Keep Your Horse on the Bit during Transitions, by Jane Savoie

Your horse is perfectly justified in coming off the bit if all you do is give the aid for a transition. To do transitions on the bit, you need to give two sets of aids at once: the transition aid and the aid to tell him to stay on the bit — the connecting aids. When you give these two sets of aids at once, you’re telling your horse to do a transition on the bit.

Essentially, you’ll superimpose the connecting aids over the aids for a transition. That is, you’ll give the connecting aids before, during, and after the transition.

In this case, the connecting aids last several seconds. Apply them lightly before, during, and after the transition so that you “bridge” the transition with your connecting aids.

Start the connecting aids before the transition:

  • First, close both calves as if you’re asking for a medium gait.
  • Then, close your outside hand into a fist to capture and recycle the power back to the hind legs.
  • Finally, if necessary, vibrate the inside rein to prevent your horse from bending his neck to the outside.

Keep giving the connecting aids while you add in the aids for the transition. Continue giving the connecting aids for two or three strides into the next gait to remind your horse to stay on the bit.

Note from Jane:

Hi There!

I can hardly believe the World Equestrian Games are days away! It’s all very exciting.

I’ll have my hands full, for sure! You can find me in Booth #610 up at the Horse Park with the launch of my new EQ-Equisense Systems. It’ll blow you away!

You can also hear my two talks at the Nutrena Pavilion in the downtown area on Oct 1 and 2 at 3PM. Plus, I’ll be in the schooling area helping a couple of the riders.

By the way, if you haven’t dropped in at the EQ site yet to get your free stuff, go NOW because the Bonuses won’t be available much longer.

Get your bonuses before they disappear on September 25 at: http://www.eqtrained.com/eq-vip/.

Enjoy!

Jane Savoie

1174 Hill St ext.
Berlin, VT 05602

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