Line up for Better Spins

Do you have trouble with your reining spins, pirouettes or turns on the haunches?

Does your horse want to walk out of the maneuver or not come around? Do you find yourself fighting with the horse's head to make him turn? Is he sticky? Perhaps the problem isn't your horse's after all. Maybe you have forgotten basic physics and are attempting to defy gravity.

Whether you want your horse to do a turn on the haunches, pirouette (walk or canter) or reining spin you have to remember that gravity is the ultimate law you have to obey. If you think that leaning, tilting, pushing or pulling you will make it easier for the horse to do any of these maneuvers, think again.

Next time you ride notice what you do when you attempt the aforementioned maneuvers.

What happens to your position? Do you push one foot forward? Do you lean back, or off to one side in order to push him around the turn? Do you clamp your leg or attempt to spur him to turn? Have you ever taken the time to find out if you can do what you are asking your horse to do?

Many people cannot perform a spin or pirouette on their own two legs, which explains why they cannot get the horse to do the movement correctly. Dismount and see if you know how to do a maneuver. Notice how lucky you are because you only need to worry about your two feet, which represent the horse's hind feet, instead of all four! If you are confused about what is supposed to happen and when, how can you communicate the concept clearly to the horse?

Many riders are unaware of how their body position inhibits the horse's ability to perform. As you do the maneuver without your horse observe where your shoulders are in relation to your hips and feet. Do you stay aligned or do you lean back or forward? Perform the movement again (without your horse) and find out what happens when you lean back, forward or stick one foot out in front of you. How does this affect your ability to move? Think about how you have been trying to ask your horse. Have you been leaning back on purpose or sticking one leg forward to "open the door" with the intent to make it easier for the horse? Do you still think this is useful now that you have done the movement by yourself?

Remember that even though you are sitting on your horse he is dramatically influenced by your alignment and balance. Neither one of you can avoid gravity. If you are leaning back he will have to hold himself back instead of stepping into the movement. If you are clamping your legs to kick him around the turn he is feeling the restriction of your hips. If you stick one leg out you are creating a brace preventing the horse from moving rather than making a space for him to move into.

Remount your horse once you are able to perform a reasonable spin, turn on the haunches or pirouette. Take what you learned on your own two feet into the saddle. Give your horse a chance to figure out that you are asking him to do the movement a bit differently.

Then go back to your old way and see if it is better or worse.

Use the Murdoch Minute to improve any maneuver you want to do. Remember, if you can't do it yourself how is your horse supposed to understand? Once you know how the horse has to move you will have a better idea of what to ask for. Use this information once you are back in the saddle. And always remember to enjoy the ride!

Wendy Murdoch resides in Washington, VA and is an international riding instructor/clinician. She travels worldwide teaching riders of all levels and disciplines how to improve the horse's performance by improving their body position. Her book, Simplify Your Riding and DVDs Simplify Your Riding - Ride Like A Natural Part 1 -3 are available at www.murdochmethod.com.