Self Carriage

The second level horse must have self carriage in order to progress. In working toward self carriage in our lesson today, Karen had me raise Delphi's neck with the reins, thereby unlocking the gullet. Once the gullet is open and soft, give a series of unilateral half halts, then immediately completely giving the rein. The key is in the give; when the horse is softly on the bit the rider must allow the horse to carry itself by not hanging on the rein nor allowing the horse to hang on the rein, rather continuing to raise the horse's neck and applying the unilateral half halts, then again giving the rein to allow self carriage.