Why work in hand makes training the naturally gaited horse easier
Educating the horse's mouth works best in hand. Here's why work in hand makes training the naturally gaited horse easier. It teaches the rider how to teach the horse balance, lightness, and how to follow a light, steady even contact of the snaffle bit.
Working in hand teaches:
Balance: teaching the horse lightness; how to carry its own head and neck and not lean on the bit; teaching the horse to lift its head and neck, open the throat latch, shift its balance from the predominantly on the forehand to carrying more weight on the hindquarters, and helping the horse raise its whither by engaging the chest and shoulder muscles.
Educating the mouth; teaching the horse to seek the light, steady even contact of the bit; how to taste the snaffle bit, swallow, relax the jaw, and flex at the poll.
Flexing: Teaching the horse to follow the even, steady contact of the hand 45- to 90-degrees to the right and left. This allows the horse to stretch the outside neck muscles while remaining balanced in the shoulders; then following the snaffle bit to extend its neck down and out to stretch the top line muscles and spine. (Ideally the poll should be no lower than the height of the wither so the horse remains in balance.)
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