PREVENT DRIFTING OUT ON CIRCLES WITH COUNTER-FLEXION

A wise old woman once told me, “Where a horse’s head goes his body is sure to follow.” Hmm. Ever find yourself trying to circle to the right, but the harder you turn your horse’s head that direction the more his body drifts off to the left? Yeah... that woman was wise about a lot of stuff, but not so much horses’ heads.

If your horse is drifting out on circles, it is not his head you need to worry about, but rather his outside shoulder…the part of his body that is doing the drifting. Counter-flexion, or bending your horse opposite the direction of travel, will help you gain control of that outside shoulder. As with everything else, schooling counter-flexion in hand first makes it much easier to achieve in the saddle.

GET STARTED IN HAND:  As Madison demonstrates, begin by walking your horse toward a corner of the arena. Along the way, establish outside bend by turning your horse's head slightly toward you and placing your other hand in the girth area behind his shoulder… where your leg would lay if you were in the saddle. As you travel through the corner, encourage your horse to keep that bend to the outside.

On the first few attempts your horse will most likely try to take away the bend (as pictured below on the left), so be prepared to keep a firm hold on the lead rope/reins, and to apply as much pressure as needed at the girth. You’ll know you are getting somewhere when your horse begins stepping through the corner crossing the foreleg nearest you in front of the opposite one (as pictured on the right.)

As he begins making those crossing steps, your horse might feel tempted to stop or back up. Just give a little tap with a whip or lead rope to remind him to continue moving forward.

Practice until you can maintain counter-flexion through the corner with very little pressure.

Once you have mastered that, see if you can maintain it while turning your horse off the rail for four or five steps coming out of the corner. Then try turning your horse off the rail in counter-flexion well before reaching the corner.

When you get comfortable in one direction, switch to your horse's other side and school counter-flexion in the opposite direction.

As you proceed, keep in mind that your goal is to get your horse sensitive to your hand at his girth, and yielding through his shoulders when you apply light pressure. To master it, pick an object in the arena and practice maintaining counter-flexion as you circle around it.

TRANSITION TO THE SADDLE: Once you are in the saddle, your leg provides the necessary pressure at the girth rather than your hand. Take your horse through these same exercises at the walk, then pick up trot and begin asking for counter-flexion through the corners of the arena.

When you get it you will feel your horse's outside shoulder lift, providing a comfortable little space behind it for your thigh to lay. Its important you be aware of this because your thigh must remain in that comfortable spot for you to have effective use of your outside leg. 

When you begin schooling circles, anytime you sense your horse's shoulder moving your thigh out of position, apply counter-flexion and stronger outside leg. This will remind your horse to keep his outside shoulder in front of your leg... traveling on the arc of the circle rather than drifting out of it. Once you've regained control of that shoulder, work slowly toward establishing inside bend. 

Practice counter-flexion to prevent drifting and you will soon find that where a horse’s shoulders go his body is sure to follow. 

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