Sitemap

NOTE this is an example of Principle 5 of the 5 Priniciples of Release. That is, you get Open/Receive and Shape (posture change in straight body) and Direct all at once. It is the surprise that delivers a root release in direct response to your feel, while the careful landing of the end of the rope relative to his body alignment enables that (as well as freeing up his feet from forwards into backing up).
If you decide to experiment with this practice without a horse first.

It's important to sensitize this when it is EASY for him to deliver the 'elevate my wither, shift my weight back and focus on You!' response. I often start this from a simple standstill or like this from a slow walk. It's not quite as easy as it might look to get right. If you land the rope even a few inches to the left or right you will not get a root release (so no open/receive) and he will likely just escape to the right or left and go around you. Precision and the Feel of up and back are key!

When you speed things up like this (or any 'reset' release, when principles 1-4 are combined) with the strategy of tapping into his instincts, precision is paramount.

I have found this and variations a most useful and effective element in catching the mind, focus and feet of a worried or highly distracted horse, as well as for re-kindling the lightness in a dull horse. It is also most useful as a preparation that makes many other things a great deal easier (e.g. see recent photo collection of Caesar, the Rocky Mountain Horse).

p.s. if you are not sure why or how this works, it is best to get that clear first as you can confuse your horse while speeding things up - not an advisable combination