Lightness to the Hand | Naturally Gaited

Why do horses lean on the bit? Is all heaviness on the hand treated the same? How does a rider learn to communicate with the horse to teach lightness to the hand? Let’s take a look.

I’m a visual learner by preference. However, to glean in depth knowledge of centuries old classical equitation, book learning is my only option since videos didn’t exist then.

One of the books I am studying is, Faverot de Kerbrech: Methodical Dressage of the Riding Horse. Kerbrech, a student of French riding master Francois Baucher, offers many takeaways for those interested in learning classical equitation according to his second manner—even for riders with naturally gaited horses.

Among the takeaways is why horses get heavy on the rider’s hands and how to re-establish lightness. It has been eye opening to realize there are more than one reason why horses lean on the rider’s hand, and it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach to restoring lightness.

Why do horses lean on our hands?

In this book, Kerbrech describes two reasons why horses lean on our hands. Each reason has a different corrective measure.

Lose Balance: When horses lose their balance, their weight shifts more to the shoulders and fore legs. They lose their engaged posture. Then they lean on the rider’s hands like a fifth leg.
Tension or Resistance: When horses become resistant or tense in the mouth, jaw and poll, they can become heavy on the rider’s hands.

How do you help the horse restore lightness to the hand?

Baucher two methods for restoring lightness. One for when the horse loses balance and another for when the horse becomes tense or resistant.

Teach each method from the ground while dismounted
Then apply each method in the saddle at a halt before proceeding to motion

I have been working my naturally gaited horses using these methods for a while now. We have progressed to in saddle work and smooth gait with a light contact using a snaffle bit.

From time to time each of my horses get heavy in my hands.

First, I identify the cause of the heaviness
Then I bring my horse to a halt since it is the simplest and quickest way to restore lightness and re-establish relaxation and balance

A high and light, balanced Tennessee Walking Horse Spanish Walk

Method 1: How to restore lightness to the hand after the horse loses balance

Bring the horse to a halt
Shorten the reins with the snaffle bit
With elbows at your sides, close your fingers on each rein, turn your palms upward with your thumbs pointing outward
Raise your hands upward (keeping elbows at your sides) meeting the heaviness with contact
The horse should lift its head and neck, shift its weight back to the hindquarters, and relax to the contact
Once the horse relaxes to the contact, immediately relax your middle, ring, and pinky fingers (maintain contact with thumb and index fingers)
Lower your hands to a neutral position with a light contact
Proceed to walk with a following contact

Balanced square halt — At a halt, elbows at side, hands meet heaviness with contact, lift hands upward never pull backward. This upward position positions the bit to contact the lip corners instead of pressing down on the tongue and bars.

volt — Marvel is showing lightness and relaxation on the bit with the poll (between the ears) as the highest point.

Method 2: How to restore lightness to the hand after the horse is tense or resistant in the mouth or jaw?

When the horse resists the contact and roots, relaxation is the answer with gentle vibrations.

Bring the horse to a halt
Shorten the reins with the snaffle bit
With elbows at your sides, close your fingers on each rein, turn your palms upward with your thumbs pointing outward
Raise your hands upward (keeping elbows at your sides) meeting the resistance with gentle squeeze and releases (or vibrations) on the reins
The horse should lift its head and neck, shift its weight back to the hindquarters, and relax to the contact
Once the horse relaxes to the contact, immediately relax your middle, ring, and pinky fingers (maintain contact with thumb and index fingers)
Lower your hands to a neutral position with a light contact
Proceed to walk with a following contact

What are additional tips to help the horse maintain lightness to the hand?

Riding in a balanced ear-shoulder-hip-heel alignment over the horse’s center of gravity is a great start.

Don’t let the reins get too long
Instead, shorten the reins while keeping your elbows at your sides

Clear and gentle communication

Cue with an upward motion or upward vibrations, palms slightly facing upward and with my hands slightly raised. This is for the horse’s comfort and to encourage bit acceptance. The purpose is to encourage the horse to have a positive experience with the bit for communication.

Other ways to encourage comfort are to ride with a gentle well-fitting snaffle bit, a loose nose band or no nose band. This encourages a relaxed mouth and a horse that can salivate and swallow.

Learning how to help the horse maintain lightness to the hand with relaxation and balance takes patience, consistent training, and time. It is worth the investment!

Avoid pulling back on the reins

Pulling backward on the reins especially with a low hand position, presses the snaffle into the horse’s sensitive tongue and bars. This pain leads to bit avoidance. Examples include evading the bit, going behind the bit, above the bit, rooting, and even running away from contact.

Balance and the Naturally Gaited Horse

All heaviness is not corrected the same way

It is eye opening in the way Baucher clarifies distinct applications to addressing various reasons for heaviness. Not all heaviness is treated equally. Heaviness due to a loss of balance is treated differently that heaviness due to a loss of relaxation or resistance.

These are important distinctions. Since tension and resistance require multiple vibrations or squeeze and releases with the hands, a loss of balance, requires a constant gentle upward lifting action with the hands.

While I had awareness between a loss of balance versus resistance creating heaviness in my hands, I had been applying the same cue to address resistance until reading this book. This has clarified my communication and my horse’s response notably.

As tempo increases, it is common for horses to lose balance and relaxation and become heavy on the hand

As tempo increases, it is common for horses to lose balance and relaxation. Often horses will rush onto the forehand, begin to brace, pace or run away. It is difficult to restore relaxation and balance while the horse is at tempo.

Horses need to learn relaxation and balance. It is easiest to teach this in hand, on the lunge, and then in saddle at a halt followed by a slow walk. This progression has educated me to the aids as I notice my horse’s responses to my cues. This process has improved communication between me and my horses.

It is easier to restore balance and relaxation at a halt or a slower tempo than at speed

When I began canter with one of my horses, we lost balance and relaxation after a few good strides.

I quickly learned two important strategies:

It is best to transition to a halt or slow walk and restore relaxation and balance than to attempt to restore balance and relaxation at speed. I haven’t been successful at restoring balance and relaxation at speed once it has been lost.
It is best to halt the horse after a few good strides and reward the horse. This clarifies what I desire and over time a few good strides increase to a circle and then the entire arena.

After restoring relaxation and balance, I transition from a halt or slow walk to more tempo gradually as long as relaxation and balance are maintained. Transitions within a gait, between gaits, between changes of direction and exercises are helpful ways to develop balance. Over time and consistent training, the horse can maintain relaxation and balance in tempo for longer durations of time while the rider proactively rides the horse.

Gaited horses can be a trip hazard when traveling out of balance at speed

Many gaited horses stumble. Sometimes it is due to being out of balance. Other times it is because of how they move. Most gaited horses are ridden in a four beat gait. These gaits do not have suspension. There is always a foot on the ground. This is one reason for their naturally smooth gait. Since they are more earth bound, there is a greater chance for tripping, especially when out of balance.

For safety’s sake, it is best to restore relaxation and balance at a halt or slow walk before adding more tempo. As the horse becomes more developed through consistent training, balance can be achieved in motion with fewer stumbles.

Clarifying my aids has improved communication with my young naturally gaited Tennessee Walking Horse, Marvel, and has made a big difference in his training. We are maintaining lightness to the hands in a variety of relaxed and balanced smooth gaits for longer durations.

Now, back to the book study for more gleanings as we work our way to a relaxed and balanced canter!