Training For Straightness
What does straightness training and natural asymmetry mean?
Just like every human; every horse is left - or right-handed, both in the front legs and the hind legs. A horse is also bent to the left or right in its body and it carries more weight on the front legs than on the hind legs.
This is not new information! In the 17th century, Grandmaster in the art of riding Antoine de Pluvinel (1552 – 1620) already described the natural asymmetry of horses. François Robichon de La Guérinière (1688 – 1751) and Gustav Steinbrecht (1808 – 1885) also wrote about this phenomenon in their books.
When we do not recognize and correct this natural asymmetry and imbalance of the horse, it can lead to several physical and behavioral problems.
Here are a few examples:
- The saddle slides to one side
- Stiff shoulders and/or a stiff back
- A strongly developed under neck
- Underdeveloped or weak topline
- Problems with softening into the rider’s hand - leaning on the reins
- It’s difficult to ask the horse to round or stretch its neck into the reins
- Irregular gait/movement – seem ‘off’ but not lame
- Hind legs stride out behind and not under the horse
- Difficulties to bend, turn or circle in one direction
- Speeding up automatically in the canter clear loss of balance
- Navicular disease, kissing spines, crooked pelvis and lameness
Many of these physical problems with horses can be better solved with exercises than just with physiotherapy, osteopathy, or drugs. That’s why it’s so important that we recognize the symptoms of natural asymmetry and provide the solution. The key is to deal with the cause of the problems and not just with the symptoms! This is where we need Straightness Training.
Straightness Training Academy
The founder of straightness training academy is Marijke De Jong and she leads the online coaching program in The ST Academy and certification of ST Instructors. Her mission is to end unnecessary suffering and to help riders have their horse mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually fit into late life.