What a beautiful illustration! So many riders think putting the horse's ears below the withers puts the horse on the forehand, but that is only the case if it's done incorrectly, as the first three diagrams show. I also see plenty of riders performing one of the first three trots, totally unaware that it is incorrect work!

 

The fourth picture shows a correctly ridden stretch where the horse continues to reach out to the end of the reins, instead of dropping behind the contact (often the result of a rider using a jiggle-jiggle aid to get the horse to drop his head). In this fourth picture the horse isn't just dropping his head, it's a full body movement that has to be ridden that way. Notice that in the fourth picture, his nose remains in front of the vertical, and his hind legs are stepping well under his body. He is balanced and not on the forehand because of the way he is using his hind legs, and this is what enables him to stretch down and OUT to the end of the rein.

This movement is such a fundamental piece, it's foundation work, and it is HARD until you get it, but that's no reason to skip it! This is such a great way to help build up a horse's strength, balance, and correct muscles.  The even BIGGER BENEFIT I see in insisting riders learn to ride this exercise well is that there is no way to cheat. Either you are doing it correctly (in which case, all your dressage to follow is likely to be correct), or you aren't. There's no way to gadget this movement, there's no way to teach a horse a "trick" to do this movement, or you get the first 3 pictures. Only when you understand how to correctly ride your horse from behind and use half halts to re-balance him when he falls on the forehand (instead of trying to "half halt" with just the reins), can this movement be executed beautifully.  And when this movement is being performed well, I think it is every bit as lovely to ride as an effortless floating half pass! The harmony and the relaxation and willingness to work together... this is where it all starts!

 

Ingredients

Guaranteed to teach riders to sit in unison with their horses, this tool improves muscle memory and seat development, consequently enhancing the horse's performance.

Use of this system will bridge the gap between the description of a correct seat and actually feeling it by using a non-verbal, kinesthetic approach.

The Unisit will work for you whether you are a world-class trainer, judge and FEI competitor, an amateur, therapeutic riding instructor, young rider or aspiring upper level athlete. 

From Gold and Silver Medalist Pati Pierucci: "I found it gave everyone that used it a chance to feel the union of sitting in the horses back and not just being a passenger. This is critical for collected work, sometimes we just need to feel these things to make the move to the next several levels. I recommend this for anyone who is looking for the jump to the next level in their riding, or just tired of trying it without stirrups."

Learn all about the Unisit here!

I love this life hack video! 18 uses for a plastic bottle you should know!

 

Here's the link to shop and order.