Posted, February 1. 2007

Young Horse Training Symposium with Scott Hassler
by Gigha Steinman, River Oaks Farm

Happy Horses In Harmony

The focus all day, with each horse, was to keep the horse happy with a swinging back and expressive gaits and becoming more “up” in the shoulders. These qualities were achieved thru transitions, lots of figures and changes of direction, and sometimes lateral work or specific exercises. “Happy” and “harmony” were words which were repeated throughout the day. It was also emphasized that the horse must be supple first, then expressive. The expression must come from suppleness and a swinging back, and not tension.

An exercise Hassler used to encourage the lifting of the shoulder at the canter was to spiral out on the circle, with the horse wrapped around the rider’s inside leg. He also used a lot of leg yield, encouraging the riders to ride the leg yield more shallow and with a focus on keeping the same quality of trot, rather than trying to get too much sideways angle. While more angle teaches more of a yielding to the leg, the shallower leg yield helps with suppleness and helps the horse “keep the power” for a young horse.

PhelpsPhoto: Verne Batchelder and Rotschrome RH (Han x Rotspon x Rubenstein I out of SPS Princess X Prince Thatch XX)