Seeking Submission: From the Mind of the Horse
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Submission is a natural and instinctive response for the horse, from the moment he is born. If you observe a herd of horses, you will see the young foals cautiously approach an older herd member demonstrating a submissive stance in their body language. These observations can show us that submission is a code of behavior, totally acceptable within the structure of the herd. Colts at play will be trying to assert their dominance in preparation for their role in the future, when they could become the head stallion with their own herd of mares and young. It is helpful to understand what submission means to the horse. Leadership, within the herd is natural and within this structure comes both security and survival in the wild. A horse demonstrating submission is more attentive and respectful of discipline, which will be a helpful response for us, as trainers. If we can become the natural “herd leader: and create this bond during loose work, we can take this relationship on into our ridden work. We will become more self aware, as the horse can learn to respond more readily to our body language and breathing.
We can then gain a submissive and attentive attitude and our partnership with our horse, will become more harmonious. Through a logical progression of training, we can encourage a calm yet attentive attitude from the horse. This will promote his physical progress in training as his muscles will be more relaxed and able to support fluidity within his movement. Tension from the mind of the horse will cause tension throughout his body, which can result in stilted paces with an increased risk of injury.
There is much we can learn from our observations of a horse whilst moving in his natural freedom. The gifted horseman will understand that he should regard each horse as an individual and assess the path of training accordingly.
SUBMISSION – A GIFT FROM A WILLING MIND
We cannot gain true submission from just a contact with the rein or by creating a desired frame or outline within training. True submission can only be gained from the willing mind of the horse.
Gadgets and tack that cause too much restriction may give an overall impression of a horse working in a correct ‘frame’ but submission can more readily be achieved from a willing horse who enjoys his work. A horse may begin to feel defeated, if he is not allowed to move in a manner that is more natural for him. It is so important within training to allow the horse to be a horse and enhance his nature and ability.
The art is to ride the horse in his own natural balance, both mentally and physically with the horse carrying his own weight, in selfcarriage and not leaning on the hands of the rider, when the horse feels restricted and unable to move naturally, he can become tense with an unyielding spine. The neck and poll area will become tight and fixed, as may the facial muscles of the horse. The horse may open his mouth as a resistance to the strength of the contact or just tighten the jaw to clamp against excess pressure on his delicate mouth.
We can either help the horse to grow in confidence or, through a lack of understanding, allow the horse to become a fearful and anxious pupil. It is therefore our responsibility to learn to communicate in a language the horse understands.
SUBMISSION CANNOT BE FORCED
Close observation of the muscles of the horse whilst working will show us whether he is training with or against his true nature and ability. I believe the only animals to partner a human to a competitive International level of training –are horses and dogs. It is interesting to watch the shepherd and the sheep dog work together through friendship, keen observation, instinct and mutual respect which is a sound basis for the training of any animal, including the horse. The connection is ‘mind to mind’ and the dog responds willingly to his handler. This is a dog who willingly submits to his leader and handler, with apparently no force, just a relationship built on mutual trust.
BUILDING THE CONTACT
When a horse trots about with his head in the air, looking all around him, there is no positive connection emotionally or physically with the rider. When two people are talking, if one is trying to maintain a conversation, whilst the other is distracted by children playing or noises coming from another room, there is no communication. Communication takes two: one to talk and one to listen and both should be prepared to change the sequence, allowing the other person to contribute to the conversation.
Contact is the way a rider converses with a horse; a good contact, therefore, is when the rider is having a conversation with the horse during which neither becomes dominant. A horse has to be willing to take up an elastic contact with his rider’s hands without forging ahead and pulling. When a rider rebalances himself and takes a deeper inward breath, the horse should steady his gait to absorb the altered balance of the rider and thus lighten the contact. The rider then uses the lightened contact to allow the horse to work in selfcarriage.
Thoughts on contact:
A conversation or connection between two living beings requires:
• a time to listen
• a time to express thoughts or requests the creation of a rapport or dialogue: information being both offered and received
• a mutual desire to understand the feelings of the other party.
THE HEAD CONNECTION
When a horse is moving freely, the first part of his body to move forward is his head. If, however, a rider restricts this forward movement with restraining hands, this will act like a brake, physically and mentally, and only serves to discourage the horse from enjoying forward movement. Confusion will ensue if a rider uses his seat and legs to ask for forward movement and then creates a barrier against it with the hands; the result will be an anxious and frustrated horse.
NO ATHLETE CAN MOVE WITH FLUIDITY WITH A RESTRICTION OF HEAD AND NECK
It is essential that our hands allow the unrestricted motion of the horse’s head and neck and do not impede the movement. The topline of the neck should arch and lengthen and not become ‘compressed’ and tight, which causes the back to become hollow. It will be impossible to achieve correct contact without sufficient energy. Contact is a way of containing the energy given by the horse, within the ‘sensitive’ hands of the rider. If there is no energy or desire to move forwards, there will be nothing to contain, only an artificial flexion of the neck. Some riders focus on ‘contact’, using their hands to pull a horse into an outline but a horse can never progress in training without sufficient energy.
Many problems with head and neck carriage stem from a lack of engagement of the hind limbs, which prevents a horse from working with sufficient energy to propel his weight forward, thus making it difficult to maintain balance and cadence. When the powerful hindquarters create a flow of energy throughout the spine the horse can then become efficient in his movement.
Training is not only about correct aids and position but very much about communicating with joy and feeling. A horse who is both confident and calm, and who trusts his rider for direction and leadership will be our rewards in training.
USE POWER OF THOUGHT TO INSTILL CONFIDENCE AND CALMNESS
A horse will quickly perceive how relaxed or stressed a person is and the lightness or strength of his aids; a horse’s great sensitivity enables him to tune into mood, body language and voice tone and he will receive and transmit all a rider is feeling. A deeper awareness from the rider of his own state of mind, core stability and breathing can enhance greatly the empathy between horse and rider. The horse will more readily ‘melt’ into lightness of aids, where he might only resist the stronger leg and hand.
The more we understand of the ways of our horse, the more subtle can be our communications. The horse within a natural herd environment does understand ‘submission’ to another member of his ‘family group.’ The herd are motivated to live and survive together, demonstrating both assertive and submissive behaviour. If we understand the true nature of the horse, we can work with his character bringing more understanding of trust and friendship.
This will help us to achieve both harmony and submission, enhancing our partnership within training and competition.
Jenny lives in the UK where she gives clinics with her Iberian stallions. She is known as a ‘Natural Classicist’ bringing together the value of true horsemanship with a Classical tradition of training. Her DVD ‘RIDE FROM THE HEART’ seeks to guide the viewer to understand how to achieve the most sensitive communications using breathing and body language, and will be available for purchase soon in the Equestrian Clinics Store. Visit Jenny’s web site at www.spanishdressagehorses.com
