Training in the Right Way: Why We Don’t Pull in Dressage
This week I’m tackling another reader submitted question, this one focusing on why we pulling on the reins is such an egregious sin in dressage. Spoiler Alert: It kind of is.
Dressage training is supposed to be the process of training ANY horse to be a better riding horse. The more the horse learns, in theory, the easier it is to communicate with and therefore complete more complex tasks with. Although competition dressage training often is more focused on training for the dressage test, that is not what the original intention (and original judging requirements) were for competitive dressage. Initially, it was designed to give riders and trainers a way to determine how their training measured up to the theoretical ideal of the training process. That said, it is critically important to understand the meanings and reasons for some of the terms we use to describe dressage training and what to look for when observing training and competition (and videos and photos), regardless of whether you intend to compete or just train your horse to be a better whatever you do with him. That, ultimately, is the main purpose of my articles. To provide education and knowledge for riders to understand and improve their eye and understanding of what dressage training is supposed to be. While there will always be some differences in practice and theory, good horse training is always recognizable to the educated eye. That said, it absolutely is necessary that we remember and understand that limited knowledge is limited judgment.
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This week we have another reader submitted question (I invite other article topics and questions to be submitted directly to me at [email protected]).
Our reader writes: “I know that pulling on the reins is considered incorrect in dressage training, but I don’t really understand why. I understand that continuous backward pressure on the horse’s mouth causes discomfort in the horse’s mouth and neck, but why is it ‘wrong’ to pull on the reins to slow down or stop?”
This is a question I wish more people took a moment to consider, as pulling on the reins (inappropriately) is unfortunately the norm. It is true that correct (which is just another way of saying productive or useful) rein contact is never maintained by pulling back on the horse’s mouth. Certainly, there are multiple reasons for this, though the rather obvious reason is that it causes the horse discomfort. The continuous pressure on the horse’s tongue and jaw bones can be very painful. Additionally, when the neck and head are pulled either upward or downward, and compressed toward the horse’s chest and shoulders, there is a tremendous amount of pressure placed on the horse’s neck vertebrae causing discomfort and the pressure on their trachea (breathing tube) can make it difficult to breathe.
Also, this restriction creates muscle tension while the horse tries to brace against the discomfort and difficulty breathing. The horse will pull against the rider’s hands to prevent further compression of their neck and trachea, as they can only give their neck as much as their physiological range of movement will allow. Once the horse is braced and against the rider, the rider then tends to pull harder. As the horse’s balance presses more and more against the rider’ hands, he loses the ability to balance in his normal, natural way, and becomes dependent on the rider’s hands to brace against as a mechanism of maintaining balance. You can probably see why this cycle is problematic?
Pulling on the horse’s mouth creates muscle tension and discomfort for the horse. Both of these are counter-productive to training. Image (c) The Idea of Order
Interestingly, it is not better to take back and let go, either. This just creates a different mechanism of loss of balance and then pulling. The reason we do not pull back to create a downward transition is rooted in these mechanics. The more the rider pulls, or pulls and lets go and pulls again, the more the horse goes on the forehand, pushes the hindlegs out behind, and leans into the bridle inn a attempt to maintain his balance.While it is vital to recognize that pulling is at best unproductive and at worst painful for the horse, you also need to understand that useful contact also does not mean no contact. Most riders who are concerned about pulling too much often go in the opposite direction and want to ride without any rein contact, and sometimes without a bit or bridle. These are definitely choices that riders can make— and a very well-trained horse that can produce exercises in harmony and balance without reins, bits, and bridles is beautiful— but we are going to talk about riding with a bit and bridle here as those are components of dressage and necessary for training self-carriage.
Riding with good rein contact and knowing how to give aids without pulling is what makes using a bridle and a bit effective rather than painful or abusive. The challenge is learning what to do and how to do it and training your horse to be receptive to it. In other words, most riders do not start pulling on their horse’s mouth because they want to, they do it because they don’t know what else to do. So let’s take a moment to consider some of the things that can be done rather than pulling.
The use of circles and other curved lines (like corners) for the lower-level horses, and lateral work for more trained horses, is what creates the rider’s ability to do downward transitions that don’t involve pulling. If you look at Training Level tests, all transitions are done on a circle or in close proximity to a corner. This is because curved lines are the suppling exercises for lower-level horses. Once a horse develops the ability to go sideways on the aids (leg yield is the first lateral exercise the horse learns) the downward transitions can be done with a small amount of lateral movement to prevent the horse from leaning on the rider and the rider from pulling on the horse. As the horse learns shoulder-in, this exercise helps the horse maintain a degree of collection in the downward transitions. In both the circles and the lateral work (when done with the right balance of aids and understanding of the exercise) the horse learns to keep a level or uphill balance and keep the hind legs moving through the downward transitions and the rider does not need to pull. Thus, using curved lines and circles for transitions with lower-level horses, and lateral movements for transitions for upper-level horses, solves the problem of pulling in transitions and avoids putting the horse on the forehand.
Learning not to pull on the horse’s mouth requires developing an excellent seat and learning the techniques that help train the horse to stay in balance. Photo (c) Morgane Schmidt
So, back to the original question about why we are not supposed to pull in dressage training (and competition), obviously we don’t want to cause the horse pain and stress, but also because we want them to develop self-carriage rather than the habit of leaning into the rider’s hands as a mechanism of balance (which puts them on the forehand and makes everything harder). Balanced transitions and uphill carriage can only happen if the horse stays supple and keeps his hind legs moving in the rhythm of the gaits we are moving between, and under his body (not pushing out behind him). Because dressage seeks to create transitions that are at the very least in natural balance, and progressively more uphill (collected) as the horse gets trained, pulling is essentially counterproductive.
Inevitably, at this point, someone will point out that “all transitions are supposed to be straight.” Yes. I know. This is true. The distinction here has two parts: First, straight is not like a ruler or an arrow. Straight means not crooked, not leaning, or not not forward-thinking. Straight between the aids is what happens when a horse is round, and supple, and forward, and through, and can move from curved lines to straight lines (and do lateral exercises) while staying on the rider’s aids.
Secondly, the reason we look for straightness in transitions in competition is to prove that the training has been done at home and the question being asked is “how straight can you ride your transition without having your horse pull, go off the aids, fall on the forehand and lose the engagement of the hind-quarters?” Essentially, straightness is proof of the training, not the training itself.
Lower level horses will have to do their transitions on curves in order to stay balanced in the transition. Photos (c) Morgane Schmidt.
To further emphasize this, this is where I direct you back to the part about Training Level tests having all the transitions on or near a curved line. The test writers know that the Training level horse needs these curves to help them manage their balance in a transition. Look at your other dressage tests and pay close attention to where most of the transitions take place. As you go through the levels, some transitions are almost always near curves or lateral movements. But also, by the time you’re at Grand Prix (where the horse has the most training), there are a bunch that are done on straight lines. The expectation is that the horse is educated enough and balanced enough to make some very straight transitions. Again, proof of the training, but not the training itself.
While there are quite a few jumping off points to other pertinent topics we could go into with these concepts, I think this probably answers your question adequately. Essentially, we don’t pull because it is painful for the horse and ultimately counter-productive to the training.
Remember: limited knowledge is limited judgment.
Gwyneth and Flair in competition at Grand Prix. (c) flatlandsfoto.
Gwyneth McPherson has over 35 years experience competing, training, and teaching dressage. She began her education in in the late 1970s, riding in her backyard on an 11 hh pony. Her first instructor introduced her to Lendon Gray (1980 and 1988 Olympian). who mentored Gwyneth for a decade during which she achieved her first National Championship in 1984, and her Team and Individual Young Rider Gold Medals in1987.
In 1990 Gwyneth began training with Carol Lavell (1992 Olympian) who further developed Gwyneth as an FEI rider and competitor. Gwyneth achieved a Team Bronze in 1991 and a Team Silver in 1992 in the North American Young Riders Championships, and trained her stallion G’Dur to do all the Grand Prix movements while riding with Carol.
In 2008, while Head Trainer at Pineland Farms, Gwyneth began training with Michael Poulin (Olympian 1992). Michael was trained by Franz Rochowansky (Chief Rider for the Spanish Riding School 1937-1955). Michael has shared much of Rochowansky’s knowledge and wisdom with Gwyneth, completing her education as a Grand Prix rider, trainer, and competitor.
Gwyneth’s teaching and training business, Forward Thinking Dressage,is based in Williston, FL. In addition to teaching riders and training, Gwyneth also loves sharing her knowledge of the sport and art of dressage as well as discussing relevant topics pertaining to the training itself and the current competitive landscape.
