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As seen in the May 2007 NWPFHA Newsletter Why are flexing exercises important? 1. Gait 1) Flexing helps you improve and maintain the nice gait your horse already has. 2) Flexing is the first step to teaching your horse proper collection. 3) Flexing increases engagement of the hindquarters for proper gaiting. This loss of engagement and lack of suppleness may cause the horse to “fall out of gait.” When this occurs, he is unable to maintain his gait, and he trots or paces. 4) Flexing exercises are helpful to improve a horse that has become “heavy” in your hands. It is a particularly useful tool to correct horses that have learned to pull on you and/or that respond with resistance. A horse that is heavy in the headgear will not be as supple, relaxed, or gait as well. You may also experience problems with control. 2. Relaxation Paso Finos may carry their tension in their neck and their back. When properly applied, flexing relaxes them. This is a vital step in teaching a horse the “off button” as described in previous article. 4. Suppleness & Control 1) After flexing has been properly taught, it may give you another tool (depending on the particular situation) to “re-direct” a horse’s attention, if your horse is acting out. A simple flex or partial flex may be enough, in some situations to re-direct the horse’s attention and focus back to the rider. 2) Flexing exercises helps to create overall suppleness in the body. It teaches them to “follow their nose,” enabling the rider to direct him easily in any direction you ask. Suppleness in the body and responsiveness to light cues is one of the first steps to training a well-trained horse to more easily negotiate trail obstacles, work cattle, barrel race, show, or any event you choose. 3) The overall purpose is to teach the horse to respond with the touch of our finger. Instead of “dragging” or pulling the horse around, he will learn to respond lightly and easily, without resistance. Flexing from the Ground It is helpful to introduce these exercises from the ground, before asking from the saddle. Choose a well fitted halter. When you pull on one side of the halter, it should not rotate on the off side and poke into the horse’s eye. We prefer a well fitted rope halter. Position the noseband of the halter lower on the nose than what is normally adjusted. Place the lead rope over his withers loosely. To flex on the left side, stand on the left side with your body placed next to or just behind the shoulder. Place your right hand on the horse’s withers. Using the fingers of your left hand, place them lightly on the side of the noseband and lightly, using small, short, “tugging” motions, ask the horse to yield his head to the left side. Use a “tug and slightly release” method. (Be careful of the placement of your fingers that they do not get caught up in the halter). If you encounter resistance, the moment you feel this resistance, release and ask again. Initially, do not ask for the horse to take his nose all the way around to his shoulder. Ask in increments, a little at a time to determine his flexibility, resistance and comfort level. Like any athlete, you are stretching muscles and this must be done gradually and patiently. Repeat the process on his right side, reversing your hand position. You may have to ask more insistently with the small tug and release, but ALWAYS test the response by going back to the lightest feeling with your hands. The ultimate goal is to ask the horse to respond with the lightest touch possible. Resist the temptation to pull the horse around. Repeat the exercises on both sides of his body. Stretching these muscles may be uncomfortable, at first, so remember to allow him to stretch downward on a loose rope from time to time.
Flexing from the Saddle: Headgear Horses unfamiliar with flexing are first taught in a jaquima and no bit. Attach one rein to each side ring of the noseband and another set of reins to the barbada (curb). Place one or two fingers between the reins to separate them. (see photo).
Adjust your rein that is attached to the noseband slightly shorter than the barbada rein. Place your reins and hands above the withers, with your hands in a forward position, not back by your hips or down into your hips. You will ask for the bend with the rein on the noseband first, and then, “finish” the bend by engaging the barbada rein by turning your wrist slightly. Use the same light “tug and release” feel that you used on the ground. Pay close attention to the way you hold your reins and how you ask, (see photos) and be consistent with your technique. If your horse is not used to a barbada, then start off by using only the noseband rein for your flex. This process may take a week to several weeks to accomplish, depending on the flexibility, condition of your horse, former training, and so forth.
When you are flexing on the right, the muscles on
the left side of his neck are stretching and the ones on the right are
contracting and vice versa, when working on the left flex. For this
reason, it’s important to remember to work both sides and to
alternate frequently between sides to keep muscles from tiring and
becoming sore. How will I know if he is flexing “correctly?” A correct flex is when the horse’s head is able to come around to the shoulder with a “flat” face. The eye and cheek will be parallel or almost parallel to the shoulder. The horse’s poll should be in the middle, without twisting, tilting or leaning in the opposite direction of the flex. The chin is in a tucked position, not jutting outward. Once the horse’s head reaches his shoulder, release and praise him.
An incorrect flex is apparent when the horse leans his head sideways parallel to the ground, in a direction opposite of the direction of the flex. You will see the ears and poll “tip over”(as opposed to remaining upright) and he will lean his poll over. This may be a classic sign of avoidance. (see photo).
Other reasons for avoidance are numerous and not
limited to the following: sharp teeth, caps on young horse’s teeth,
conformational problems, improper technique, rushed training, soreness,
lack of understanding and so forth. A Word About Flexing It is quite natural and common that the horse will first respond to the pressure with a low flex. Do not worry about this. Until you and the horse have mastered a low flex, do not ask for a higher one. It takes time to develop the correct muscle groups to ask for a higher flexed position. Technique for higher flex will be addressed in a later article. Lastly, flexing is not something you will do once or until mastered and then “forget about it.” Think about it, if you get into a routine of stretching your own muscles, what happens to you when you no longer follow that routine? Further, flexing is a training tool. It is something you will continue to use to keep your horse light, supple, relaxed, in control and gaiting properly. Troubleshooting: My horse naturally carries his head low. What can I do about this? Adjusting the noseband on the jaquima to a higher
position on the nose may be helpful with this. Try raising the noseband.
Remember to also, loosen the barbada when doing so, as raising the
height may tighten the barbada too much. Also, try using your off side
hand and bumping him lightly with an upward motion and then, ask for
the flex. You may also want to review your bit if you are using one and
make sure that it is not causing the problem. If the horse becomes too
“heavy” in your hands, try backing him up and then resume flexing. There
are many techniques to correct this problem. (Too many for this
article). Horse carries his head naturally high: Conversely, a horse that naturally carries his head
too high can benefit from lowering the noseband and of course, then
adjusting the barbada accordingly. Never adjust the noseband so low that
it interferes with breathing. When I ask for the flex, my horse responds by pushing his nose outward and against the noseband. How do I correct this? First, go back to basics and review the work in the halter flexing. Then, go back to your mounted work and try using a firmer tug, (followed by the release). I’ve also found it helpful, for some horses that do not respond well, to try a little heavier noseband to correct the problem. Once corrected, go back to the lightest headgear that will still give you the response you need. Be careful when introducing heavier headgear that you introduce it slowly, using a light feel to test his initial response. My horse tries to walk around when I ask him to flex. What do I do to correct this? This is a common problem. If you feel comfortable, ask him to flex and if he moves around in a circle, go with him, asking for the flex and releasing the flex. Go on a big circle, by allowing him to walk a few steps and then flex, walk a little and flex. Don’t fight him. If you remain calm, he will generally stop moving and flex. Allow it to be his idea to stop. The moment he does so, release and let him relax. You don’t want to get into a tight circle and spinning around or he may get off balance and fall down or stumble. If you find that he gets more nervous or starts spinning around, release him and take a time out, standing quietly or walking. When he is calm, then ask him for a partial flex and progress as he is comfortable. Cindy Oswald is owner of Westwind Ranch Paso Finos and is an Amateur Owner rider. Sarah Oswald is a professional trainer and provided her input for this article. Questions regarding this article? Please email cindy@westwindpasos.com.
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