Rein Back on the Drive Lines
(Page 57) Learning to Rein Back correctly on the drive lines is just as important as a Rein Back while riding. In a Driving Class at a show, you will be asked to Rein Back 4-5 steps when in the final line up. Your equine should remain straight through the body, relaxed and balanced when executing the movement. It is always a good idea to allow the equine to take one step forward before beginning the Rein Back to encourage the equine to round his topline before backing up. The driver should alternate rein pressure with a long squeeze-release motion by closing the fingers of the corresponding hand, creating pressure on the front foot that is forward. This should not be about speed. It is about balance and accuracy so that the vehicle will be pushed STRAIGHT back.
To illicit the four-square stance at the end of the Rein Back, gauge the length of time during the “squeezes” until they bring the back legs together, then release to allow the front legs to come together and line up. Encourage a front foot step forward if necessary with a quick squeeze-release on the side where the foot is behind the other front foot and give the verbal command to “Walk on” to bring that foot forward just ONE STEP! When the equine is finally standing foursquare, hold the lines steady and even on both sides for just a second, say, “Whoa” and then release the pressure into a gentle “hold.” If your equine has had core strength Leading Training in the Hourglass Pattern with our “Elbow Pull” postural aid, he should be able to find and hold this position until given the verbal command to proceed forward again. Practice Ground Driving over obstacles with periodic halts in the middle of the obstacles can help fine tune your equine’s responsiveness to your cues through the drive lines. Learn more about this under TRAINING/TRAINING TIPS on my website at www.luckythreeranch.com and with my TRAINING WITHOUT RESISTANCE manual and TRAINING MULES & DONKEYS: A LOGICAL APPROACH TO LONGEARS hardbound book that is available in our STORE at www.luckythreeranchstore.com.
