Why is forward-down-out the better position?

This position offers the horse a dynamic posture where they can stretch the back muscles with the minimum loss of balance. This type of neck extension also teaches the horse to tighten the reins, testing the trust they have in their rider’s hand, assists in impulsion and shoulder movement and enables the horse to relax and see where they are going. Teaching a Forward-Down-Out neck extension position is achieved WITHOUT gadgets on the lunge, and WITHOUT low, backward acting hands under saddle. This type of neck extension is a very important and very helpful posture to train, it should not be the only position you ride in but it should be offered frequently during every training session.

Sadly, most people are familiar with (and taught) that long and low or long, deep and round positions are good neck extension positions. On the lunge these are taught by the use of gadgets and under saddle the effect of either no contact or low, backward acting contact will encourage these positions. These positions really should be avoided. At best they are not helpful to our horses and at worse they can: destroy a horses self-carriage capabilities; destroy the trust they have in their riders’ hands; take away their ability to see where they are going; hurt their mouths; can lead to a multitude of different pathologies. 

Why is the forward, down and out position so effective?

The FORWARD element encourages a good length of stride and a long body posture. The neck telescopes up and out away from the horse’s chest and front legs and the long back muscles stretch. The horse travels freely, covering the ground with a long stride and slow rhythm and relaxed brain

The DOWN element is where the horses neck lowers to a horizontal position, where the withers and poll are more or less level. This offers a stretch with minimal loss of balance as the weight of the horses’ head is not too low, it also encourages the horse to relax as some balance is maintained.

The OUT element is where the horses’ nose moves out, their poll angle is open! they can see where they are going, they can tighten the reins and stretch with the rider’s hand, also encouraging the whole body to stretch and relax.

Train your eye, what type of position does your horse stretch into? Can your horse offer this forward, down and out neck extension on the lunge and under saddle or do they over flex in a long-deep-round stretch or collapse in a long and low neck extension? If your horse can offer you neck extension in a forward, down and out position whenever and wherever it shows your horse is truly connected to the contact and has been trained to systematically and frequently change their neck position, balance and poll angle, so important for healthy biomechanics. If your horse can’t find a forward, down and out neck extension, its time to try a different approach!

If you would like to learn more about how to teach your horse to move on the lunge and under saddle in a forward, down and out neck extension contact Kat at thinkingequitation@gmail.com