4 Exercises for Getting your Horse on the Bit with George Williams

Watch the full 42 minutes here: / 13922430
In this action packed sequence, George Williams puts together a series of exercises that will challenge both horse and rider in bending and suppling. Getting a horse to move with fluidity in dressage can be a challenge from start to finish, each of these exercises flows together to keep your horse guessing about what is happening next, each change challenges the horse to move correctly and use it's body more and more with each progression. In doing so your horse will naturally start to let go of tension and become more on the bit and through in his or her topline.
Try each of these at home and then see how many of them you can put together in a row!
You can watch the full lesson here: • 4 Exercises For Gettin...
This video was filmed at the Robert Dover Horsemastership Program in Wellington Florida in 2016.
President of the United States Dressage Federation and a member of the United States Equestrian Federation Committee, George is a highly accomplished International Grand Prix competitor that is widely renowned in his field.
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[@rainyday1928]

Those canter transitions are a dream

[@MB-yd2gv]

The horse and rider look so good together!

[@wendylow5748]

Lovely horse and rider who looks HAPPY to do the work.

[@michelleday-williams4010]

Great exercises and lovely instructor as well.

[@Dani-ie2nw]

I really like the exercise they did in the beginning with the transitions and 10 meter circles. I'm going to try that with my horse

[@clairelacey8839]

These exercises are actually about more engagement in tthe canter especially from the outside hind leg which initiates each stride. Hence 10m left & leg yield from left improve right lead canter & vice versa.

[@chestity2981]

Perfect job, respect...

[@nikkyrobinson9778]

you got an amazing instructor there!

[@sagearmstrong9770]

George Williams is so lovely

[@DARKhorses73]

Nice rider! 🥰

[@mirandaford8693]

Beautiful pair

[@carolineoja6243]

Cute cute cute 😊👍

[@Friendly9593]

can you face your toes forward.?? More towards the direction you are going>>

[@AngelAng69]

Peters Lucinda you have less balance when you do that.

[@sonseere10]

'on the bit' are you out of your mind. The goal is to get your horse off the bit.

[@millieosullivan9254]

sonseere10 no it's not in dressage

[@beautifuldancingfreestyle2202]

the term 'on the bit' is based off of the form On the bit, is the back end engaged, horse head relaxed, poll highest point, and is on the bit;; Meaning they have connection. Back TO front. NOT FRONT TO BACK. to many believe ON THE BIT is focusing on the horse being HEAVY on the forehand (front) and not caring about the back; but this is quite the opposite. ON THE BIT is just a term that connection means, if you look at a few other riders; you will notice that on the bit is connection. a horse off of the bit, is either pulled behind the vertical or is to far infront of the vertical. (ABOVE THE BIT) this is incorrect riding. CORRECT riding is straight up and down with the head. meaning on the vertical; neither behind nor above. the back end must also be engaged, to get the desired result.

[@carolineleiden]

Wanne be REAL good at horsemanship? Do this without that clunk of metal in his mouth that bothers and hurts him with every move you and him make. Every step he takes you lean back and the reigns get tighter because you keep them at the same position in your hands. You have to compensate for that. Move your body back and your hands forward. Because THIS hurts him. Besides, this is your hobby, not his. He has no choice. Would you like to live his life?

[@MicaelaGutierrez2004]

carolineleiden not to starts an argument, but this is the horses hobby, of not job, too. It’s his/hers athletic ability increasing and the horse getting stronger. And the right bit doesn’t hurt the horses mouth, it’s when the horse says ‘no, I don’t like a -- bit.’ And throws his/her head when they’re in pain. This horse has, I believe, a well set single/double jointed snaffle that is actually very soft on its mouth. And being bitless isn’t for every horse. Some are comfortable in the mouth, and others just don’t like it. Plus, when riding in a bitless bridle, if you’re doing dressage, it can seriously injure the nose bone (I forgot it’s proper name), as the pressure is being put on a thin piece of bone that has a very thin layer of skin. If using a pressure bridle (Dr Cooks for example), the horse may not like its head getting applied pressure and toss it more than with a bit. It’s not like the rider is using a “knife” edge bit that will cut up the horses mouth. Studies have shown that there is more pressure using a bitless bridle than using a bit, because the horse is in too much pain to want to throw his head and get away from it. Plus, a malleable, squishy and slippery area is a better absorber for pressure than a thin, hard and sensitive place that can cause fractures or even worse things. Also, the rider isn’t hauling back on her reins, as the horse is collecting and moving with the bit, as well as the rider moving in time with the horses gaits. If you pop a horses bit in its mouth, it will jerk his/her head as a reaction. The rider is asking for something like collection, she uses literally less than 1/2 lb of pressure, and the horse says ‘oh, bend and flex and pick up my feet.’ Not ‘oh ow this is unbearable pain! I’m going to throw my head and lash my tail and put my ears back to warn people!’ The horse will tell you when you need to back tf up. But, it is a great idea to try things like a bitless bridle once and a while, just to see how your horse reacts. If badly, with find a different bridle, or go back to what you know. If they did great, you found a great way to build trust and a relationship. I rest my point. Still not trying to fight, just stating facts.

[@carolineleiden]

Mad Melody Thank you for being civilized in your answer. On the dangers of that bit, we have different opinions. And on the horses hobby even more. Anything an animal does not do in the wild, it does not like to do. So stop kidding yourself about how much he likes doing it. Now, back to the bit or the bitless bridle. If it were up to me, I would like to see all horses in a cavesson with loose reigns. A good horseperson has a good bond of trust and they can do it. Those that rely on hurting horses have no business even being near a horse. Now, I see you are gentle. But so many other video's I saw the horses were not so lucky. That bit has the potential to be very painful, and too many riders are not gentle. Riders are only human. They startle, or get impatient or annoyed. And the horseworld attracts some bad hombres that are in it for the domination bit. Poor horse who gets bought by those people! A life long of misery and pain awaits. Don't deny it. It's everywhere. I even see little girls mercilessly beating on the horse with their riding crop in a stupid show with no audience except the contestants' mothers. I mean mercilessly and hard and again and again out of anger. I do not want these kinds of bad people to get the chance to ruin a perfectly good horse by misusing that bit. Not every rider is a good rider. I see so much dosdain for horses. They just don't care. They give off all the wrong signaks, and when the horse protests because he is getting hurt, they get angry and hurt them even more. I wish I could ban these people, but I can't, so I am getting the bit legally banned. For everybody. Sorry. There is no other way if you want to save animals from human beasts. You're smart and patient enough to re train without the bit. Everybody will be the same so nobody will have the advantage. The bad people aren't able because they are naturally impatientand and agressive so they will go and find another hobby. Good. That prevents so much future abuse! I am preparing a criminal case against the bit. The bit is just one way of abusing horses, but it is a big step. The rest will follow later. The big gial us to stop people from hurting horses, even without realising it. The bit comes in varieties that could make a Spanish Inquisitor shiver. Some are less intrusive, like the soft Mylers. But even that can tear open the corners of a horses mouth if you pull it too hard. Metal is hard and tissue is soft. Not a good combination. We cannot trust every rider, so to protect every horse, the bit has to go. Same thing goes for the mechanical hackamore with chains or shanks. That one is on my list as well. Basic rule is : no metal on a horse. If it's not there, there is no risk. Good horsepeople can do fine without it and bad horsepeople can go to an S&M club for their fix. It's not about you or your horse. It's about protecting the defenseless horses in the clutches of ignorant or mean people. Please don't fight me. Help those poor creatures.

[@MicaelaGutierrez2004]

carolineleiden you have your opinions and I have mine. Still not trying to fight. I’m not denying that there isn’t abusive in the horse industry: from the soft western pleasure class to the cart pulling. There’s enough abuse in every sport: human or animal alike, and there’s not much people can do about it; because the participants are going to find a way around it. Unless you can ban the bit, the change isn’t likely going to happen. But, good news: there are more and more bitless to tackless events in the horse world taking place at small shows, hoping to reach the top. People like Alicia Burton(I think that’s her name) and her horse Goldrush are perfect examples of great communication and horsemanship. That’s my take on it, yours can be different and I can and will respect it. Have a nice day

[@carolineleiden]

Mad Melody I don't think our opinions are that different. If it could be done, I would be all for better monitoring of riders and a list of harsh bits and takle that wout be outlawed and a list of softer gear that would be allowed. Also a differentiation of dangerous horse sports and non dangerous ones but that is impossible. It would be nuanced and good, but it doesn't work in practice. The horseworld is filled with abusers and the finecombed tooth will not help. Take gir example the Tennessee Walking Horse industry. They are not capable of selfregulating, and even after 50 criminal cases, these people are still doing whatever it was they were doing. Wherever horse neets money, the horse will lose. Only way is a criminal case against the highest organisation that makes the rules for competitions. Because when they make painful and potentially dangerous gear mandatory, they are forcing the contestants to unnecessary cruelty. Cruelty at individual level is clear to see but hard to prosecute. But on an impersonal high up level, it's all about formalities. That is where a judge can actually do something. We already have the law in place, but it is made rather vague with intention. The judges have to make the details as the courtcases present themselves. I hope the federations will either ban the bit or allow bitless tackle at all their events in order to prevent prosecution, because it would mean a scandal. Then the bitless or tackless riders would get a fair chance too and more riders would realise what they are doing. If a rider can SEE the alternative in front of their own eyes, it might make them think. Because these bitless or bridleless riders are getting really good results and they would make the abusers seem really stupid.

[@carolineleiden]

Rebekka B Janes People are flawed. They make mistakes. They are only human after all. They get impatient or annoyed or tired or they startle. And the horse pays the price. That is why I think high risk gear should simply not be used. Because of the idiots that abuse horses with it and the rest who do not correct those idiots when they see it happen. That is thing that surprises me most. Riders SEE other riders really hurt their horses but look away abd do nit speak out or speak up. That is why I am convinced the horseworld cannot correct itself and must be corrected from the outside by a legal ban on harsh gear. Like twisted wire double bits or heavy Pelhams. They simply cannot be trusted around living creatures. See, it's a game. You can win a ribbon! People will put their animal through hell for that ribbon. You DO know what goes on the Tennessee Walking Horse business? That still goes on despite decades of struggle and even legal actions. These horses still get mistreated, only in secret these days. It is being hidden but they are still getting sored. Look it up, if you have a strong stomach.