Happy New Year for 2012! I am looking forward to working with many old friends this coming year and to making lots of new ones as we come together on our continuing journey with the horse. Working with and learning from horse people is one of my favorite passions in this life and I look forward to meeting and greeting many in this coming year.

So where were we? Last article, I left you working on ground work for teaching and improving the backup on your horse. But, the reason we work on the ground is to make it easier and safer to teach from the saddle. So, if you are ready and have done your homework, you are ready to mount up and teach the backing lesson from the saddle. Get your mount caught up, groomed up, tacked up and warmed up and let’s get started.

This exercise from the saddle is the same sequence you use from the ground. It is known as Hip/Shoulder/Shoulder because you move the hip over while stopping the near shoulder, then step the far shoulder back. Your horse should already know the Hip/Shoulder part from all the hip disengagement you have already practiced. By building upon a maneuver the horse already understands, it makes it easier to get the right answer. And by teaching it one-reined, it is easier to avoid the bracing that is common with two.

Keeping this Hip/Shoulder/Shoulder sequence in mind helps you keep focused while you work and your focus produces clearer cues which, in turn, make it easier for your horse to understand and respond correctly. When you think about the next step before actually applying pressure, your body makes subtle changes that the horse picks up on and then he is prepared to make a quicker, lighter response.

To begin this lesson, warm your horse up with some walking and/or trotting serpentines. Then work on disengaging the hips in sets of 20 reps on one side, then 20 on the other. As you pick up on the rein, take note of how much pressure it takes to get the correct response. You are wanting your horse to stop his forward movement, pivot on the inside shoulder while stepping the required hip over on a light cue. He should come to a complete stop and wait until you ask him to go forward again. If he walks off before you cue, immediately pick up the same rein and ask the hip to move again.

Don’t get in a hurry at this step. You might need to take a few days to get the rein really connected to the hip for a light, quick response. By taking the slack out slowly and then adding pressure in 3 second increments, your horse will get used to responding on a light cue to avoid the increased pressure. For the really lazy horse, add a little more impulsion by bumping with both legs after you pick up the rein and ask for the hip to move.

The next step is to take the outside shoulder back. You will still be working in sets of 20. Ask your horse to walk forward, pick up the left rein and ask the hip to step over 2 steps. Release the pressure but don’t drop the rein. Pick up the slack again while keeping the rein close to his neck and thinking back. Don’t apply too much pressure and don’t put the rein on his neck; just take the slack out, add a little more and wait. His first correct response may be no more than a lean backwards at which you will release immediately to reward the thought. Work up to giving just mini-releases on the lean but don’t fully release until you get the right shoulder and foot to take a step back.

In the beginning, your horse will probably think you are asking him to disengage his hip again but do not release. Keep the rein in close to the neck while thinking about the shoulder stepping back. Don’t try to force it by pulling harder but don’t give in until the horse moves back. Even if he is still moving the hip, if he steps back with the right front, release the slack. Each time, wait 5-10 seconds before asking him to walk forward again and starting over. Vary the amount of forward steps each rep. Take your time in the beginning and give the horse time to discover the correct response. If you lay the foundation carefully, it will be easy to refine it and add speed.

When the horse begins to understand to step back after disengaging the hip, give a mini-release but wait for him to give to the bit before giving a full release. Gradually, you can eliminate moving the hip first by moving the rein in closer to the neck when taking the slack out. When he is backing well using each rein individually, you can add the outside rein after the inside one to straighten his head even more.

Remember to complete one step at a time. Also note that backing is strenuous on the horse’s muscles so only work 10-20 minutes at a time on this lesson without giving him a break. You can work on other forward exercises for at least 15 minutes and then you can do more backing but don’t overdo it or he will get sore and sluggish. Spread this lesson over several days and your horse will be backing and stopping great in no time.

The backing and stopping exercises are also great to practice out on the trails. But that will have to be another article. So, until next time,
— God Bless and stay safe,

Ann

Ann Kirk is available for clinics or lessons in your area. She also offers her services for evaluations. For more information on Ann and her Sensible Horsemanship Programs go to www.annkirk.com. These lessons and others are available on the Sensible Horsemanship DVDs. Also check out her New DVD—Sensible Trailer Loading,