Disengaging the Hindquarters

Natural Horsemanship gurus of all methodologies and followings have a tendency to employ this method to control run-away horses, to promote suppling and basic control over green horses. Most will also tell you it is the “must have” emergency parashoot to instill in your horse because, after all, you never know when he might go crazy.

Yes, it is true, I am slightly more outspoken in my disbelief in many NH methods – but I do believe that this maneuver may just be the one which rankles me the most. The reason is this – I was taught early on to ride based on many NH principles. I have used and trained horses to disengage their hindquarters in an emergency. My thinking has developed in this way however – how can I avoid the need for an emergency stop in the first place?

First, let me explain myself and the goals I have when riding a horse. I look to develop impulsion, straightness and lightness in every horse I ride. Impulsion meaning he is putting all of his energy into moving forwards without any reservations or hesitations. Straightness meaning that he is in line from shoulders to croup and travelling with his hind hooves landing in the tracks of his front feet. Lightness meaning every aid I give him is imperceptible to those looking onwards and the most subtle that I am capable of mastering.

The reason I strive for these three components is not so my horse is attractive to watch, to achieve specific movements or just because I have nothing better to do. I work towards these three things because when they are all in effect I am at my safest in the saddle. However, when one of them is out of place is when “crazy” can come about.

• For the horse to travel with true impulsion does not mean he is racing ahead uncontrollably, it means that so much of his energy is being exerted in just getting from point A to point B that his mind does not have time to worry about the things going on around him.
• For the horse to travel straight means that if something does, by chance, startle or upset him he is going to continue travelling straight ahead where he is already exerting his energy.
• For the horse to be light in all the aids means that when he falters in being straight or lacks impulsion it will immediately reflect in the quality of his lightness and how he is balanced between the aids.

Finally, when these three pieces are fit perfectly into the puzzle the horse begins to balance himself on the hindquarters rather than on the forehand. To any rider who has experienced this they will recognize immediately that directing the horse becomes more like that of controlling a sports car vs. a suburban or short bus. The horse responds quickly and efficiently rather than being heavy, pulling, dull or resistant.

Now, here is why I am in such opposition towards disengagement of the hindquarters – it goes against the ultimate goal of safety in the saddle. The horse is immediately displaced onto the forehand, he is no longer capable of travelling straight, heaviness is employed in the creation of this maneuver (in the initial training if not throughout the horse’s riding career) and all impulsion is brought to a halt.

What this means is that now the horse is going to hesitate in putting himself into full impulsion because he is at risk of being pulled off balance, out of straightness, and having been done so through the use of heavy aids. For a horse who is already obviously lacking in confidence because he is spooking or being startled – this is the ultimate blow to then have the rider aboard further degrade this confidence.

So, what then does a rider use in an emergency? I always think in health as well as in riding horses that prevention is greater than a cure. To rid the horse of spooking altogether means to ride him in full impulsion at every gait and at all times, straight and in lightness. If the horse is spooking one or more of these elements is missing, plain and simple. If the horse is incapable of being ridden in this way then it is time to investigate a pain issue – be it muscle, joint, hoof, saddle fitting, etc.

• Impulsion starts with training the horse to track up properly – some of which is explained in my lunging videos.
• Straightness is simply keeping the shoulders in alignment with the hindquarters (but not the hindquarters in alignment with the shoulders – important difference).
• Finally, lightness is created through first a dynamically balanced seat, independent aids and separation of the aids (i.e., hands without legs, legs without hands).

From the perspective of retraining a horse who has had this “feature” installed, there are several obstacles that have to be overcome. There is a great tendency for the horse to throw himself on the forehand in preparation when single rein aids are used. He has to be retrained with great patience to understand a direct and an indirect rein cue. Simultaneously there is the issue of impulsion. Horses who are taught to disengage the hindquarters are notorious for sucking back – for not moving freely forwards. They constantly hesitate and question whether you truly want them to go forwards and whether they will pay for it later on through an “emergency stop.” Finally, these horses are never, and I cannot stress that enough, straight.

My encouraging words would be for those who have not yet taught their horse this, stop and think before you do! It is far easier to train the horse who has not yet been damaged than it is to overcome this issue. For those who already have a horse trained in this way who want to bring their horse to impulsion, straightness and lightness – patience is key. Working at the walk for a long time is necessary because these issues will be amplified as the speed increases. Impulsion must be built from the ground up, and overusing the rein aids is a large problem because the horse will be expecting to perform this action if you use too strong an aid. It can be done, however.