46 SIDELINES SEPTEMBER 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
tail of the lead rope over the horse’s neck so it will not get tangled.
Step towards the horse’s wither while asking your horse to move
their hindquarters. Don’t be afraid to reward your horse for just a
few steps to the side if you are just starting this exercise. If you
find your horse’s hindquarters leading, and your horse’s shoulder
trailing, you need to step into the shoulder and ask your horse
to move away from you. If your horse still does not move their
shoulder, take your dressage whip and gently tap your horse’s
shoulder until he squares up to the fence. Remember to always
reward the slightest try and to work your horse on both sides to keep
him balanced.
Earning
more
respect
from
your horse on
the ground will
improve
his
ground manners
in the barn. –
Dan James
e
Question:
I am having difficulty working my seven-year-old Arabian
gelding on the circle under saddle. When I ask him to canter
in a circle, he likes to turn his nose out where I can see his
outside eye. I would like him to travel in a circle with more
flexion and softness. Where should I start?
Answer:
If you are having difficulty at the canter, you need to reduce
speed and focus on flexion exercises at the walk. I like to ask
my horses to spiral in and out of a circle to improve flexion and
softness in the circle. When you start the spiral in and spiral out
exercise, use a barrel or cone to designate your middle point.
Master this exercise at the walk before moving to the trot. Start
by tightly circling the cone or barrel, then apply pressure with
your inside leg and inside rein, asking the horse to begin to spiral
out. Your horse should not rush out of the circle but maintain a
soft flexed position, with his nose towards the center marker. If
your horse tips his nose towards the outside, use your inside rein
to apply pressure and bring his nose back to the inside of the
circle. Once you have spiraled a distance away from the center
marker, take the pressure off. Apply pressure with your outside
leg and ask your horse to spiral back into the center marker as he
continues moving forward. Teaching your horse to spiral in and
out from a center marker will help your horse maintain flexion on
the circle. – Dan Steers
Question:
I have a 10-year-old Thoroughbred gelding who is perfect
under saddle and very gentle on the ground, but when I am
grooming him and ask him to move away from me, he will not
give me my space. He is not cross-tied. I usually just tie him
to one tie ring in the barn. I would really like him to learn to
give me my space when I need to move him away from me.
Answer:
It sounds like a great place to start would be with ground
control exercises. Your friendly gelding needs to learn to yield his
hindquarters and shoulders away from you. I like to use a rope
halter and a dressage whip when I work on the side passing
exercise. When you get started, use the fence to stop your horse
from moving forward. Ask your horse’s hindquarters and shoulder
to move away from you and along the fence. I keep my hand on the
bottom of the halter to keep the horse’s head straight and loop the
About Double Dan: Since their debut as “The Dan and Dan Show” in 2008, Double
Dan Horsemanship, made up of Dan Steers and Dan James, is quickly becoming
a household name in the equine industry. The duo have been noted for performing
at every major Royal show in Australia and many large equine events in the United
States, earning championships at the “Way of the Horse” at Equitana Asia Pacific
in 2008, Road to the Horse International 2012 and the Mane Event 2012 Trainer’s
Challenge. They have been crowd favorites in the opening ceremonies of the
World Equestrian Games, Australia’s Got Talent, Australian National Cutting Horse
Futurities, Equine Affaire and many others.
Dan Steers demonstrates flexion and softness in the circle.
Photos courtesy of Double Dan Horsemanship
Dan James and Dan Steers
Flexion and Side Passing
With Dan James and Dan Steers
of Double Dan Horsemanship
Questions Answered
