How to Make a Horse Lighter in Front

A horse carries more of its total weight on its front legs than its back legs. This is because the head and neck take up a significant proportion of the total body weight. When in motion, the horse will use this extra weight to advantage by stretching the head and neck out in time with the rhythm of its legs to increase impulsion. However, when the horse has to carry the burden of a rider's weight, the result is too much weight over the front legs. The horse has to be taught to balance and carry more weight on its back legs, becoming "lighter in front". This is also known as "lightening the forehand."

Things You'll Need

  • Safe, enclosed riding area
  • Helmet
  • Saddle and bridle
  • Longe line
  • Three trotting poles
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Instructions

    • 1

      Set out the trotting poles down the long side of the arena. Start by spacing the poles about 4 feet, 6 inches apart. Bridle your horse. Attach the longe line by passing it through the inside bit ring, over the horse's head behind the ears, and clipping it to the outside bit ring.

    • 2

      Warm the horse up by having it walk several large circles around you on the end of the longe line. Move up to trot, then back to walk. Change direction, remembering to change the attachment of the longe line over. When the horse is warmed up, walk then trot it over the poles several times in each direction. This will encourage the horse to lower its head carriage to look at the poles and bring its hind legs underneath it.

    • 3

      Remove the longe line. Saddle and mount your horse. Start by riding a large circle at a walking pace around the arena. Gradually start to reduce the size of the circle by moving your inside hand away from the horse's neck and pressing with your outside leg behind the girth. Keep your inside leg still to help the horse balance. This exercise will help the horse step further under its body with the outside hind leg. Once the horse is on a small circle, reverse the exercise by moving your outside hand out and using your inside leg to push the horse back out. Change direction and repeat. When your horse is more balanced, this exercise can be done in trot and even in canter.

    • 4

      Ride the horse round the arena at walk, adding a small circle in each corner of the arena. As you come out of the first circle, ride a half halt by dropping your weight down into your seat bones, squeezing and raising your outside rein and squeezing gently with both legs. This will encourage the horse to step underneath itself and balance. Since the horse is being required to work harder, it should also slow down. Continue in this slower walk until you reach the next corner. As you come out of the second circle, let the horse pick up a faster walk. At the next corner, half halt again and continue in slow walk to the next corner. Change direction and repeat the exercise again. This exercise will help the horse balance and encourage it to use the correct muscles.