How to teach your horse to piaffe in hand

[@JusmeandmrD]

OMG!!! SUCCESS STORY!! I started the leg lifting today!! My guy picked it up really quick and I thought he was going to drive that foot right up into his belly! And, no problems at all with holding it! I only did 3 lifts on each side - ended on a super good note. Thanks so much :-)

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Sweet!! That’s great! Keep at it!

[@dominiquecortese9886]

Dear Amelie thank you so moch i just love it. You are so sweet with your horse you convince him. I can t wait to try i let tou know. Dominique

[@sudburyhouse]

He is a good boy! You can tell he’s a sensitive horse but you can see that he trusts you. I think you helped a lot of people with “sometimes ask for a little more but don’t live in it”. Made a lot of sense! good video. Thanks Amelia

[@richardcruz1325]

Great job. This is the best video explanation I've seen of raw training. You are doing a great job. Please keep these videos coming

[@stellajchandler8311]

Love your clear explanation of what you are teaching Harvey to do. Although i did a year of dreaage training when i was younger, i unfortunately didn't have a chance to do any piaffe but so inspired to try it when my beautiful mare has been trained. Currently a long work in progress. Excellent video, thankyou Amelia.

[@Jeff-cr9ho]

I’m just shocked that humans were able to get horses to actually do this. Like, ever.

[@jadeocooney]

Right? All the dressage moves! And go find some Spanish and Portuguese style! It’s pretty cool.

[@debrabergstrom2396]

So much gentler than the “swat the croup with a long whip” method. Thank you

[@cleliaoconnell3705]

How does smacking their butt make them piaffe anyways? It just annoys them right?

[@mountaingirl.]

So fun to watch you work these horses. You make it look easy!

[@SB-ll1tt]

Aw he is lovely! He is trying so hard!!! Thanks for this. I loved the bunny hop at 9.09!!

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

You are so kind

[@olivia-jaynew8740]

I want to try this on my pony He’s quite old but with the right encouragement m sure he could do it. I love this video it’s so helpful and clear!

[@snickercappydo]

Love this type of video. Working by yourself is difficult but you give me the courage to try it. Thanks!

[@Natasha-o5f]

I like how she stays so calm. Godbless

[@lifeinthesaddle7002]

Yesterday i taught my horse to lift her front feet (one at a time obvi) if i tap it with the whip/stick and today I actually had the idea that i could teach her to piaffe to now im watching videos and i see that you're tapping the hind feet🤭 but ill trach my mare to lift her hind feet as well. Shes a fast learner luckily

[@heikepolleichtner9926]

sehr gutes Gefühl für das sensible Pferd, sehr gutes Timing für die Korrektur und das Maß der Einwirkung. Freue mich wie immer über das Video und danke liebe Amelia, dass du mit uns dein Wissen und Können teilst. lg.

[@goluch7333]

Im not really into dressage as i have seen some people training their horses to do dressage in many horrible ways but this way is actually not and that mean.

[@equinesoul1968]

Yeah, this is pretty much the standard for dressage training.

[@JD7980]

Of course it's YOU that made this video! Omg I've dying to find a video like this because I just broke my 2 3/4 year old . He literally let me get right on him the 1st time , Amelia! I have a video on my IG. And thanks for helping me teach him "forward " by "tap tap tap" , changed our lives lunging. We love you!

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Yay!! Awesome!! Glad to hear it!!

[@Corpsie_Waifu]

Going to teach my Mini to do this:) I think it’s so cute and he’s always excited to try new things

[@amandaehrlich6146]

This horse is absolutely immaculate! That’s a million dollar build right there! ❤

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

thank you!

[@nala3055]

how do transition from teaching this on the ground to in the saddle? as in how are the commands different and how do you teach them to respond to riding signals from learning ground signals?

[@okaygrace__1981]

You see how at 5:25 she’s touching his hind quarters? Basically do the exact same thing while in the saddle just tap his hind quarters and cluck

[@okaygrace__1981]

Or the shoulder either way

[@maryannwettstein-stoothoff1154]

I love the training in hand so you can see what their legs are doing. Do you ever reward with treats? Where can I find a carbon fiber rod like the one you use?

[@JJhaze]

You are so smart Amelia! I'm still learning to ride .. Lol. My horse likes to argue with me. Haha

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

You can do it!

[@JJhaze]

@@AmeliaNewcombDressage He gets annoyed with me after 2 mins... I'm kinda scared he's gonna kick me.. I trust him more when I'm ON him rather than being BESIDE him on the ground... If that makes sense??

[@Miguel.El.Tomate]

Great...i think that the horse will understand bcs of your tender and beautiful voice... thanks a lot dear

[@trinesandns4947]

Love your gentle method! Thank you🙏

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

You are so welcome!

[@dreamingcolorsfarm3301]

I show miniature horses and want to teach them dressage for driving. Could you do some more in hand videos and some long lining?

[@tamekaellard8171]

Do you have any tips on how to get him to shift the weight? We can get the leg lifting but struggle to get the sequential left right left steps

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Just keep tapping the leg. It might take a while but eventually they will shift the weight themselves.

[@tamekaellard8171]

Amelia Newcomb Dressage thanks so much!!

[@chelseajdequestrian6438]

Yessss!!! This explains so much more! :)

[@TeriFelixREBroker]

Amelia ... do you have an amazon affiliate link for your carbon fiber stick? I like the way it sounds and think it would work well for my two horses. I am 57 and a new rider that has a very experienced eventer (whim I frustrate because he’s highly trained and I am not.. but I do have a weekly trainer come train me) .. and a 17hh grandson of Seattle Slew who is an accomplished racehorse and an animated goofball who loves to kiss me. I would bet my Paint can do this and Vic our OTTB would be eager to learn this.

[@equestrianaims7533]

Omg! Amazing!!! Well done xx

[@snowmoththehybrid6565]

Quick question: can heavier draft horses such as shires do things like this?

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

For sure! It's a little harder for them since they're not built to excel at it, but there are halflingers, Friesians, and other draft style horses that compete at the FEI levels!

[@amberflamehrt8564]

I love that it’s very soft. I recommend treats

[@leealexander3507]

I can't use anything longer than a dressage whip or I have a bronc in hand. Some idiot hit him with a lunge whip once hard enough to cut his hip.

[@rylee.101]

Lee Alexander poor horse hope he is ok and doesn’t suffer of fear, I would get him used to having a whip used on him and lunging him.

[@cleliaoconnell3705]

I once rode a pony who suffered trauma linked to ball (when he was young another rider through the ball wrong and it landed on his face, making him traumatised of it), and with time and effort in desensitization, we managed to make him ok around the ball. Our team even won events and I rode that pony. I could pick up the ball from the floor and pass it around almost comfortably. Try working on his desensitization and I promise you, if you do it right, it will work.

[@spirit__i4952]

I know this video was from a long time ago but do you think you can teach pony’s this way? (I mean like 11hh pony’s)

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Yes, of course!

[@spirit__i4952]

@@AmeliaNewcombDressage I started teaching her yesterday to lift her leg she did it at first then was tired 😅

[@keithbenefit]

are treats important ? should you treat the horse to give him motivation ? or better without?

[@GeraldineVinicombe]

Just starting this ground work,what do you use for the clicks,?.x

[@JD7980]

Wowwwwww , very cool progression

[@jenniferkeeling1126]

What a great boy! Wish I had this info before starting Piaf. Is it too late even though we’ve been doing Piaf for 2 years? I’m getting smaller steps still 🤨

[@lifeinthesaddle7002]

No its not to late. You can still use this method. You will probably get your results faster than the rest of us

[@ChugSTG]

Where do you get the carbon fiber rod?

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

My brother. Joseph Newcomb!!

[@ChugSTG]

Do you know where he gets them? Is that something you can get at Home Depot?

[@Plantsareadorable]

how do you make sure that when you're trotting and riding with a wip, that the horse doesn't just start doing the piaffe?

[@TheKmintonc]

Great video to start!! Thank you

[@RaniTanny]

Whats the difference between teaching hind-lift and front lift- and perhaps Why? Also, dhould hinds come up fast and down slow and how far under(forward, under belly)?

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

The hind legs get more activity and bend. The Front legs more lift in the shoulders. More forward under the belly and less up and down. They should get to the point where they hold the leg momentarily in the air.

[@RaniTanny]

I understand. My Q is why teaching hind',lift vs front-lift?

[@upsettispaghetti5730]

I've been spending time on this with my horse in hand, and her leg lifts are perfect now after a couple of days, but only when she's standing in place. I can't seem to get her to put two and two together when it comes to getting her to move forward and lift her legs while taking a step. Instead she just walks forward and ignores the tap of the whip lol any advice?

[@iwatchgnrvideosandlovechic910]

me too! but mine doesnt lift at all

[@ezire]

Well, because the video is not quite truthful. It is showing you basic leg lifting that any horse who is being trined for a hoof work would do. Then she shows you a pre trained horse who is responding to clues that are different from those she showed you before. None of this is educational. It is PR.

[@upsettispaghetti5730]

@@ezire I made that comment three years ago lol I still used the methode shown in this video. It took a bit of time and patience, but I got my mare to walk and leg lift a while ago. She had just started to do some little piaffe steps in hand pretty regularly when she fell into a lameness that kept her out of work for about a year or so. Were back now, and I'm reteaching her this since some of its been forgotten, but shes still remembered a lot of it and its going great like last time. From my own experiences, this methode is working quite well, even if it is a pr stunt as you claim.

[@brucepeek3923]

Yeah this was thing that Mike Schaffer wrote a book about teaching oh- in 1991 or so.. it came from the Konyots.. best Bruce Peek

[@robinclift1504]

Fun to watch! Thanks for sharing!

[@michellcombs5643]

Amelia, where do you get your carbon rod? I'm having trouble finding something that looks like the one you used in this video.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

some hardware stores or home decor stores will have them. Or you can get carbon riding whips. You kind of have to search for them and then when you find the one you like, you latch on!

[@lillianabaglione4181]

can i do this without a whip or pole

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

The tapping helps them understand to lift their legs!

[@lauriebohanan2761]

Can you teach me how do a piaffe for misty from oak meadows stables

[@lauriebohanan2761]

I'll get it try

[@laurettewhitefox7618]

when I touch my horse with the stick on the hindquarters, even just slightly, he throws his feet backwards for a kick instead of bending his leg towards his belly... what should I do? Sorry for ma bad english, Im french ! thank you so much !

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Sometimes the type of stick/whip you’re using can cause a sting that feels painful, try using a different material. I like bamboo.

[@cameronmathews7220]

How long did it take you to do this

[@nicolebaar6598]

You say at the beginning when just doing leg lifts you say your cue to lift is tapping their hock or lower. When you start walking forward with it, your cue moves to his flank/above his stifle. He clearly knows what you're asking still, as you said you'd been working with him on it, but just an observation.

[@amelietrabi5320]

How long did it take to get to this point. Sorry if you already said it in the video.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

A long time!!! I seen a couple of weeks working with the horse every day just on leg lifting! This doesn't happen overnight!

[@amelietrabi5320]

He already does the leg lifting really good. I've seen other videos, where they train it from the trot, is there a big difference, if you do it from the walk or the trot? Thanks for respond.

[@TeriFelixREBroker]

This may be the stupidest question ever .. are you using a clicker or are you a really good “clicker” ... I’m thinking a clicker may help me, with this.

[@laurabeth3749]

i’m pretty sure she’s using her tongue and not a clicker! i would recommend using your tongue if you’re going to eventually do this under saddle, because it would be difficult to hold a clicker and your reins at the same time.

[@kristinemcclain9028]

Ok.. But did you know that piaffe is actually the legs pushing off of the ground. Not snapping the leggs up. If you tap the top off the hindquarters you are asking them to engage the hindquarters. It's a push not a snap. That is how the old world classical masters did it. It doesn't happen right away. It takes time. You give great detail to many of your videos. The piaffe training I don't agree with.

[@coollikegrass2489]

Kristine McClain You can train a horse to pick up the diagonals to a certain height to get the piaffe you want, and then ask for collection by asking the horse to back up, get round and collect it's hindquarters.

[@kristinemcclain9028]

@@coollikegrass2489 yeah. No.... You are not asking them to pick up their legs. You're asking them to push off the ground and round through the back. You can not force a horse into collection. Backing does not teach collection... Modern dressage is leg moving not back moving.

[@coollikegrass2489]

Kristine McClain Yes I'm aware modern dressage is just flashy leg moving. What I'm saying is you dont need collection at the beginning of training. It's training not the finished product. And yes backing up is collection. To back up a horse has to transfer weight back to his hind end and round his hind quarters. There's a gorgeous video of a man who trained a horse like this, just picking up the legs and looking pretty, and then proceeded to ask it to collect by backing up in the piaffe. Look it up I think it's called something like Lustinano passage or piaffe. It's absolutely gorgeous as you see the horse round itself and lower itself as it backs up and actually does a correct piaffe. It's by far the most correct piaffe and passage I have every seen in dressage

[@coollikegrass2489]

Its called Piaffe-Passage Casa Lusitana. Look at those hind quarters as he backs the horse up in the piaffe, and see how his leg pushes off underneath him in the passage. You don't need to start with collection, just the the foundation principles say, collection needs to be in the final product

[@beauaimee8381]

My horse doesn’t care if I tap on his leg. Does any one have tips to still learn piaffe?

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Teach him to react to the tapping on the leg. Sometimes they don't react naturally but it is possible to teach them!

[@zoejordan1158]

Sometimes I use a whip with a little flicky bit on the end and kind of tickle my horse. It feels like a fly and they pick up to swat at it. I transitioned that to a tap after my horse got the idea.

[@novo5837]

My horse didn't react to the whip either. I started tapping with the whip and then slide my hand down his leg like I would to clean the hooves. It took him two sessions to make the connection between the two signals and lift his leg on the tapping of the whip alone

[@olgasnape7]

My horse doesn't lift his legs, he's standing there thinking what I'm doing there. How to fix it?

[@azazerequine1128]

How do I teach my horse to walk collected in hand?

[@victoriarosascorella553]

My horse didn’t respond to the leg tapping what do i do he will only pick up one leg for me that’s it!!!!!!!

[@livea.slatsveen6726]

What do I do with my pony that dosent want to move hos legs when I tapp them?

[@audreybreuls9117]

Keep tapping, a little bit harder each time untill you get a respons. Any respons is good! Then reward. Keep repeating and he will know what to do with smaller aids

[@cleliaoconnell3705]

@@audreybreuls9117 what do you do when they really don't want to? I am not going to whip his leg with my full strength or anything, I don't want to hurt him lol.

[@jamietaylor2767]

I’m really struggling with my horse to do this. He’s not lifting his legs. He will endure the tapping until the pressure is what I feel is too strong (and still won’t lift his foot). He’s a super stubborn KWPN. Any suggestions?

[@hannahmoates107]

If your horse understands picking up feet for cleaning, you can follow taps with a chestnut squeeze to make it more clear

[@Nutmeg142]

So if they want dancing or gaited horses why not just get a gaited horse to begin with?

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

If a horse can trot, they can likely piaffe!

[@graciesizemore4895]

How old is he

[@rohitthakur4549]

Thanks so much mam

[@kylechapman131]

Can. I Teach piaffe in hand on mossy

[@drorydressage]

Trick training.

[@MT-en5dy]

Ok i don't like the sound of the whip on the leg you can be much softer but at least u tried i appreciated

[@aliciacosta3178]

My horse doesn’t react to any tickling or any contact she’s a very laid back 6 year old

[@aliciacosta3178]

Any advice?

[@onehundredpicks5531]

Keep the pressure on her. Not too hard but horses learn through pressure and release. Once she reacts release the pressure

[@Natasha-o5f]

Hi Amelia, Just wondering have you got a little clicker button? Here Or is that you. Clicking W mouth. Thank you for this 🙏

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

it's my voice!

[@gillianmorgan7963]

6

[@jasper37]

i think i need to teach standing still first 😨

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Well, there is definitely an order to things!

[@jasper37]

@@AmeliaNewcombDressage I just figured that out and i’m happy to report your tutorial did wonders for me and my horse!! Thank you so much i never thought he could move his little thoroughbred legs like that!!

[@HolandaAR]

“He’s kind of an overachiever” 🥹🥹🥹