come from the powerhouse that is your horse’s hindquarters, and learning how to engage them will make the other elements of your job feel effortless. I’ve got some handy exercises to help you form your very best overall picture.
As told to Kiera Boyle. Photos: Lucy Merrell
“Any rider can inject their horse’s paces with a little extra pizzazz”
Tip the balance
When aiming to activate your horse’s hindquarters, it’s important to take a look at his balance and weight distribution as a whole. Horses naturally carry a lot of their weight on their forelegs, so they’re effectively pulling themselves around –a bit like a front-wheel drive car. However, through training, you want to encourage your horse to shift a greater percentage of his weight onto his hindlegs, so he’s like a rear-wheel drive car.