How To Engage Your Horse's Back

[@HmainTomlinson]

Guys, when he says it takes a year, he doesn't mean you can't get the horse "on the bit" in one year. You can. He means it will take one year for the horse to develop the muscles properly!

[@cynthiasharon4479]

The way you get the horse to stretch down into the bit is simple. You reward him for the smallest stretch by giving some on the rein. This means you move your hand away from your body and towards his head. If he keeps giving, then slowly release the rein through your finger tips. If he stops giving or raises his head up, then shorten the reins until you have a little pressure in his mouth and start over. The minute he gives (goes over the back and lowers his head) that is the minute you give him more reign.

[@HmainTomlinson]

Damn... I finally understand! All this time I have been thinking about the head, and pulling it in with tones of different methods! Because if you ask someone how to get a horse on the bit, that's what they say! I feel I finally understand the concept of "On the Bit" properly!!! More people need to watch this video!!!

[@vosiferous9154]

RIGHT? The improper things are all too prevalent (though there are small bits and pieces of classical coming back into the picture, thankfully). I found this man last year (almost to the day, actually). He and veterinary expert Dr. Gerd Heuschmann have really helped me in my knowledge of how the horse's body functions and how to properly train and engage a horse. I also recommend finding any of the 50+ veterinary science articles explaining how hyperflexion (in the articles defined as the head being tucked to any degree, slight behind or severe rollkur) is detrimental to the horse's physical and mental health.

[@allsmiles3215]

This is so helpful. And to those of you complaining about how long it takes- That's the magic of riding. That's why it's different from any other sport- you aren't just responsible for yourself, you have to do your best to help your partner use himself correctly. You can't communicate with words either. It's freakin hard- that's why we dont call it football (:

[@greatmistleighfarm]

Brilliant! Classical but MODERN! Surprised to see this when there are so many people out there seeking but not finding... Very impressed.

[@stellacarrick3961]

omg finally someone who explained it this thoroughly and easily understandable!!! thank you so much!!!!!!

[@kellym.stearns7387]

Super, showing how to ride forward into the hand rather than pull a horse into frame... Most horses I have tried need remedial work due to people failing to understand hands are not the tools to pull a horse into frame...Thank you for this great video.

[@WhiteStarWoman]

So excited to find someone that not only gets this but can teach it!!!! BRAVO!!!!!!

[@Padmavideo]

The best thing you can do is find a trainer who understands how to properly engage the core and work closely with them. Much of it is a very finessed feel... I wish I could help you by just giving a brief description but words alone won't replace having someone on the ground watching and teaching. Best of luck and happy riding!

[@jameswills110]

Padmavideo

[@freya.16]

Finally someone who teaches collection of horse right!!! Most riders, even pro riders, are riding the horses with their head on their breasts whic is so horrible and the horses back is not even working properly....Thank you man❤️

[@POTPachyOTP]

Wow this taught me alot as a new person. And this seems so ethical. They have the pressure of having the head down and raising the back and when they achieve the raising of the back and engagement of the hind end they get to have a raised head. At least I'm assuming just by the pressure and release. Horses are so smart. They figure all this out without treats. Just by consistancy. Time. And clear direction.

[@ernniie]

I absolutely loved this video, and after a 30minute session for each of my horses, they are both working super well and noses to the ground!! Can't believe how quickly the results happened, so glad I found this video! :)

[@akanewe]

Will I must say, as much as I am against all sorts of equine sports and competitions, only for the animal and the countryside, I find your energy positive and clear. You have a clear idea of what good and healthy riding is for you and you can get your message through. Not all trainers/teachers have this ability. I must credit you for making me realize that there are non snob, non stiff-necked and non-haughty minded dressage people around, difficult to find but they're out there...

[@lynnes11]

It is the difference between competitive dressage and classical dressage --this guy is a classical dressage trainer.

[@XxElliexXE]

This is exactly what i do to warm my horse up! i never expect her to come into a nice round soft contact straight away and always stretch her before i do anything else! Great video!

[@shirehorse91]

Really, really good advice. People need to understand that doing it incorrectly, like lifting weight incorrectly, will damage your horse's back. Too many U'd backs in dressage.

[@o0Affinity0o]

Wow, I actually understand what it means for a horse to be round now! My instructor never really explained it in such a clear and concise way.

[@chriswarner722]

This is EXACTLY what my trainer has been trying to get me to do. This guy knows what he's doing (Y)

[@laurenmichelemcgarry8495]

Very nice. No devices or special bits or harsh hands can do this only encouragement to move and stretch and the riders body must be doing the same. I appreciate that it is pointed out that this will create a very buoyant feeling in the rider ( not the tense harsh seat riding you often see) but equally important it takes 1 or more years to develop this.

[@anna-daisypalmer3370]

I honestly thought you just taught your horse to keep its head tucked in. This has helped so much thank you

[@Sebras99]

Thank You! I finally understand why its important to have the horse lift his back and Then his poll! THANK YOU!!!!

[@Ridinoncloudz]

Love this video. He is very clearly explaining what a lot of people miss....

[@Braveanimal]

Thank you so much for explaining this not only in words, but in pictures and also in how it is supposed to feel!

[@Intention_seekers]

that feeling he talks about when the back is up is the best feeling you can ever have. it bonds you with the horse you achieve it with, especially if its for the first time. i now own the horse i had my first experience on :)

[@StormValleyStables]

This guy is a genius, and amazing trainer. WOW is all I have to say. Really helped my understanding on this even more!

[@Sandiesage]

Awesome Video...so many people need to watch this!!

[@reaclea7628]

Your videos really are educational and easy to follow too.

[@virginiaallston832]

Exactly! Our family pony is 31 and still going strong. We have trained with colleagues of Richard Hinrichs in Germany and stretching the back is everything. Happy horse, happy riders!

[@sanchmargar]

thanks - this was a very nice explanation and demonstration. I wish everyone would please ride their horses correctly and that horses would not have to suffer anymore bad riding. Thanks for this educational video.

[@louisesmith1261]

Super reminders - I have started my young horse out this way and he is building nicely too. I was just having this conversation with a young lady today who is struggling with all the conflicting information from pony club instructors, etc. I was telling her about exactly this :) Any more to come?

[@slytherinchiefette]

Can this guy please be my trainer???

[@thecheyenneb_]

Right? My trainer is great, but no matter what she tells me to do, I can't get my mare to engage her back (round). I need this guy at my barn. xD

[@julia-py8iy]

same! he seems so knowledgeable and like he would be such a great resource to have around the barn

[@Cmartin621]

He has his own channel called arttoride if anyone wants more information. Lots of good stuff on there

[@Julia-mi2ij]

@@thecheyenneb_ Hi, five years late but never hurts to respond lmao. Raised poles and equiband is a super way to make your horse lift it's back(: Humane and nice for the horse (:

[@sherrytillotson3816]

This video is very well done! Saw it a couple months ago and I keep referring back to it. I pick something else up every time I see it! Really has helped me understand what my trainer has been helping me with! She teaches this way and now I see why it is taking so long for my horse to step under correctly. So I just need to continue with patience. Thank you for taking the time to put this video together!

[@usmdressage]

I love this video!!! This is how I was taught by my father Otto Sameit who was a German riding intructor. I'm very sad he's not with us anymore. I'm very glad that someone is teaching this way, thank you.

[@tamcanally]

This is such a great video, we need soooo many more trainers in the hunter jumper world who put down the draw reins and focus on taking their time to properly develop muscles with patience. I wish this guy could give about 90% of trainers in the h/j industry a clinic. If I see one more neck stretcher or draw reins on a horse in the schooling ring I may just call him up haha

[@lauracaldwell4387]

I know this video was posted such a long time ago, but watching it today really made me feel more confident in my riding and the process I am in with my horse. I have an OTTB where I really need to help him stretch and develop his top line. When we trot, he puts his head way down and I've been frustrated because I didn't know what he was doing (I knew it was some sort of stretching, but him being my first project horse, I thought he was just testing me and I feel really stupid now lol) . I never really had anyone say "That's good, that's what he's suppose to be doing" like this video has. It's really boosted my self-confidence as a rider...I really though I was doing something wrong so I started digging for videos on stretching. What a great video! Now I've just got to keep him trotting when he puts his head down like this!

[@SarahK293]

This is such a great method! I have a 20 year old Arabian mare who was trained with martingales and draw reins since she was 3 or 4 (I bought her at 11) and a 5 year old half-Arab gelding I trained myself with just a 3-piece loose ring snaffle. My mare has done well at shows but her neck is usually very tense when I ask for collection because she was rushed into training as a filly. I used this method on my gelding, and now when I shorten my reins he flexes at the poll and is relaxed!

[@Chevron704]

I've been learning this at the stables where I ride in Maryland for years, but wasn't sure exactly how to teach it at the camps I work at (actually doing it and teaching it to kids are two very different things). This video helps me figure out how to teach it better to the kids and adults I work with, especially when we have the horses that behave better when you do this with them but have riding instructors who have never learned this stuff. Thanks!!!

[@jcrowley1220]

Came back to watch this video again! Love it! I only wish there were teachers like you in TN!

[@conchoEV]

Why does this man have to be 3000 miles away! Absolutely perfect video! Perfection!

[@shellykennedy5427]

Eye opening video. So happy to hear this information about engagement. Fifty five years ago, I learned the classical style of the old masters. Without realizing it at the time that’s likely why my horse was healthy and rideable into his late twenties.

[@bfromhold]

Very helpful video and I appreciate your honesty by emphasizing that it takes lots of time to perfect this technique.

[@knhappyface]

Such a valuable resource.

[@horselovermkdm]

This video is soo awesome! I've started working my horse with his back up and i can already see worlds of difference! Thanks soo much for an awesome video!

[@mbschan]

One of my favorite videos! I always go back to it as a reference to see if I am achieving the goals with my horse as a represented on the video. Thanks!

[@Amarillosusan]

Great videos! Wish you were still making them

[@Gems831]

I felt my horses back come up for the first time the other day, and omg! its so dramatic like he said!

[@KLo12151]

This makes sooo much sense. My gelding is the classic "disconnected" example, due to a long back and a weak hind end. But I will definitely be using these techniques.. Thanks so much for posting!!

[@capaldi38]

WOW this makes so much sense, we are taught to pull the head in to get collection, my horse loves to trot with her head right down and i thought this was wrong, when she does an extended trot her head is almost on the floor, ive been trying to pull it up which breaks the trot, this makes perfect sense to me now!

[@FireFlyStar96]

Thank you so much for reposting this again! This is the best I've ever seen someone explain and show this on film.

[@EChique]

Agree 100%! My old trainer always taught the "head down always and by any means necessary", and its always a fight to get him to keep it down. This video made so much sense, i'm excited to find some exercises for tomorrow!

[@ExclusivelyEquine]

I enjoyed this short video. To the point. Most important point, I found, was when he reminds us it takes ONE YEAR to bring the top line up. I think too many riders are in a rush and need to be reminded of this. There are no short cuts.

[@rbrad10172]

Awesome I shared with my riding students. They really needed to understand what this means.

[@magicrabbit1673]

Thank you so much my horse is now building strength and collecting

[@KMartha22]

brilliant video. I finally understand how to get my horse on the bit.

[@consciousartlife]

How I wish Will Faeber was my trainer, I LOVE his energy and his way of explaining things, unfortunately I live on the other side of the planet, but man he is cool!

[@northernirishgal2681]

Great video and easily explained x

[@scrider8464]

Makes sense, thank you. Had no idea the training would take 1 year to get horse's back up and 2 years for collection.

[@KimParkerAdcock]

Thank you so much for this. I have a young TB who's been put in an outline too early and has a lot of tension as a result. I'm taking her right back to basics and this video is enormously helpful! Keep up the good work =]

[@KristinGrov]

I always ride my trotter like this and now he got it really good! You can see on all these horses that they are not tense and enjoys the workout. Great vid! :)

[@xLunai]

I really really want to start getting my horse to lift her back and become connected, but I'm not 100% sure how to do that. I'm ready to commit to a year of almost daily riding but I do NOT want to do the wrong thing for a whole year and then have wasted my time. From my understanding, and please correct me if I am wrong, you give the horse a loose rein and allow them to stretch down, praise when they do, and use your leg to get them to move forward into that contact. Is this correct?

[@cheesethekoala8756]

xLunai I’m a little late but from what I understand, you always give when your horse stretches. When they stretch their neck down you let the reins slip through your fingers so they can stretch and that loosening of the reins is the reward. However, as soon as their head goes up tighten your reins to get contact back and do it all over again. Takes patience

[@jgerl100]

Hi Kathryn I do understand the importance of stretching . . . I had just never heard anyone say it would take 2 years of riding everyday. I do not plan to ever compete with my horse, but I do the stretching exercises every time I ride and in ground work, knowing it is important. Just thought that personally, that statement was very discouraging. As in, all or nothing. Thanks for responding.

[@gracecloutier5057]

Best video yet

[@elizabethmaher9578]

Excellent video

[@mesatop5]

I have a TWH and would dearly love to see some videos addressing collection and gaited dressage -- especially since conventional wisdom advocates a "heavy" seat to encourage the flatwalk and related gaits. That said, I do love all these vids -- keep 'em coming!

[@KerryMackay]

This man is just simply amazing!!

[@cinnamon8884]

Descente de main doesn`t mean to descend on the hand but rather to not use hand aids for a short moment in order to proove if the horse remains in the same frame without giving aids constantly.

[@catecrismani]

beginning dressage for me with Felisa Richards...so much to learn but my horse, TB mare, Raiderette is a natural...she is so very very intelligent and oh so sweet!

[@ArttoRide]

Dear 1Osalo, the horses you see in this video were all learning this for the first time. The footage was shoot over the two days of a clinic. In all cases they were horses who had been going hollow with dropped backs for years. If we achieved a supple swinging back in that short of time, I'd say we're doing pretty well as everything else comes from that. The back and it's ability to lift can only be developed over time and over the entire length of the top line at the same level of muscular

[@geryroe]

Great video, very easy to understand thank you!

[@TaraNolanHorses]

Will, this is a great video and I've included it in my recent blog post and posted it on my facebook fan page. There was a lot of video production work to make your education clear and I really like the side-by-side correct/incorrect display. I hope to meet you one day. Tara :)

[@vikingwoman3372]

Thank you for making this video... i have a 17 yr old arab horse. we used to combete in dressage-not often,because i have stage fright but we trained often-both in the riding house and when on hikes.. very often balanse training and other-he was in very good shape but i got sick and ended up in and out of hostbital alot-i now know that i have a condition called MS.. so my horse-my 17 yr old (i had him since he was 3 yrs) has not been trained for about one year. i have just started riding him again. we train quite a bit of balanse and going on longtrips gettinghis stamina up.. when we are riding in the riding house or arena i often ride him on long reins and he seeks down-just like on your video-i know it is way to early but shall i let him do this (he loves to do this-espessially in trot) and support hum by either standing in my stirrups or sitting down and let him go or should i stop him and not let him do this untill we have been training for a few months more? i hope we will be able to enter one competition again sometime,lukely he is healthy,smart and does not look his age.. i dont need to enter a high dressage class i would be content with starting the lowest or next lowest.. i would love to get some advice from you :) Love from Norway

[@littlerascaleventing]

I don't know how long it took me to figure out how to get the horse to stretch down and seek contact, but now that I've finally figured it out, my horse has taken to it like a duck to water. Down there with his head is his favorite place to be.

[@MYRuffian1975]

VERY VERY VERY helpful TY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@cp2105]

very good Video.

[@janetrains83]

Great info, concise video, well done!

[@0Mirus]

I managed to do this a couple days back, and oh my god it felt good.

[@SarahK293]

I agree 100%. If I can stay dedicated to a sport for 15 years (and I'm only 18), I'm not sure why adults can't do the same... I'm training my 5 year old Half-Arabian who I bought as a barely-broke 4 year old, and riding definitely takes patience and dedication to be done correctly. I hope to be a trainer like you who encourages their students to do the same!

[@carolinan94]

Amazing video :D My teacher is french and he teaches that! Very nice explanation! Thanks for that lovely video

[@Katho2222]

Wonderful video :) I can only agree with every word, as I went through every step myself! Sadly one often sees horses who don't engage their back, even in the highest dressage competitions...

[@LightRaven1000]

Its kind of like magic. My trainer has me just keep my hands steady, resting my hands on the horse's withers. You gradually shorten the reins, "sneakilly" as my trainer would say, so the horse doesn't tense up. Then you work them from inside leg to outside rein doing lots of circles, figure-8s and changes of direction.Once they feel soft and light,like they are working off the outside rein, slowly let your reins out and your horse should follow the slack out and go long and low.Hope it helps.

[@horsechik]

every rider needs to watch this video. i've ridden at a few barns, with multiple coaches, and in those 11 years of riding, only ONE coach had explained this method to me. the worst part is that the one suffering from the cheaters method of collection is the horse :(

[@Galemor1]

Yeah that lift is amazing.. But also the feeling that your horse is self-balanced, that it will take and keep going in the same frame, even if you let the rains go..

[@alwaysmmmusic]

Brilliant! Thanks for this video!

[@twilightingX]

This is one of my favorite video's. I've watch it and shown it to horsey friends most be over 20 times in the last year. My only problem is. It still doesn't explain how to get the horse to stretch into the contact. It explains how it feels and how it should look. But not how to get there. What do I do with my body and hands to encourage my horse to stretch down? How much contact should I have before and during the stretch. How do I show him what I want? Do I keep my hands active?

[@HmainTomlinson]

One way is, work your horse normally, but then at the end trot him round with your reins very loose, so he stretches his neck:) Continue doing this until you can just loosen your reins and he will stretch his neck :)

[@nicolebarnes2526]

+grace x What I do to encourage my horse to "seek out" contact while stretching is first while with normal contact I push my horse forward into my hands and bring my inside rein back towards my hip and slightly massage the rein. I will then open my hands slightly and allow my horse to take the reins slowly from my hands. At no point will I let the reins go loopy as I still want my horse to be looking for that contact while he is stretching down. If he stops looking for the contact I will massage my inside rein again until he stretches down and seeks that contact again. I will allow him to stretch out and then pick him back up and repeat the exercise again. Once your horse gets it all you have to do is push forward and slightly massage your inside rein and he will immediately stretch out, seek the contact, and lift his back.

[@theskirtrider]

Okayy..but would you keep an inside leg on when using an inside rein so the horse won’t come off the rail? Or would you circle?

[@rileymonika854]

@@nicolebarnes2526 omg thank you

[@Tarzzzzzz]

I would really love how to start this technique on my 3yo. He is green broken. This video makes alot of sense and is very logical! But I don't even know where to start I have alot of years in the saddle but there all cattle work, I have no experience in this kind of work .. If you could give me some advice on how to start I would be very thankful :)

[@claudiahorsevideos]

This was fairly helpful! The horse goes well at home, and it is ez to get the stretchy circles and work on a long rein. However, at shows (hunter) all bets are off. He is ottb, and becomes so nervous he hollows, head is thrown in the air and is wayyyyyy behind my leg. I do not use martingales or any devices. I have a better understanding of the mechanics of his reactions now. Thanks for the great video!

[@never2love2]

@scotchb29 wrong. You connect the horse with your seat and leg, not your hand. You can make a horse round completely tackless if you use your leg and seat correctly

[@20trudel]

Very helpful, because it's true you see people riding and all they want to do is get the horses head so arched that they're behind the vertical, and you can still see how the horse is so tense. My horse lowers his head right down to the ground like I seen some of the horses do in this video. Which is good I guess because that means I'm getting somewhere with him, and allowing him to stretch out his neck. But the problem I have now is when I am cantering with him, his head is very low.

[@paulinchenfinchen]

Good point, I absolutely agree that the back should be working and no rider should pull down his horses neck. However, the downside of the shown method is that the horse puts way too much weight on the forehand which may lead to premature wear and tear of the front legs. That is the reason why I would not call this method "classical". There are other - really classical - trainers who achieve the same "connected back" by methods that do not burden that much weight on the forehand.

[@StephanieHill]

Question: "Descente de main (et des jambes)" means "letting the hand (and legs) drop" which I thought was in fact keeping the horse in a highly collected frame while dropping the hands for a moment, checking if the horse is carrying himself properly instead of seeking balance in the rider's hand...?

[@marich91]

Indeed. So it's actually not about going down litterally, in itself, since the hand can stay in place. But it means that as soon as the horse do well, you stop acting so that the horse understands that he's doing well and can find its own equilibrium.

[@20trudel]

Very helpful, because it's true you see people riding and all they want to do is get the horses head arched that they're behind the vertical, and you can still see how the horse is so tense. My horse lowers his head like I seen some of the horses do in this video. Which is good because that means I'm allowing him to stretch out his neck. But the problem I have now is when I am cantering with him, his head is very low, and its hard for me to sit back in the saddle to balance him.

[@1010nicole1010]

@TheSolwyvern i absolutly agree with you. i had a discussion where a girl was upset about rollkur and didn't believed me when i told her, that her way of riding hunter/jumper with high horse head is as harmful for the horseback as rollkur.

[@20trudel]

Very helpful, because it's true you see people riding and all they want to do is get the horses head arched so much that they're behind the vertical, and you can still see how the horse is so tense. My horse lowers his head like I seen some of the horses do in this video. Which is good because that means I'm allowing him to stretch out his neck. But the problem I have now is when I am cantering with him, his head is very low, and its hard for me to sit back in the saddle to balance him.

[@digglygickmcgee]

I started feeling my horse stretching up unto me with his back when we changed his bit. :D It's awesome now!

[@maryannsimonds6464]

Excellent explanation. Good job showing hollowness vs. round and the overall balacned muscles. Adding proper muscle activation and conditioning of the hind end, so the back can come up correctly I hope will be his next video.

[@lulubelleish]

Love This Paula In Australia

[@KathySierraVideo]

Excellent video, and so important. I have one issue: the "takes one year to develop the topline". I cannot find evidence to support this in terms of biomechanics and horse physiology. If done correctly, it should not take anywhere NEAR that time, assuming the horse is reasonably healthy and ready to begin work, even if completely out of shape. Muscles, posture, cardio, tendons, ligaments, bones, muscle memory, I cannot find anything to describe why the topline would take a year to build. Advanc

[@mysticalillution1]

Padmavideo i was wondering if you could do a demonstration video on how to bring the horses back up and create a top line like that so people at home can try and achieve that!! thanks

[@HannahLucyequestrian]

Just a different look from over here - I have two horses which when I first bought them all they wanted to do was have their head in the air, I gave away the rein contact my horses would put their head right up in the air, without contact there was no way of getting either of them long and low (TB had a upside-down neck and friesian had a long back and naturally wanted to travel upwards) So me and my trainer have their head collected and then when they get a top line, we teach long and low

[@Orbitalkowa]

THANK YOU for this clip!