How To Recognize When Your Horse Is “On The Bit” Or On The Vertical

There is only one “zone” where the bit actually functions correctly. This area is the sweet spot, where the horse feels light and balanced and communication travels easy from the bit through the horse’s body to the hindquarters.

Let me underscore hindquarters…because if we can’t influence the hindquarters through the bit, there is zero use for the bit.

Everything we use the bit for is in one way or another influencing the haunches. When we create flexion in the head and neck, we are really asking the hip to step under. When we ask for a half halt we are asking the hindquarters to flex in the joints and hold the ground longer. When we turn, it’s really the haunches turning the horse. When we halt, we are asking the haunches to lift and stop the horse, etc. Therefore, the bit must flow in the same line as the hip in order to work properly.

If the bit is too far below the line of the hip, the communication will not pass to the hips and the horse will fall on the forehand by rolling forward on his shoulders and going behind the bit.

If the bit is too high above the hip the communication will pass over the hips instead of through them and the horse will be “above the bit, hollow in the back and on the forehand.

The sweet spot is therefore when the bit is close to being on the same line as the hip horizontally and the forehead of the horse is “on the vertical” line.

“On the vertical” technically means that the forehead of the horse is in alignment with a vertical line. When the forehead and nose are truly on the vertical, it means that the horse is not leaning forward on the forehand (as that would cause the nose to pass the vertical) and that the front legs are completely vertical directly supporting the weight of the forehand and creating balance.

However, in my experience, horses can look like they are on the vertical and still not feel light or balanced. I see many riders going around with horses on the vertical that are still heavy in the hand.

That’s because there is more to the equation, which is why I’m going to change from calling it the sweet spot to calling it the Goldilocks Zone, because everything has to be “just right”.

To truly put the forehead and nose on the vertical these things have to take place:

1.     The horse has to lift the withers and shift his weight backwards to allow the front legs to be on the vertical line (upright), this stops the horse from leaning forwards over his shoulders and keeping his front feet at an angle behind the balance point,

2.     The poll has to be almost the highest point or the highest point, depending on how much the horse can collect in the rear.

3.     The poll has to flex and close the angle.

4.     The lower jaw has to “give to the bit” so that when pressure is applied by the hand, the horse releases the jaw backwards opening the mouth, mobilizing the tongue and swallowing saliva.

5.     The horse has to lift and shift enough weight backwards (point 1) that the base of the neck and sternum are open and weight free. This frees the forehand and the bit from weight.

6.     The pelvis has to tip a little (caused by point 1) that the horse is carrying more weight behind so that the bit is completely weightless.

How to recognize “on the vertical” from the saddle:

1.     When you’re sitting on the horse, you shouldn’t be able to see too much neck. If you can, then the horse is probably going behind the bit. Focus on lifting the ears and poll up until they are almost the highest point, and then ask for poll flexion.

2.     If when asked for poll flexion the horse drops back down, you must lift it up repeatedly until the horse can flex without falling down.

3.     Horses can flex the poll but still resist in the jaw. Here the rider must wait until the horse “gives the jaw” before releasing the tension on the rein. This feels like a sudden snap backwards in the rein contact as the horse opens his mouth and gives the jaw backwards causing slack in the reins for just a second, followed by some licking and chewing. (Horses can open their mouth and push their jaw forwards, which is not the same. This is resistance instead of releasing.)

4.     If the horse is both giving Poll Flexion and Jaw Flexion yet still seems heavy in the hand, it is because the center of gravity has rolled over the shoulders and weight is being applied to the forehand. Here, a lifting half halt (point 1) must be applied to shift the weight back to the haunches before the horse will feel light on the bit.

5.     If you are still not sure what the vertical looks like, practice looking in a mirror or get someone to call it out when it happens.

6.     However, from there you need to start “feeling” whether it’s light or not and apply the 6 steps above, especially the first 4 will ensure that the last two are also accomplished.

Once you can see and feel what “being on the vertical” looks like then the goal is to repeat it over and over until it’s second nature.

It’s important in this process to realize that the sweet spot or Goldilocks Zone is where the pressure from the reins should momentarily disappear. When the horse sets his head in the spot and sets it lightly, then the pressure must be released to teach the horse to continuously search for this spot.

If on the other hand pressure is released anywhere else, or if the rider tries to “hold” the horse in the zone without rewarding and releasing the pressure occasionally, then the horse will learn not to search for the sweet spot and will avoid or resist the sweet spot.

Reward the horse when he does the right thing, then ask again and reward again. Soon your horse will be looking for the sweet spot and relaxing there.

Being on the bit must be a comfortable place to be where the horse can trust the rider’s hands and lengthen and relax his topline as he stretches into contact and connection with you.

Ride with Lightness

Celie

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