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  Discussion on Heavy on the fore
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Member:
Cpacer

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 20, 2005 - 9:07 am:

What's it mean if a horse is heavy on the fore and how is it corrected?
Member:
Hwood

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 20, 2005 - 10:24 am:

Another way of saying it is, "He's all on his front end," or "He's heavy on the forehand."

It means that a horse is landing heavily on the front legs and he isn't rounding himself or "getting his hind end under himself" to balance himself better. The power comes from the back end, and if horses reach under themselves with their hind legs and push off that way rather than pulling forward off the shoulders (sort of like rear wheel drive as opposed to front wheel drive) then the horses are said to be "working off the hind," or "rounding themselves."

When you are up on top, you can feel a horse's back "come up" under you when the horse rounds and starts to work off the hind end. This shifting of balance from the front end to the hind end, causes the horse to take more weight off the front legs and he will land more softly on the front feet . . . will be lighter on the front. Backing with his head low is one way to see the change and help strengthen the back and hind muscles. In order for a horse to maintain "roundness" for any length of time, it requires strength that comes with proper exercise over time.

There are other members who can explain it better. Watching horses and/or horses and riders in action is a good way to see the difference, and when you feel it for yourself, you'll remember the feeling.
Member:
Green007

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 20, 2005 - 10:51 am:

I just wrote a lengthy post that was zapped into cyberspace, so I will keep this one short and sweet:

Half halt, half halt, half halt!

There are many good books written about how to half halt so I recommend you research how to do these correctly, with rhythm and relaxation on the horses part. A horse on the forehand needs lots of half halts, as well as plenty of upward and downward transitions, both between and within gaits.

Good luck!
Member:
Cpacer

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 20, 2005 - 12:46 pm:

That's a good explanation Holly. So after you build the muscles a little how do you urge them from the rear continuously? Is it with your seat and legs?

I ride my trainers horse for my lessons and he's already rounded, but I want to start doing lessons with my own horse now that he's rideable. He's still very green, as am I (I know, I know) but he's VERY sensitive.

I'm sure our trainer will help us work through it but I like getting advice from HA too--and I'm doing my first Natural Horsemanship clinic this Saturday (yippee!) and I want to be somewhat prepared.

Debbie - is the half halt when you put pressure on one leg, then hold the same-side rein at the neck until they turn their head & stop, or stop & turn their head? (many terms to keep up with)
Member:
Hwood

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 20, 2005 - 1:28 pm:

Debbie is giving you good help in suggesting lots of transitions, for which you ask patiently, and consistently, and the half-halt is a "pause and get ready" or a "check" signal, a tiny squeeze on the reins, for the horse to realize that a change is coming up. The half-halts and accompanying transitions teach the horse to listen and not rush forward on the front end. Start with slow work . . .

Have fun at the clinic. Take notes, pick out what you can use and ask lots of questions.
Member:
Canter

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 20, 2005 - 1:45 pm:

Oh boy...how to explain a half halt? I'm sure I've heard and read at least 100 different explanations of what it is and how to do it, but let me try:

First, the horse must be moving forward off your leg. The half halt is a momentary "check" or hey! pay attention. It's almost a downward transition, but without completing the transition, so that the horse collects or balances on it's back end, lightening the fore, as Holly says above. The horse draws more energy from the back end and is also more prepared for a change of direction or gait.

As the horse is moving freely forward, for a split second, your fingers close on the reins, without pulling back and at the same time, stiffen your spine (or sit more "up" and square)and close your legs on the horse. If you use too much hand, you will lose forward motion or the horse will transition down into a slower gait. Usually (or at least in dressage), the half halt is applied more on the outside rein. The important thing is that your horse doesn't lose forward energy but channels it more effectively from the front to the back and also "up" as he rounds his back.

Hope that helps!
Member:
Green007

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 20, 2005 - 1:59 pm:

What you are describing sounds like a turn on the forehand.

Basic half halts involve momentarily sitting against the horse's motion with your seat and lower back instead of following as you normally do. As you stop the motion with your seat, you take a firmer rein contact (primarily on your outside rein). As you are stopping the motion with your seat and hands, you are simultaneously closing your legs (not kicking hard, just feeling the horses sides to get the hind legs to continue to step up even as you are slowing down the front end).

Half halts involve a lot of feel and texture, and will change from horse to horse and from moment to moment depending on how forward or lazy your horse is to your legs, and how evasive or soft your horse is to the bridle.

When I half halt, I tend to do it diagonally, with active pressure from inside leg to outside rein. I use the inside rein to encourage flexion in the jaw so the horse can relax through the half halt. I use my outside leg to keep the haunches from going sideways instead of under the horse's body.

On a green horse, half halts can be ugly. Your horse may throw his head up, throw his rear end to the side and may get confused. That is why transitions are such a good way to introduce the half halt. Once the horse can walk to halt, halt to walk, trot to halt and halt to trot, you can introduce what I call 3/4 halts, which is a very strong half halt. You basically ask the horse to halt but just before it does, you release the reins and encourage the horse to continue onward. Once the horse gets the full downward transitions and the 3/4 halts, you can fine tune the half halts more and more. They are a wonderful way to rebalance a green horse!

Keep in mind that it can take several years for a really green horse to half halt as well as an advanced horse like your instructors horse. With a more advanced horse, I can just sit up a little taller and the half halts are right there. Thats when the real fun begins, but it takes time to get there. Be patient and enjoy the journey!
Member:
Hwood

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 20, 2005 - 7:52 pm:

cp,
Debbie's decscription of a half-halt is quite thorough. I remember the first time someone tried to describe to me how to ride through a half-halt. I felt like I was being asked to pat my head, rub my stomach and strut like a chicken . . .
For me . . . I want my cues to be as simple as possible to make it easiest on my horse as well as on me. You can design your own cues for how you want your horse to respond, as long as you always use the same cues, keep asking until you get what you want, and always reward the correct response. That's what training is all about.

I remember times during which I got really stressed about doing things the RIGHT way. Usually, I was trying to rush things and live up to the expectations of others (ummmmmmmmm . . . like peers and judges). Taking time and working out of respect and love for the horse are of the utmost importance as you ask your horse to perform for you. As you educate yourself through lessons, clinics, observations, reading, making mistakes :-0 . . . you will grow in the art of FEELING what is correct and what is the best way for you to communicate with your horse. Most of all, look for the joy in your horse/human interactions. If things start to get tense and stressful, step back and reevaluate. As Debbie says, "Be patient and enjoy . . . "
Member:
Kthorse

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 20, 2005 - 8:43 pm:

https://www.classicaldressage.co.uk/Half_Halt/half_halt.html



This explains it pretty good as well. Its explained almost as good as as Debbie.I like to take a deep breath out as a pre cue to , It pushs my seat down in the proper position without having me try. now my horse half halts on my breath.
Member:
Green007

Posted on Thursday, Jul 21, 2005 - 9:57 am:

I agree with Holly. Always try your best, and always ask your horse to try his best. But never forget that the best part of riding is the journey itself. Horses are living creatures with mood swings and stiffnesses and issues just like us riders, so be patient and keep working on your feel and the quality of your overall bond. The journey is the most important part.

I try to remind myself often that the same truth applies with children. When I get impatient with my 10 year old son, and then remember how far he has come along since age 2, it certainly helps!
Member:
Maggienm

Posted on Thursday, Jul 21, 2005 - 10:28 am:

Well put, Debbie. Great reminder.
Member:
Cpacer

Posted on Thursday, Jul 21, 2005 - 10:54 am:

Thank you for this! Sounds like I'll just need to feel it out. It's funny cause the only time I'm ever naturally patient is when I'm working with my horse (I'm not usually a patient person), but all cares go away when I'm at the ranch. Quite often I drive all the way out there just to visit my horse in the pasture and scratch his behind.

I am having very much fun learning WITH my horse. I had doubts for a while that maybe I was being naive thinking we could learn everything together, but I'm feeling much more confident now that the bond is stronger. My biggest concern now is whether my horse is having fun too--something I'm hoping the clinic this weekend can help me with.
Member:
Cpacer

Posted on Thursday, Jul 21, 2005 - 11:19 am:

Debbie, I was just reading your description again and I can't tell you enough how helpful this is.

Everyone's descriptions, all put together, and it really starts to make sense. Learning to ride properly really does take a lot of coordination!!
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