A huge part of our success with the horse is through placing the foot in an exact place over and over again. We need to develop knowledge of where the feet are in any given moment--on the trail, in the ring, in a meadow--regardless. When you know where the feet are going to land, you can influence the flight of a particular foot, thus producing a new outcome, whether it is speed, direction, tempo or balance. Yet we are forever settling for 'close enough' or 'I'm not sure where those feet are going!'.
To many riders, the connection between rein and foot is not a given; they associate pulling the rein with steering and braking, and what the horse does with its feet is secondary. A far more powerful and effective approach is for horse and rider to connect reins and feet in an exchange that is less about pulling, and more about partnering. It requires feel, timing, connection, and rhythm. Connecting the feel of the reins to exact foot placement in any given moment might seem like an expert skill, but the benefits are immediate, and you don't need to be an expert to start. Practice at the walk and backup is the place to begin: the walk is slow and easy to synchronize, and believe it or not, the backup is even slower and easier.
After you warm up, do these walking and backing exercises: At the walk, feel for the motion of the feet, and try to connect to it, even lightly moving your hands as if you are picking each front foot up and moving it to the right, left, or forward. Slow, gentle backing exercises, with a light turn to each side, are a good next step, with the same feel in reverse. With practice, you will get to where you and your horse are so synchronized that each foot will feel as light as a feather. Your horse will fall in love with this sensation quickly, and begin to look for it.
With practice, this sense of connection between rein and foot will become more important than pulling. You will begin to develop a feel for influencing the foot in its natural rhythm. Certainly there is much more for all of us to learn about connected riding; however, these simple exercises alone can create positive change in the way your horse responds to you.(Originally published November 2013)
