Dressage Training | Getting Your Horse Forward And On The Bit

Dressage training begins with getting your horse forward and then you can get him On The Bit. In this video, I will show you how you would go about getting your horse on the bit whether he goes above the bit or behind the contact it doesn't matter.
What you need to do is have him forward and taking the contact, then with the use of half-halt, you get him on the bit. Stay until the end as that is where the half-halt is explained and you get to see how they work to bring Rebel onto the bit.
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[@BasicHorseTraining]

Make sure you stay until the end of this video as that is where you get to see how the half-halt works to bring Rebel onto the bit. I hope this helps you understand how "on the bit" is done from the back end to the front of the horse.

[@cassiecole9823]

Love your videos! When you have him going forward and you then use your half halt is that with the outside or inside rein? Thank you

[@BasicHorseTraining]

Cassie usually the outside rein 🙂

[@heatherpike5230]

Thank you! This is so helpful, especially hearing you ride through your mistakes, most people aren't so honest and would edit them out but hearing you say what you did wrong is so helpful because we see rebel respond and you explain how you correct it. Learning how to work through these little things is such a valuable lesson.

[@BasicHorseTraining]

Thanks Heather. I used to watch all the "perfect" training videos and thought that mine never looked like that so I couldn't work out how to get it from where I was to how they looked. That is one of the reasons I started this channel. I want to help others see how it looks in between - well that's what I hope to do. Thank you for your comment. 🙂

[@kmiklaszewski]

The re-test or ask again is one thing that riders are not taught or they forget to do after giving a correction. Going back to the original thing you were working on and then Re-testing/ re-asking after the correction aid is so important to get the horse responding to the lightest of aids. Well done on the video.

[@BasicHorseTraining]

Yes it is an important part of teaching the horse. Thank you for taking the time to comment. ☺️

[@Godless_Doc]

This is really helpful.

[@MaryMDunn1]

So helpful as I find all of your videos!! You are a very good teacher whose explanations really break things down for the rider and for the role of the horse. Thank u!!

[@BasicHorseTraining]

I’m glad you get some value from them Mary. Thank you for taking time to comment 🙏🏻.

[@phoenixx6380]

Very helpful! But one tip - forward doesn't work on a horse which doesn't know to give to your hand (elbow). My horse went forward but resisted every attempt I made to ask for roundness, and I've been riding dressage for thirty years! I taught her to give her jaw/neck to an asking hand on the outside rein. Once she got that, forward into the outside rein from the inside leg worked like magic. I've seen my students struggle with horses that similarly didn't know to give to the hand, when going forward. It just became a frusrating, gojng to fast girraffe contest. Horses need to be taught to go soft to an asking hand - then forward works!

[@gwynethwilliams3343]

OK so I have a 5YO Mustang and I've been struggling with getting him on the bit for MONTHS! SO yesterday I used your tips and just went in straight lines, kept my hands soft and treated my reins like silk threads, and GUESS WHAT!! IT WORKED!! I am so incredibly happy!! As you likely know wild mustangs are hard to work with sometimes especially when they're new to training, his instinct is to raise his head and trot quickly out of a situation where he is uncomfortable and just getting him comfy and happy is really difficult sometimes! but I finally got him on the bit and he was relaxed and happy! it made me so happy to see him relaxed! THANK YOU!!!

[@BasicHorseTraining]

Gosh. You comment has made my day!! I’m so glad it has worked out for you and your boy. 🙂

[@michelekanefsky7511]

Excellent vids! I’m really learning a lot from you in the details! It compliments what I’m learning in my routine lessons with my trainer.

[@BasicHorseTraining]

Glad to help 😊

[@annaguyon6921]

Your videos are amazing! So informative

[@BasicHorseTraining]

Thank you Anna. I’m glad you like them.

[@N2Dressage001]

This video was so helpful, and I love your explanations as you are riding. Thank you!

[@BiBlical8]

Brilliant videos, helping me with my riding for sure, first ever video of yours I saw was at least 7/8 months ago on sit trot, one of my favourite techniques the sitting trot 🙌💯

[@BasicHorseTraining]

Great to hear!

[@janetpearce7481]

I'm loving your training ways, I did the the petal backwards today to keep my heels down amazing.

[@BasicHorseTraining]

It's a good one! Really helped me too!

[@channingblue5889]

This video is amazing! Thank you so much! I can see everything you’re explaining and you have a really easy explanation

[@BasicHorseTraining]

You're so welcome!

[@charlottekidston4245]

Very helpful thank you

[@BasicHorseTraining]

Your welcome.

[@spaziocasainterioare1656]

Again, another beauty video!!! So useful really!!!! Thank you for sharing it and thank you for explaining so well while riding!!! I have a small question: during the initial stage of the trot (with a light contact), does he still work on/with his back or it is mandatory to have it on the bit for a good work over his back? Thank you so so much!!

[@nancyberg1990]

I have been working for 6 months on calming my OTTB under saddle & we now have reached that goal [he was a bolter]. I also incorporate training in rhythm, bending, transitions, etc. including working on getting him on the bit. He had been trained before I got him & knows all of this but I was not as highly trained in dressage, so I had to learn to use my aids properly to ride him correctly. Today, out of nowhere, he clenched the bit and did a very strong, fast trot like "he had someplace he needed to be... so we better get this over with". Would that qualify as being on the bit - he was lowering his head and I felt the topline raise, but I felt like he was in charge...instead of me.

[@cassieb8937]

What do you do with a horse that just speeds up? He takes advantage of my forward hands and completely ignores when I slow my seat

[@dulcietorrans]

So helpful thank you, my mare actively resists working in a nice frame - she'll stretch her neck out and down but won't take the contact and come round. Just a question about that initial contact that was following his mouth, how loose should that be?

[@BasicHorseTraining]

I always think that I have a cotton thread between my hand and the bit. If "I" make it too heavy it will break, if the horse makes it too heavy I put my legs on, close my fingers, set my core and wait for the horse to make it lighter and then instantly release all of those aids. I hope that helps. 🙂

[@rheasingh1376]

Great video!!! When you half- halted him, did you use your ring finger on the inside rein while keeping outside rein steady?

[@mirandy1014]

Same question here. No one gives the details

[@juliebaughan7533]

Hi Josie, thanks for another brilliant video. Just one question…do you squeeze the fingers on just the outside rein or both?

[@BasicHorseTraining]

Julie, I use the outside rein but if the horse begins to turn to the outside because of it I may use the inside rein for a split second to ask him not to counter-flex, or I might want him to counter-flex. I don't use both reins at the same time unless I am wanting the horse to do a down transition and he doesn't listen to my seat. The use of my reins is just a squeeze of my ring fingers and then a release.

[@kathleenboyle8652]

tHANK U FOR CALLING IT 'BASIC HORSEMAN SHIP SO MANY OF MY FELLOW HORSEMAN "THINK DRESSAGE IS A MYSTERY COMPLICATED THING WHEN IN REALITY IT IS BASIC HORSEMANSHIP TAKEN TO HIGHER LEVELS SIMPLE EVERYONE WHO RIDES A HORSE USES IT ...THANK U

[@BasicHorseTraining]

You are welcome Kathleen. Thank you for taking the time to comment 😊

[@Elliss13]

Hello, thanks for the very helpful video! I have a question though - after a go forward leg aid, my horse tends to speed up, but raise its head and drop its back as well, so technically it goes forward, but not the right kind of forward, and it does not take the rein contact. What should I do with that? I try to have as stable contact on the reins as possible, not pulling. Thank you!

[@BasicHorseTraining]

Hi Elliss13, You need to follow him where ever he goes with his head as if you had silk threads instead of reins. So he has to accept you touching his mouth. You need to be honest with your end of the contact and it needs to be really stable but not hard/blocking/pulling. That's step one. Then he needs to know what to do when you have a good elastic contact and you close your ring finger on the reins...he should give to the pressure of your ring finger. That's Step Two. For step three, you should be able to warn him with your reins (that you are about to do something ie go forward) so you usually close the ring finger on your outside rein and he gives softly and then you give him the go forward aid. This all happens very quickly and without anyone actually seeing it as it should be that subtle. It's really hard to convey it in words but I hope that helps you a little 🙂

[@dockamangir]

I really have the same problem with my young horse being always above the vertical. Your videos are really good and I love it that you breakdown the aids and make it easy to understand. Appreciate if you could make a video on this problem and break down the rein aid as well as tips overall working on this problem. Thank you so much.🙏☺️

[@christinelaporte7880]

Hi, Love your way of instructing, thank you,. I am having a hard time finding the seat exercises you mention you will post. where to find them?

[@BasicHorseTraining]

Hi Christine. I’m not sure which one I mention in this video but I have done this one : Exercises For Horse Riders To Balance Your Seat kzbin.info/www/bejne/pGXWipKOiN52asU

[@BasicHorseTraining]

And this one. Improve Your Dressage Riding | Know Where Your Horses Feet Are kzbin.info/www/bejne/fKXdYqWvesajaq8

[@BasicHorseTraining]

And this one. Horse Riding Lessons - How To Use Your Weight / Seat Aids kzbin.info/www/bejne/iH6rqHSMm9mZfrs I hope these help you 😊

[@mirandy1014]

At 12:12 you said you closed your ring finger” and he went on the bit. Please; which rein, inside or outside? Can anyone answer this for me please? I’m not getting a reply 😞

[@shannonclendon1424]

Love this and I will try with my horse soon! My horse will go forward but will rush and then if I try to bring him back he will brace against the contact! He does much better if we have a nice long warm up on a long rein and bring in the contact gradually. But, there are days that he is a bit of a powder keg so that doesn’t work! Suggestions?

[@BasicHorseTraining]

On the days he is "hot" I would do a lot of walk-trot transitions, as long as they don't "bottle him up". I will also do a warm-up with a change of direction for a change of attitude if they are really hot. So when I feel them start to get "hot" I do a change in direction to keep them focused on me and not their "hotness". I hope I have explained that properly lol.

[@shannonclendon1424]

@@BasicHorseTraining that worked! Every time he got a little hot today, I changed direction. Superb. Getting him on the bit without rushing and listening to my aids was FABULOUS!!!!

[@BasicHorseTraining]

I am so happy that worked Shannon 👏👏👏 You have made my day! 😃

[@lulee7375]

That's a whole new video xx

[@myhappygecko2895]

What does his tail swishing mean?

[@mirandy1014]

Hi. At around 9:30 you said you’re indicating with your inside hand to “come around”. I’m confused bc I went thru the comments on another video and you confirmed to someone that to get horse on the bit you 1/2 halt (or indicate) w outside hand. So can you pleaseee explain why you used inside rein on this vid and outside on your video of getting the horse on the bit. I realize at 9:30 you’re not working to get him on the bit but why wouldn’t you have indicating w outside rein for him to come around. These are my only questions ab everything. I understand all the other concepts. I think lol It seems the more vids I watch the more confused I get☹️

[@joseelarose3327]

Thank you for the video. May I ask what is the lineage of Rebel?

[@BasicHorseTraining]

His mother is a beautiful Thoroughbred and his father is Rotspon a Warmblood 😍 ihb.com.au/product/rotspon/

[@joseelarose3327]

@@BasicHorseTraining Oh, Hanoverian. Nice.

[@heathert.6554]

Thank you for the video! My question is about release. I think you are maintaining the same light contact no matter what the horse does. Is that right? If that's the case, how does he know he's got it right without a release of pressure? Thank you in advance!

[@BasicHorseTraining]

Hi Heather, That is such a great question. You are correct in that I am maintaining the same light contact no matter what the horse does. This is because i am trying to "habituate" him to the feel of the bit - it is actually called "acceptance of the bit" . It is like I want him to accept my leg on his side because if he doesn't I could never use a leg aid. If he doesn't accept a light connection with my hand I will never be able to use the bit as an aid. I wont be able to put some pressure on it (by just squeezing my ring finger) and get him to give to that pressure. The pressure is super light and he becomes "habituated" to it because it is always there. If his mouth was a hand and I wanted to give him secret messages through "hand squeezes" He would need to hold my hand before I had the ability to do that. I hope that has translated ok into the written word. Please let me know if it hasn't and I will try to find another way to explain it snd thanks for asking such a super question.🙂

[@heathert.6554]

@@BasicHorseTraining Thank you! That makes sense. But since you are not releasing the contact, how are you signaling to the horse when he's doing it right? Trying to learn this to apply to my own horse.

[@BasicHorseTraining]

I understand where you are coming from as the horse learns from the release of the pressure but in this instance if I release the pressure then he doesn’t learn to accept the contact. I really want to point out that the contact is VERY light If I had a piece of cotton on the bit it wouldn’t break ... that light. So he learns to accept it because nothing makes it go away - he becomes used to it and accepts it and then I have a base to start to ask him to give to pressure. So I ride with the same base pressure and then when I want to put him a little deeper I squeeze my ring finger and therefore put a little more pressure on this mouth. He gives and then I give the rein an inch or two and he follows and goes deeper. Does that help?

[@dockamangir]

Ring finger of both hands or just outside rein?

[@juneequestrian9540]

What if your horse puts his head way too high? What can I do so he will walk on bit

[@BasicHorseTraining]

I don't really understand what you mean sorry June?

[@sleepy2294]

@@BasicHorseTraining I am assuming that what they're trying to say is that the horse is resisting the pressure. So he/she is lifting his/her head up high

[@loredelore7286]

Take him for a swim and gallop it really helps this type of horse. Lazy types cant cope with the repetitiveness of a dressage arena, makes them switch off.

[@BasicHorseTraining]

Yep … he heads out in the paddocks you see behind us when the crops have been harvested. He loves it ☺️

[@naunettemartin7450]

Can I ask you want kind of bite can I use win I my ride ing my horse thank you Nannette