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Hand, Body and Leg Position in Natural Connection Riding
The following video deals with horses’ memory of what they have learned, as well as rein handling and accepted riding lines. It also addresses direct and indirect steering (neck reining), leg and pelvis position, and quality communication in riding, built on pressure associations — what I call Natural Connection.
What amazed me was the fact that the mare I am demonstrating on had never been formally taught the Natural Connection codes. However, I rode her many years ago using these codes — as I do with every horse I ride — and years ago, my daughter Ofer and another instructor, both of whom know these codes very well, also rode her using them.
But during the many years since then, hundreds and hundreds of trail riders have ridden her, mostly beginners and some more advanced riders, using a wide variety of cues, and of course they did not ride her using the Natural Connection codes.
When I got on her now, I immediately saw that she remembered everything — and that she enjoyed remembering. That is important.
I can see it in her relaxation and willingness to do whatever I ask. What amazes me is that within seconds, the mare shows me and tells me: “Hey, I know this language, and I am very comfortable with it…”
(You can judge for yourselves.)
Again, for anyone who does not understand me, I want to say this clearly: do not ride without reins. Reins are essential for corrections and safety, and riding this way is dangerous.
What I wanted to show here is the mare’s ability to remember a language that is so comfortable for her — and for me as well.
And thank you to Maayan Atias for filming.
Using Natural Connection in a Flight Response – Bolting Out of Fear
Following the podcast I released, which may have sounded like criticism of English riders, Western riders, or trail riders, I want to clarify again: I am not referring to active competitors, but to those who no longer compete or those who have not started competing.
As for competitors, I have full respect for them and for the excellent techniques they use to perform what is required of them within the competitive pattern.
I have no criticism at all of the great horsemen and communication experts in the U.S. or Europe. What concerned me was the thought that in the U.S., because of the tradition of riding one-handed, we are taught the one-rein stop.
With this technique, which is common in the U.S., when riders are riding one-handed and the horse suddenly bolts, they bend down trying to find one rein, and then try to turn the horse with both reins.
It is completely clear that when a horse bolts — as you can see in the video — you cannot bend down and search for a rein, because at that moment you are focused on survival.
Even my ability, as a Natural Connection rider, to use my inside leg and pull the horse’s head to the left with all my strength while my right hand is toward the mane is something I developed over years.
Someone who has ridden one-handed with neck reining all his life does not have that same ability, because “the muscles remember.”
I can be humble, I can stay quiet, and I can say that this is only my personal opinion, but I see thousands of “almosts” — almost-accidents — and I know I have to find a solution for this, especially as someone who has broken bones more than once.
So I am bringing you the real, unedited explanation and demonstration of how I manage to overcome a horse that goes into extreme fear because of the unexpected sound of one metal grooming brush scraping against another metal grooming brush.
Stumbling in Gaited Horses
We are fortunate to have gaited horses, which allow us trail riders to cover many miles every week through the wonderful and fascinating landscapes our troubled country has to offer.
Thanks to the gaited breeds we have here—including Tennessee Walking Horses, Missouri Fox Trotters, Rocky Mountain Horses, and Single-Footing Horses—we can complete trail rides lasting one day, two days, or even two weeks with a level of comfort we never experienced with more conventional breeds such as Quarter Horses, Appaloosas, Thoroughbred crosses, Arabian crosses, Paint Horses, and similar breeds.
Some gaited horses from the breeds I mentioned come from bloodlines that tend to stumble.
In this video, my recommendation is to let such horses go.
But when that is not possible, you should at least keep them alert and attentive by using brief collection exercises, which I demonstrate in the video.
It is important for me to emphasize this: even when the rider does not know how to collect the horse, and the horse is not capable of true collection, it does not matter. The exercise itself makes both horse and rider more alert and attentive.
Enjoy, and I hope you find it useful.
Uri Peleg
Hand and Leg Position While Riding in Natural Connection
Friends, this is Uri Peleg — www.uripeleg.org.
This is a somewhat longer video that takes a closer look at the riding position, with very important recommendations about riding with two hands and using a leg position that is suitable for trail riders, as opposed to competitive riders — English and Western riders.
Arena riders are bound by the traditions of English and Western riding, and they are required to follow them according to the rules of competition.
Remember — we have no reason to use those traditions. We need a different hand and leg position.
We are free from traditions. We do not need to hold the reins in one hand — not in order to free one hand to catch calves, not to shoot Indians, and not to behead infidels.
We need to ride in the safest way for us, and in the clearest way for the horse.
Let go of the traditions that dictate these techniques, which are demonstrated in the competitive world, both in English and Western riding.
These techniques “do not hold water.” In other words, they will not stop a frightened horse, they will not force him to turn exactly where we intended, and they will not prevent refusal, rearing, bolting, and so on.
Please listen carefully…
Recommended Way to Hold the Reins for Trail Riders — Without Needing to Shorten or Lengthen the Reins During the Ride
Hello, this is Uri Peleg — www.uripeleg.org.
In my opinion, this is the best way to hold the reins during trail riding.
There is no longer any need to shorten or lengthen the reins.
You can ride for an hour or half a day with your hands in exactly the same place on the reins, and you can stop, release, turn, collect, and do everything without changing the length of the reins.
recommended and correct Two-Handed reins Control , vs. One-Hand Stop, In stressful situations
Proper Stopping for Trail Riders
Guys… don’t do “copy–paste” from arena riders to yourselves…
(a more precise explanation is in my Facebook group: With Uri Peleg – In the Saddle).
Arena riders repeatedly and professionally refine, as part of their occupation, exercises whose goal is to train riders in competitive techniques.
These exercises place emphasis on perfect execution, with a strong focus on aesthetics—and for that reason they become irrelevant for you, especially in extreme situations out on the trail.
This time, we’re talking about stopping and teaching the stop—for trail riders.
The Distraction Method for Preventing Fears
The strongest instinct in horses is fear.
Watch the video—I demonstrate for you the distraction technique that I developed to combat a horse’s fears. This is an active technique, as opposed to the passive exposure technique.
For the past 15 years, I have seen excellent results with the distraction method.
Enjoy.
Dealing with an automatic pattern of forward bolting in a hot mare
The solution (provided it is consistent) is in a retarding seat, legs away from the horse, and increased collection done in a unique way shown in the video.
How to cross a channel/stream
For riding lessons and private courses with me, call 050-6914939.
Using two rein options to soften a stiff side in the horse’s steering while riding
The following video provides an original solution for anyone who wants to soften a side that is not flexible in the horse they are riding. There are three basic families of bits: the broken bits — the various snaffle bits, the leverage bits — the various shank bits, and the broken-leverage bits — the shank snaffle. The first ones — the broken bits — are excellent for lateral flexion. The leverage bits are good for collection, and the broken-leverage bits offer a slightly smaller degree of lateral flexion but an increased option for collection.
What I did here helps me soften and control the horse even in turns and circles to his weaker side — in this case, to the right — and correct this “flaw” in him… try it and enjoy.Using counter-canter (reverse lead) for safety while galloping in the field
This time, a video about using the lead (the leading leg in the gallop) according to the terrain.
For example: when I galloped in a sharp left turn, on the left lead (the standard one), the mare cut left and my shirt got caught in the tree branches I was circling. When I used the opposite lead from the standard (the right lead — counter-canter), the mare made a wider and safer turn around the tree.
More examples of using a lead opposite to the direction:
Galloping on a trail next to a road that curves to the right — obviously we’ll use the left lead; or on a horse galloping in a large left curve, and we know that in the middle of the curve there is another left turn toward the ranch, but we want to continue on the path and not turn to the ranch — obviously we’ll use the right lead.
If you feel like learning more, contact me for private courses (maximum 2 students), also in Sde Hemed near Kfar Saba–Ra’anana… or at my ranch, Ramot Ranch in the Golan Heights, Or Peleg.
050-6914939
After a whirlwind hit me while riding
Today I’ll talk about a difficult incident I went through, when a powerful whirlwind with dust and gravel
came over me without me seeing it approaching (it came from behind…).Suddenly my world went dark, and I saw only gray walls of dust around me and small stones, and terrible wind tearing the hat off my head…
Luckily I wasn’t holding a “Western” style with loose reins (loose contact) in one hand or two hands,
luckily I wasn’t holding “dressage” style (constant contact, collected horse), because then I wouldn’t have been able to lean back, pull to stop, and keep both legs forward…
I didn’t understand what was happening to me, and luckily I was holding — as I usually do — with two hands and with a “light contact” of 5–10 cm, which allowed me, in the middle of the event (when the whole world was swirling around me), to pull the reins strongly while leaning back with my legs forward.
The horse (a bit timid by nature) flew sideways in a side-pass, but I survived…
The video was filmed at the location of the event, after the whirlwind had passed.
How to overcome fear of an object the horse is approaching
This time, an important video about how to overcome a horse’s fears using collection — for a horse that is capable of it — and a rider who knows how to ask it from the horse.
Notice — I am not teaching the horse the obstacle (because obstacles always change…), but forcing the horse to pass despite his fear
using collection, and only incidentally (!) he sees the frightening obstacle.
You can barely see that he’s afraid ~ because he is busy with my demand for collection.
Another thing I show is my reaction to rearing (going up on two legs) and also a strong “drive” (too bad the shirt covered it…) together with spurs from behind…
For questions, lessons with me, or communication, riding, and advanced training courses with me:
Uri Peleg 050-6914939
Using spur timing to increase stride speed in sync with the horse’s shoulder movement
This time, a video guiding you on using spurs (or the edge of the heel) with a special timing that causes any horse (and in this case, a gaited horse) to produce a larger stride with the option of acceleration
according to the chosen timing.
The touches to the abdominal muscle (between the horse’s chest and pelvis) create this effect.
The timing, based on the order of the horse’s leg movement, is:
when the horse’s right shoulder moves forward (meaning the right leg leaves the ground and moves forward) —
we must spur with our left heel/spur, because right after the horse’s right front leg moves forward — its left hind leg leaves the ground.
Spurring at this timing causes the hind leg to move deeper under the horse, and if we also speed up the touches — the horse will move forward much faster.
To make the process easier and simpler — it’s helpful to look at the left shoulder moving toward us (when the right shoulder moves forward) — and then give the touch…
The faster we make the touches — the faster the horse’s pace will be… and of course I do this in sync on both sides.
Notice that exactly when I say in the video the word “now…” — that is precisely when the horse lifts its hind leg on the same side as the touch, increasing and quickening the stride…
I also show a resting seat, which helps relax some muscles during the ride (for those who need it).
Enjoy…
How to teach a horse to stop pulling toward the herd by using separations from the herd
Another video about a horse that pulls toward the herd, and my use of separating the horse from the distancing herd and returning the horse to the group, in order to build control over the horse’s speed and eliminate the pulling…
Slowing down through collection to control a horse that pulls toward the herd
And today, another video about group trail riding.
- Notice that I collect the horse, ask for a slowdown with a long and slow backward hand movement, and then when I feel the horse has slowed down, I gently straighten my hands forward…
When the horse speeds up again — I repeat the process.
This is the conversation with the horse:
If you accelerate — it will be less pleasant because I will collect and pull the reins and bit. But if you slow down — you will receive freedom (not much, a few centimeters). - For gaited horses (Tennessee, Missouri, Rocky Mountain)
There is an approach of releasing the head with an appropriate bit so the horse can “shake” (lower and raise its head in sync with the steps). This is correct. But collection for these horses in off-road conditions is just as important, if not more.
Body language and rein length when stopping in the field and in an emergency stop.
This time about emergency stopping in the field and in general.
Write to me if you have questions or requests for a video on any topic.Natural Connection in a first trail ride for a mare in initial training
Today, a video of a first trail ride on a mare I rode twice in the round pen, once in the arena and around the arena, and this time — her first outing to the field.
- Notice that already in the initial training I guide the mare to follow with her shoulders the direction of the head (Exercise 4 — the reinforcing).
- This technique is critical for achieving movement in the desired direction, since it gives us control over the direction of the shoulders and the horse’s movement toward where we want.
- Notice there is no “neck reining” here… because any neck reining on such a horse (especially with a bit that has a broken mouthpiece — a broken bit in this case) would frustrate the horse.
- Notice that I use spurs without a wheel (which increases their surface area).
Thanks to Naif for filming…
Full film from the first mounting through the 13 exercises to a skilled horse
Uri Peleg full instructional film
Uri Peleg – Part 3/4 – From the first mounting through 13 exercises to a skilled horse
Road to Natural Conection Series
Demonstration of training to create a desired gait for a Wokaloosa (a gaited horse on an Appaloosa)
Hello, this is Uri Peleg, uripeleg.org, and this time a video about training a horse born to a gaited mare and an Appaloosa stallion, also called a Wokaloosa. The horse is crossbred, capable of easily producing both the traditional gaits—walk, trot, canter—and for those who want comfortable trail riding there is also the option to easily produce the comfortable and fast gait. On the horse demonstrated in the video I did not work for more than a few minutes, and already the beginning of the desired gait can be seen. Thanks to Hillel who filmed. Enjoy
