I love riding and I love my horses. I love feeling connection and harmony and I strive to communicate with the softest and lightest aids possible. Nothing is more magical than when it feels as if your horse is reading your thoughts, and nothing is worse than feeling like you’re kicking and pulling trying to force your horse to cooperate!
In today’s video, we’re diving into the concept of self-carriage—what it is, why it’s important, and how to develop it in your horse. Self-carriage can seem a bit mysterious, but when you experience it, it’s an incredible feeling. It’s when your horse feels like they are floating, and they maintain their movement without constant reminders or aids from you. It is through self-carriage that we can develop invisible aids, harmony, and balance with our horses.
Is your horse in self-carriage? Here’s a practical test for the next time you’re riding: push your heels down and give the reins for three or four strides. If nothing changes, your horse is in self-carriage. If your horse slows down or their head comes up, they are not in self-carriage. Your horse should go forward like cruise control in a car. Set the speed and they should maintain it. Period. No nagging.
Here is how to Develop Self Carriage
Get Your Horse in Front of the Leg: If you constantly have to kick your horse to maintain the tempo, you need to fix this first. Push your heels down, take your leg off, and see what happens. Your horse should maintain the same tempo. If they slow down or stop, make a quick correction with your leg and ask them to go faster than you were originally going. It is important to make them speed up extra if they slow down! Repeat this until your horse maintains the pace without constant nagging.
Connection and Frame: Once your horse is in front of the leg, work on the self-carriage as it relates to the connection. Start on a circle line and when you feel that your horse is bending around your inside leg and connected from inside leg to outside rein give the inside rein and see what happens. You want your inside rein to go slack and let the bit drop out of the corner of your horse’s mouth. Does your horse maintain the frame? Or do they right away put their head up and lose the bend? It is important that you’re not holding your horse in a frame with your reins. You should be able to give on the inside rein for 3-4 strides and your horse should maintain the same frame!
Consistency in Training: Self-carriage is developed through consistent training and it is directly related to the amount of engagement in the hind end. Over time, as you and your horse progress through the levels, their self-carriage should improve. Always be mindful of doing less—softer leg aids, softer rein aids—and encouraging your horse to carry themselves.
Practical Tips
- Be Brave – Making corrections can be intimidating, but it’s necessary. Be prepared to ride through any excitement or resistance.
- Use Your Seat – A connected seat is crucial to develop self-carriage. Your seat must remain consistent when you give the reins.
- Create the Moment – Ensure your horse is round and balanced before testing self-carriage by giving the reins.
If you feel like they are leaning on you, ask them to be rounder and softer before testing. Self-carriage allows your horse to use the correct muscles, and develop their top line instead of the under-neck muscles used for resistance. Remember, it’s about developing harmony and balance over time. Thank you for reading! Stay tuned for more great content to help you and your horse progress together.
Happy Riding!
Amelia
P.S. Need more help with getting your horse in self-carriage? Understanding contact, connection, and roundness is a great first step, and you’re in luck because my Free Contact and Connection Webinar is happening this weekend! Seats are limited and I don’t want you to miss the webinar on Contact and Connection. I will be sharing my simple four-step process for teaching your horse roundness. Hurry and save your seat here, seats are almost gone for my Sept. 1st webinar!
