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       It's About The Horse Forum Index -> Biomechanics and Purity of Gait
PasoBaby_CarolU

Biomechanics of Leading

I took this topic from the thread about Parelli bashing.  The complaint was that PNH teaches you to lead a horse without contact on the lead.  The person wanted to keep contact on the lead....

Quote:
Merle, a thought on the leading question.   If this person wants to lead with constant tension, isn't there then no release?  And if there is no release, what does the horse learn?   If there is no release from pressure, is the person still doing natural horsemanship?  Forget PNH, even the basic principle of "good horsemanship" is a release to pressure when the horse is doing what is asked.   There actually is a nice segment on this topic in Buck's movie.  

And along this same line, if you hold constant pressure, at some point doesn't the horse start resisting that pressure instead of giving to it?  A good example is a horse leaning into the bosal or the bit.  They do this after they are ridden on strong contact without a release.  

From a biomechanical viewpoint, aren't these examples the opposite of what you want?  I would think the ideal of good biomechanics would be self carriage.  

merle

Re: Biomechanics of Leading

Hi Carol - I put my post on the original thread.  I really cannot answer the questions you poised as I do not agree with leading with tension.  When I lead my horse or mule the lead has slack in hit, no tension, the lead is weightless - that is my goal, that is what my horse and mule give me.
Clarissa

If someone reading this wants to know some ways to get a horse leading I made 2 short videos last year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1HAbdjuJpQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQeK86d2K8o&feature=related

These are just a few ways but they result in the horse leading just how you prefer either by your shoulder or behind but both with slack in the lead.
becdubie

I've done a ton of lead from zone 3 with Bubba.  (like you show Clarissa) To me it's not really leading...I don't actually lead him anywhere.  We walk together.  

Although I may have overdone it because a couple years ago when I took him to a trainer for his start undersaddle, the trainer said to me... "What's the deal with him always walking beside me when I lead him?    He's very nice about it but I expect the horse to stay behind me so I can lead him."

So since then I have taught him that someeimes I want him to walk behind me when we go places instead of next to me.  But even then there is slack in the rope and we walk together.    If I feel tension, that means he either has to stop to poop (No I don't make my horses walk and poop).   OR he is testing me a bit, which happens sometiems.   If he is not pooping then I just keep the tension as it was and it only takes a moment for him to give and come with me.
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