The rein-back poses a challenge for many horse and rider combinations and yet it can be very beneficial when executed correctly. Firstly, the rein-back encourages the horse to ‘sit’ on his hindquarters, becoming lighter in front, which is great for taking weight off the more fragile forehand. It is also a useful exercise for those horses who tend to lean on the contact as it encourages them to lift their front end. Finally, it helps build reactivity to the rider’s aids and can aid in developing the horse’s back muscles.
There are a few things you need to keep in mind when asking your horse for a rein-back:
- the horse should move backwards in diagonal pairs, in a two-beat rhythm, and the steps should be equal in length,
- the horse should not dip his head behind the bit, and
- most notably the horse needs to remain relaxed.
Before you can start teaching your horse to rein back, they need to be able to walk straight and halt correctly; look at Day 23 of our Flatwork February series for assistance with this. Once in halt, you move your legs slightly behind the girth and lighten through your seatbones. To ask the horse to start stepping backwards, squeeze your legs firmly and keep your contact firm but elastic; you do not want to drag your horse backwards with your hands. As the horse begins to step back, soften your contact and relax your leg to prevent him from rushing backwards.
Another way to start is by teaching the rein back from the ground. When teaching in this way, it can be a good idea to use a voice cue such as ‘back’. To transition from back-up on the ground to under saddle, you can also have a helper on the ground; these extra steps help ensured and relaxed and supple horse.