Dressage With Debbie Craig

Question 1

What are rein aids?

Answer 1

Rein aids are pressures put on the reins to enhance the rein effects

many instructors refer to rein effects as rein aids

Question 2

What is a Direct rein effect

Answer 2

Apply pressure to one or both reins in a backwards way or an upwards way.

Straight back: applies pressure to the corners of the mouth & tongue creating a wall in front of the horse

Straight up: applies pressure on tongue and (bone behind the teeth) upper bar, helping to lift a horse’s head

• 2 direct reins stop a horse
• continuous use of 2 direct reins cause a horse to back up
• outside rein is used to stop
• inside rein is used for flexion
• inside direct rein will overbend the horse and cause to bend out

Question 3

What is an indirect rein effect of opposition in front of the withers?

Answer 3

Pressure lifted up against the corner of the horse’s mouth towards the rider’s opposite shoulder

Response should flexion at pole and jaw

Question 4

How do you apply the indirect rein of opposition in front of the withers?

Answer 4

Shorten rein 1/2-1 inch. Start with hand in neutral position, turn bones of forearm out so fingernails are facing chest

Question 5

Why use an indirect rein effect of opposition in front of the withers?

Answer 5

To create flexion and bending

Question 6

What if the indirect rein of opposition in front of the withers doesn’t work?

Answer 6

1. Employ more rein aids
2. Response should flexion at pole and jaw, if not, apply more pressure
3. Close hand tighter on the rein or shorten the rein (non-yielding rein aid)
4. Can counter flex with indirect rein (if not, super bend)
5. Work with a rope halter and let the knots teach the pressure instead of the bit

Question 7

What is an open rein?

Answer 7

Rein effect that puts pressure on the opposite bit ring to lead the horse out or turn the horse.

it should be traded in for an indirect rein to create a turn

It is only successful when accompanied by the inside rein used as an indirect rein or a bearing rein or a combo of both AND inside leg driving pressure so horse crosses his hind legs over

when using open rein, keep it parallel to the other hand. Do NOT turn it into a direct rein. Do NOT turn it into a yielding rein by shifting the elbow

Question 8

Why use an open rein effect?

Answer 8

To teach young or stiff pole/jawed horses how to turn right or left

George Morris says you can use it to get back on the rail

Debbie says beginners can use it with a leg aid to get back on rail

it should be traded in for an indirect rein to create a turn

Question 9

What is a bearing rein effect?

Answer 9

When pressure is applied at the withers by the rein. This helps to move the horse’s neck and shoulders

Question 10

How do you apply a bearing rein effect?

Answer 10

Pull hand in direction of the withers as light pressure.

If it doesn’t work, apply more pressure but be careful not to change the bend of the horse.

Question 11

Why use a bearing rein?

Answer 11

1. To help move the horse’s neck and shoulder away from pressure (yield the shoulder)
2. To create a canter pirouette
3. Create a turn around the haunches
4. Help with flying lead changed
5. Help with leg yield

Question 12

What if the bearing rein doesn’t work?

Answer 12

Use your groundwork - yield the shoulders

Could try a crop or a jumping bat

Question 13

What are rein effects?

Answer 13

Rein effects are used to affect direction- moving the horse’s front and back legs

Question 14

How do you perform a turn on the forehand?

Answer 14

1. Position both the legs just behind the girth; simultaneously,
2. Close the fingers of the outside hand
3. Flex the inside hand
4. Apply pressure with the inside leg

Question 15

How do you perform a leg yield, nose to the rail?

Answer 15

1. Transfer dressage whip to outside hand (this now becomes the inside)
2. Half halt, sit back and ask for a soft jaw and to yield the pole. Position the horse at an angle to the rail
3. Close the fingers of the outside hand
4. Flex the inside hand and use an indirect rein of opposition behind the withers to yield the shoulder, while,
5. Maintaining contact with the outside leg for impulsion and applying pressure with the inside leg (at the girth) to yield the haunches
   * dont be afraid to tap with the whip!!**

keep the neck straight with slight flexion to the ‘inside’

Question 16

What if the horse won’t give the leg yield, nose to the rail?

Answer 16

Practice at a walk. Stop. Ask to yield. Stop. Ask to yield.

Then progress to a half halt, yield, half halt, yield

Make sure you are asking to move forward too.

Question 17

What if- you can’t get the horse to yield the pole and jaw at the trot?

Answer 17

1. Fluff with the legs on the down beat.
2. Flex with the inside or outside.
3. If you can’t get the horse to soften, use an indirect rein of opposition behind the withers to bend the neck until they soften. (Inside or outside). Make sure you keep the horse going in a straight line. Release as soon as he softens.

Question 18

Ground work exercises

Answer 18

1. Back up
2. Yield the haunches
3. Yield the shoulder
4. Sending exercise
5. Yield with nose to the rail

Question 19

How is an indirect rein of opposition behind the withers applied?

Answer 19

Flex the wrist and pull the inside of the wrist towards your opposite shoulder.

Question 20

What is an indirect rein of opposition behind the withers?

Answer 20

A rein effect that moves the horse off straight course, moves their shoulders off to one side quickly. It makes the horse overbend his neck and move sharply away.

This is used to avoid something quickly, like a fence post or a foxhole.

this is the least used rein effect

Question 21

What if the indirect rein of opposition behind the withers doesn’t work?

Answer 21

Usually game over.

But.. If not, slide your hand down one rein (let the other loosen) and overbend the head and neck until the horse softens.

Question 22

What are rein aids?

Answer 22

Pressures we apply to rein effects. Aids help to escalate or soften the rein effects

Question 23

What is a supporting rein aid?

Answer 23

It is an amount of pressure it takes to hold your horse in your hands so you’re ready if the horse tries to pull their head away (also CORE). It is your hands connected to the bit.

Default is light pressure, not pulling.

Can be used on a direct rein effect, indirect, open, bearing and indirect rein of opposition behind the withers

Question 24

What is a non-yielding rein aid?

Answer 24

A rein aid when more pressure is put on the rein to escalate the rein effect.

It is applied by squeezing the fingers harder, pulling elbows back or pull shoulder back or up (ex halt)

everytime you use it you MUST support with the seat and leg*

Question 25

What is a yielding rein aid?

Answer 25

When you stop squeezing, or pulling the elbows back. When you stop having contact with the bit.

If your fingers are clenched? Unclench them and being hands back to neutral. That is the yielding rein aid.

Question 26

What is the regulating rein aid?

Answer 26

This rein aid is used to regulate the pace, tempo/rhythm of the stride.

(Half halt?)

Question 27

How do you apply a regulating rein aid?

Answer 27

Squeeze the hand and stomach muscles and then soften. Repeat.

For young or stiff horses, use both hands. But eventually only use the outside hand.

This action should be supported by the seat and legs (pushing the horse backwards)

Question 28

What is the job of the inside hand?

Answer 28

1. Ask for flexion of pile and jaw and/or bending of the neck (indirect rein effect)
2. Create a wall from the bit to the horse’s withers which keeps the horse’s shoulder from falling in (bearing rein effect)
3. Teach the horse to turn by opening rein away from the withers (open rein effect)
4. Can be used to help outside hand perform full halt and half-halt
5. To move the horse from inside to outside (leg yield, bearing rein effect)

Question 29

What is the job of the outside hand?

Answer 29

1. To create a wall on the outside to keep the horse from falling out (bearing rein)
2. Halt and half-halt (direct rein effect)
3. Allow or disallow flexion or bending (keep from over ending or allow to overbend to get them to yield the pole)
4. As a regulating rein aid to control tempo or rhythm
5. To help the horse move from outside to inside (leg yield, bearing rein effect)

Question 30

What is the job of the inside leg?

Answer 30

1. To establish the inside wall (straight line or circle), driving pressure aid
2. As a gas pedal (ask for impulsion)
3. Moves the horse from inside to out with a sideways driving pressure (creating leg yield)
4. It’s the 2nd aid used for the canter
5. Helps the horse create a turn around the forehand (yield the haunches) (leg back)

Question 31

What is the job of the outside leg?

Answer 31

1. To keep the haunches from swinging out
2. Supports the inside leg to help keep the horse forward
3. The first aid on asking for the canter
4. Power the horse to move forward and sideways in half-pass
5. Also used for the canter pirouette and traverse (haunches in) or the ronverse (haunches out) in reverse

Question 32

What is the job of the seat bones?

Answer 32

1. Parallel aiding is created by keeping the seat bones even, hands even (backing, straight line, halt, jumping)
2. Diagonal aiding created by having inside seat bone ahead of the outside seat bone. (Circles, corners, canters, lateral movement)
3. Inside seat bone becomes a weight aid (outside seat bone has to be back and lighter)
4. Use the seat by turning to outside or inside to increase or decrease circle.

Question 33

How do you perform the shoulders-in exercise?

Answer 33

1. Inside leg is positioned just behind the girth (unless horse moves off rail to inside, then position leg to a leg yielding position)
2. Outside leg positioned well behind the girth. It will control the haunches from falling out, to avoid leg-yield pressing. Helps with impulsion.
3. Outside thigh helps push the shoulders in and keeps them from returning to the track (turn zipper in)
4. Inside thigh is passive and allowing the bourses should to move in
5. Inside hand creates bend and flexion (leads the shoulder in for inexperienced horses)
6. Outside hand is relatively even with the inside hand. It will allow the bending or disallow too much bending. (Rein effect direct, or non-yield to support). Regulate tempo and half-halt.
7. Seat bones - spiral seat. Inside bears more weight but the outside seat is lighter and drives inward against the horse’s back.

Question 34

What is the difference between shoulder in, haunches in and leg yield nose to the wall/leg yield nose to the inside?

Answer 34

For shoulder or haunches in, the horse’s body has a slight bend and the horse is moving straight forward on two separate tracks. For leg yield nose to the inside or the rail, the horse is straight and crossing the legs.

Question 35

Groundwork: steps to backing

Answer 35

1. Make sure you have two eyes
2. PST sound
3. Wag finger
4. Pump arms using elbows
5. Wiggle lead line
6. Wiggle lead line and swing handy stick (forward or side to side)

4.

Question 36

Groundwork: steps for yield the haunches

Answer 36

Position yourself at the drive line holding the lead line lightly

1. Tap the handy stick 4 times in air over haunches
2. Then tap the stick 4 beats on the haunches
3. Tap harder

Level 2:

1. Stand at the head/ shoulder.
2. Step forward with outside foot while,
3. Bringing handy stick over hand toward ground next to the haunches

Level 3:

1. Stand at shoulder / head
2. Tap lightly just behind the girth (how hard you would tap with your foot)

Question 37

Groundwork: steps to yield the shoulder

Answer 37

Position yourself at the drive line, make sure you are far enough away the the horse can see you.

1. Grip knuckles in on the rope halter
2. Tap the air at the shoulder to a 4 beat
3. Tap the shoulder to a 4 beat
4. Push shoulder with thumb and push head (slightly) until horse crosses the fore

Level 2:

1. Place hand to side of eye to “push” the head
2. Tap the air

make sure when you halt with the lead that you only pull UP, not towards you. If you pull to you it will cause the horse to turn the wrong way

Question 38

Groundwork: steps to the sending exercise

Answer 38

1. Position yourself at the drive line
2. Raise your hand with the lead in the direction you want te horse to go
3. Raise handy stick (or lunge whip) in other hand and urge the horse on

if the horse comes in on you PUSH him away OR wiggle the line OR push out with hand motion OR push out by tapping shoulder with stick*

Question 39

Groundwork: steps to changing direction for sending exercise

Answer 39

1. Keep handy stick up to encourage forward impulsion
2. Bring the end of the lead line to your handy stick line
3. Slide the lead rope hand down the line WHILE
4. Signaling (overhand) for yield the haunches
5. (Pause with two eyes facing you.)
6. Pass the handy stick under the lead line
7. Send in the other direction

Question 40

Groundwork: steps to working yield with nose to the rail

Answer 40

1. Begin with the sending exercise and send your horse to the rail (you should have space between you and the horse)
2. With nose to the rail, alternate between tapping the shoulder and tapping the haunches

** make sure the nose is straight and not bending back to you **