Trainers Pen

Yielding To Pressure

A Key to Putting Your Horse in the Correct Course Position

 

Let’s face it—the need for speed is a big part of our efforts to win in mounted shooting. And we also focus on clean runs, nailing every balloon on the pattern. But every now and then, all of us—beginners and Level 6s—should take a step back and remember the basics of good horsemanship.

 

Running smooth shooting patterns comes down to having a well-educated horse. A horse that responds well to the rider saves steps in a pattern, which consequently results in faster times. The fastest horse doesn’t always win a match; it’s won by a fast horse that makes all the turns and maintains the ability to rate, which as a result puts the horse in the right position, every time.

 

There are various characteristics of a well-trained horse, but the most important is that it must yield to pressure, whether it’s in the bridle or through a rider’s seat or legs. Keeping your horse responsive will ensure he is ready to maneuver through all your mounted shooting patterns when you need him the most.

 

Response to leg pressure is very important. A horse that moves away from pressure means he’ll be in the exact position you need, whether you’re running a rundown or approaching a rundown barrel turn.

 

How do I get started?

 

Try this: face the horse towards the fence. The position is important; the rider does not have to worry about the horse moving forward, instead of laterally away from pressure.

 

To side pass your horse to the right, position your left leg behind your front cinch and apply constant pressure until he moves his body away from your leg pressure. If your horse is new to this exercise, reward him as soon as he moves. In fact, reward him for the slightest “try.”

 

Be realistic. You want to create an exercise your horse can learn from, not one that frustrates him with impossible exercises he doesn’t understand on the first day. Take one step at a time and it will be a much more enjoyable and beneficial experience for both of you. If this is the first time you have asked your horse to move away from your leg pressure, be satisfied with one or two simple steps away from pressure. Reward your horse by removing leg pressure as soon as he moves laterally; the relaxation is the reward. Once your horse has learned this, you can gradually increase your demands until he freely moves multiple steps in both directions.

 

When you’re asking your horse to move, be sure he remains directly in front of the fence. Don’t let his front or hind end trail behind him. This is incorrect. He should remain straight and remain perpendicular to the fence as he moves across. A rider can use leg pressure–varying the position of your leg on the horse’s side–to direct the animal’s hindquarter, shoulders and rib cage into position.

 

If his head is leading his body, use your reins to stop his front end from moving. Then use leg pressure behind the front cinch to push his hind end over, so he maintains the right angle to the fence. If his hind end is leading, use your reins to yield the front end back in line. It is a combination of both leg and rein pressure that keeps him perpendicular to the fence. Don’t be discouraged if it doesn’t work immediately. It takes some practice for a rider to learn correct leg placement to move specific parts of the horse. These exercises are very beneficial in teaching a rider to use their hands, legs and seat independently of each other.

 

This exercise will teach you horse to yield to leg pressure. Once your horse learns how to yield to leg pressure, you can move on to the next step.

 

Leaving the fence line

 

Once your horse has mastered lateral movement–in both directions–on the fence line, it is time to ask your horse to yield while applying some forward movement. This increases your horse’s lateral flexibility. In this exercise the horse has to move forward, travel sideways, and stay parallel to the short rail of the arena. The horse travels on a diagonal line that is at a 45-degree angle from the long side of the arena.

 

To start, ask your horse to move forward at the walk. Then ask the horse to yield by placing your inside leg against, or slightly behind, the front cinch in order to move the horse forward. The inside rein will create bend and control speed as he travels forward. Be sure not to over bend your horse to the inside. The outside rein will slow your horse as needed and can also be used to rebalance your horse. You want your horse to travel forward and sideways at the same time, step by step. You should be able to feel your horse cross over with his front and hind legs. If you’re not feeling that cross over, try reducing his speed and adding leg pressure to create more lateral movement.

 

Once you have successfully mastered this exercise in both directions, try laterally flexing your horse in a working trot. Don’t try adding more speed in your exercises unless you are satisfied your horse has a thorough understanding of what you are asking for.

 

Leg Yielding in relation to barrel turns

 

Turning the perfect barrel requires correct positioning of your horse, making a pocket in that barrel, which will set him up for the turn. Having the ability to move your horse with your legs crossways ensures you will find the correct position every time. Having perfect approaches to a barrel leads to smooth runs and faster times.

 

Having the ability to move your horse away from leg pressure also prevents him from leaning into a barrel and makes it easier to correct your horse, if he does happen to drop his body into a barrel turn. Here, use your inside leg of the barrel turn, moving the horse’s shoulder and rib cage back out of the barrel turn.

 

Also try walking large circles and moving your horse in and out of that circle with leg pressure. This will prove beneficial in moving your horse’s body out of a turn, or barrel turn, during your mounted shooting patterns. Don’t forget to always execute your yielding exercises in both directions to ensure a balanced horse.

 

Leg Yielding in relation to the “rundown”

 

Having the ability to move your horse laterally also enables you to maintain a correct position during a straight rundown.

 

If your horse moves too close or turns the rundown barrel too wide, use leg pressure to move the horse back into the correct position, while continuing to focus on your shooting.

 

This ability to yield a horse into correct position is also an essential element of a great rifle horse. The majority of mounted rifle shooters engage the rundown with little or no contact on the horse’s reins. Moving your horse laterally with leg pressure ensures the animal stays on track, when you need him the most.

 

Taking it to the trail

 

In order to keep your horse feeling fresh, it is important to spend time outside the arena. Simple leg yielding exercises can be applied to your trail riding activities. Be creative in your riding; find trees and other trail obstacles that you can utilize to continue your horses training.

 

While walking or trotting your horse down the trail, apply leg pressure and ask him to move laterally off your legs. Reward him, and then let him relax for a little while before asking him again. Don’t spend hours forcing the same exercises over and over again; it gets boring and very frustrating for your horse (and you!). Keep your training interesting and to the point in order to keep your horse’s attention.

 

Trees are a great substitute for barrels and balloon poles. Looping and circling through trees allows you to practice obtaining the correct bend through your horse’s body. This will keep him soft and supple (as well as attentive and interested).

 

In Summary

 

Flexion is the key to a well-balanced horse. Having the ability to move your horse and his body into the correct position enables you to take the fastest possible path through a pattern, which consequently leads to faster times.

 

Why is horsemanship so important? The best mounted shooters in the sport today are most importantly great riders.

 

Remember the old cowboy saying, “When you’re riding, you’re either training….or un-training”? Make each ride count, whether it is in the arena or out on the trail.

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