Riding with Master Horseman Buck Brannaman



Buck riding warmblood 'Big Lou'

…Mid-June 2015, i was very lucky to ride with Buck Brannaman’s in his first ever clinic in the UK. The 3-day clinic took place at Aintree's racecourse in Liverpool - with me was my lovely 5-year old pony, Autan.

What do you do with your horses? is a question i am often asked.  Invariably my answer is ‘My aim is to develop a good riding horse.’ And depending on the level of understanding the person who is asking the question has, the conversation can go two ways: dead silent or understatedly animated.   

From the moment Buck stepped into the equestrian arena, it was obvious we were up for a step forward towards understanding how to get closer to this aim. Buck, impeccably, demonstrated with the horse he was riding, the theory he is so expertly able to explain…here is my take on it -


With the short serpentine movement, we are looking for an even-balanced horse on all 4 feet. Firstly we ask for the lateral flexion with the horse’s head truly bent at 90C minding its ears are levelled, its face is at the vertical and its pole is higher than the withers. Pitfall 1- If we feel resistance it means the inside rein needs adjusting. Secondly, the rider is in position 1 and the horse’s inside hind engages under the mass. Pitfall 2 – Make sure the horse moves forward. If it gets stuck with his hind, ask again and start again. Once the first and second steps are accomplished, ask for one step forward and swing the head to the other side, then ask for the lateral flexion and the new inside hind’s engagement and so on.

The horse is truly engaged, when this movement is easy, swingy and light in the hand. Consequently the engagement from behind causes the horse’s front quarters to lift up, its front foot touching the ground lightly and in slow motion.    

Autan is by nature a forward moving pony. Remarkably after doing this short serpentine exercise, Autan was walking out freely, with power….turning loose, great feeling!  



Autan...Turning loose...



The reach exercise progresses to the backing on a tight circle which in turn progresses to the turn on one of the outside hind leg.

For the reach exercise, the horse must disassociate the lateral flexion at 90C where the horse is at a standstill and the reach element of it where the horse is in motion. Ask for the lateral flexion at 90C. My elbow is attached to my ribcage. The flexion is as light as a feather and the horse is balanced on all 4 feet at a standstill. This part has to be really solid. Then reach for the front foot as if the rein is linked to the horse’s fore. My elbow move backwards in order to place the front foot backward and sideways. When the foot falls where i want, release!

The reach movement progresses to the backing on the circle. For the horse to back up to the left circle, its head is looking left, reach with the left fore then ask for 1 to several steps back. The tighter the circle, the less back steps between two reaches.

Backing on the circle progresses to the turn. The foot sequence goes ‘reach’, ‘reach’ and so on omitting the backup step in between. This causes the horse to turn on one of its hind. Some horses will be more inclined to turn on the outside hind and others will be more comfortable on the opposite hind. My guess is that with timing and feel, a good horseman would be able to influence the movement by distributing the horse’s weight on one hind or the other.

Balanced on all 4 feet, ears levelled, face at the vertical (ish) 
& the pole higher than the withers

 

Moving the hind quarters 4 ways
a – rein and leg using the indirect rein & the same side leg

b – Rein and leg using the soft feel & the leg

c – leg only

d – Rein only. In this way, we ask for the lateral flexion and wait. Remarkably, the horse will figure it out.

Down transitions using the soft feel

Trot on a loose rein; Pick up the soft feel, then release once obtained; Pick up the soft feel then transition to the walk; Walk on a loose rein; Pick up the soft feel then transition to a halt; Release; Pick up soft feel to back up: Release on a soft feel.

The progression to this movement is to try to keep the soft feel for a few steps longer. The aim goal is for the horse to be on a soft feel at every transition down and up. The up transition with the soft feel is a much more demanding movement as engagement for the impulsion must be present.

Wow! it looks like cat brought one outfit and forgot the smile at home...Day 2 was my best day riding!

The 6 progressions movements are in preparation to the flying changes. In this exercise say we are riding on the long side of the arena approaching a corner on the right rein then half circle change direction traveling back on ourselves on the left rein.

Progression 1 - Travel on a loose rein at the trot from a right rein to a left rein.
Progression 2 – Progression 1 & ask for the soft feel when changing rein on the half circle.
Progression 3 - Progression 2 & ask for leg yield with the soft feel traveling on the left rein.
Progression 4 – Trot on the right rein up to the most part of the circle then ask for the canter to the left traveling on the left rein.
Progression 5 – Right canter up to most of the circle, then ask for a few steps at the trot almost finishing the circle then ask for left canter traveling on the long side of the arena on the left rein.
Progression 6 – Right canter up to most of the circle, then ask for flying change for a left canter travelling on the long side of the arena on the left rein.

...thinking about it cat!?...in doubt turn to the Master...

 

...Progression 3...Admiring your work cat!?...

 

 

...Lovely Autan...

When asked Buck for pointers with horses running off, his answer was 'Transition, lots of it'...i look forward riding with Buck again hopefully soon...



...Autan... a grand little horse in his Aintree stable

...Buck conducting another clinic in Surrey one week later with Olympian Showjumper Melanie Smith Taylor.