Sometimes you hear talk of a “fifth leg” for a horse.
On his blog, William Miklem talks about the importance of what he calls the “fifth leg” for an event horse, who needs to be able to balance in order to stay safe. It’s important for a jockey’s hand to sometimes act as a “fifth leg” in order to support a horse who is running on empty and needs to make it across the finish line. The same is true of a young horse learning to balance downhill across open country.
Ultimately and if possible (which excludes fatigued horses) we want the “fifth leg” to belong exclusively to the horse, although we may use our hands initially as a “fifth leg” crutch to assist the horse in finding its own balance.
All too often, unfortunately, we see the use of the hand as a permanent “fifth leg.” The only job of that “fifth leg” is to support the rider or hold the horse in compression as a substitute for self carriage. Just as a tight flash noseband acts as a poor stand-in for a quiet mouth, “contact” (that popular synonym for pulling on the horse’s mouth) acts as a stand-in for a true, feeling and sensitive connection between the rider’s hand and the horse’s mouth.
Riders who always provide their hands as a fifth leg for the horse end up at some point like poor Laurel and Hardy — the “third leg” — in today’s picture. Carrying all the weight of the horse, when the horse should instead be carrying them. If only their horses were as content as the grey on the piano.
Reflections on Riding 
Hey Katie! I think it all comes down to your level of fitness. Riders with weak core strength are going to use the reins to secure themselves in the saddle to the detriment of their horses mouths and balance.
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Hey Elaine! I agree with you that we see riders without core strength balancing on the reins…but then, haven’t you seen children, without core strength but with natural balance, riding well on a loose rein? Or how about some of those super-fit dressage riders with serious core strength but hands that never give?
I think that riders should maintain a soft feel of their horses’ mouths, and that is what we should teach: a feeling, communicative connection. Instead, I hear that the horse must accept the contact. And while I agree that the horse must accept the hand, I feel just as strongly that riders should work hard at having good hands (and after that, educated hands).
If, after the horse is started, he protests against the hand, the rider should look first at himself and what he might be doing wrong rather than working at making the horse accept the hand with a backwards traction on the reins that masquerades as “contact.”
Improve the riders hands, and immediately the horse will improve (provided we have the right bit and the horse is in good health, including in his mouth).
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Sometimes I think I have too soft a hand and that makes it ineffectual.
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What isn’t working for you? If I know more about the problems you’re having, I can provide a more constructive answer.
Overall, if your horse isn’t hearing you, you may be speaking too softly. Or he may be tuning you out. Or you may be using the wrong aid. Or he may have been trained to a slightly different aid than the one you’re employing. Or he may want to comply but there is a physical reason why he can’t. There are many variables.
Regardless of the situation, your aid should be as strong as it needs to be to get across, and the moment your horse acts as if he understands and starts giving you what you’ve asked for, release the aid and praise. There comes a time for sharpening the response, which may involve using a stronger aid and asking more from your horse, then retesting the horse’s response to a quieter aid.
Over time, you’ll work up to more subtle aids that create an immediate response from your horse.
If you’re having difficulties but you’re not sure why, go ahead and send me a video clip and I’ll try to help.
Hope you and Dini are having a great time in the Sunshine State.
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Actually, the problem is my over trying not to injure his mouth and then I don’t hold the reins tight enough and lose him. Dini is loving Florida: He has shed out the rest of his shaved coat and is now super black and glossy; his feet are growing so fast we had to go back to 4wk trims. He has horses everywhere he looks from his stall during the day, and in his barn he has made friends with a pretty paint in the next stall. He is out all night actually eating grass in his pasture like a normal horse (yeah Bahia and Coastal Bermuda grass!!) THAT MAKES ME SMILE.
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I’m so happy to hear about Dini.
In terms of your hand, here’s my suggestion: think about communicating with his mouth (a positive that will keep a connection and keep your hands interesting) rather than thinking about injuring his mouth (a negative that lets you lose the connection because you’re tense). I know that you have kind hands, Elaine, and they’ll get even better when you have confidence that you can talk to Dini with them.
If you can return to the in-hand work we started together, that’s a great way to work on having a feeling connection between your hand and your horse’s mouth. You were doing a great job the last time I saw you!
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That is a great idea to start back with in hand work. It’s been awhile since Dini has had a bridle on for anything other than ground driving. I will incorporate the in hand with his bending exercises. As usual you are spot on with your suggestions. I miss you!!
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Fantastic. I miss you too.
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