Buck Brannaman, continued #3 Small Serpentines

 

(All attempts at explaining what I learned at the Buck clinic are just that... I might "mis-speak".  The best thing is to attend a Buck clinic ;)

I've really been pondering what I learned at the Buck clinic.  And I think this year I have really focused on the word "Balance".   In my opinion, this is what riding is really all about.  And it isn't just about the rider, it is also about the horse.  A balanced horse has an engaged hind end.  For the hind end to engage, the withers must rise.   When this happens with a "soft feel" (without yanking on the horses mouth) then true collection can be pursued.

A review of seat positions:

Position 2 is upright in saddle, above your seatbones.   This is the riding position.
Position 1 is slightly forward and used only for upward transitions.
Position 3 is on your pockets.  This is used only for downward transitions or the stop.

Backing up is done from position 2 with shoulders ever so slightly back from center of gravity and legs opened a touch.

One exercise Buck had the riders doing was small serpentines.  I found a clip from two years ago on You Tube.  Bucks demonstration is much better than my summary below!



A series of half circles which are short and tight.  He likens it to riding around small sagebrush.  The horse transitions from 'bend" to "bend" with, at most, a couple straight steps (if any) in between the circles.  This challenges the rider to focus on where the horse's feet are as one must ask for the horse to do a new transition when the feet are in the appropriate place... otherwise the rider trips the horse up!  Swinging in this way, doing serpentines, bending laterally, helps release braces in both body and mind.

...and remember, when beginning a turn, ask the foot to move to the side as it is coming off the ground, by opening your inside leg and holding your rein out, from the hip, to "open up".  Also, remember to bend the head around with a soft feel, and ask with your seat and legs and your "look" first, reins only if needed.

The following is a pretty good example of a rider doing the serpentine.  The clinic I went to, Buck had the riders doing it on the rail.  The rider below seems to be doing a bit more of a crazy 8 (perhaps going a bit past that center line Buck refers to in the video above)



Oberon and I have worked quite a bit on serpentines, and I think we are getting pretty good.  I even noticed today that their was a bit of "hang time" when he moved his inside leg out about 6" to make the bend.  That is great, as I don't want him to hurry - hurrying can create a "down-hill" horse - heavy on the front end.  

Buck Brannaman, Continued.

The following are excerpts from my notes and content and quotes might be inaccurate.  I am doing my best to repeat what I wrote down in my notebook from the Buck Brannaman clinic I attended.

I have learned a lot from Cooler Horsemanship.  Much of what Buck said in his clinic I have heard from James Cooler, but auditing the Buck clinic for four days really allowed things to sink in.  One thing I have been working on a lot lately is riding from my seat and I loved watching the following:

"Walk, trot, canter with a loose reign, then one can collect".

There are three seat positions, actually four.

Position one:  On pelvis for a moment (and obviously used for jumping) when asking a horse to go faster, but then it is immediately into position two.

Position two:  Athletic stance - straight up, on balls of feet.

Position three:  Feet forward, deep pockets.

Position four:  Your butt hits the ground.

Class Exercise:   Ride with your seat while walking on a loose reign.

Talk about out of sync... some horses took off and others never changed pace.  Some riders didn't loosen their reigns even though they thought they had.  A few did a nice job.  The worst offenders seemed to be a dressage and an english rider.  And Buck did not go easy on them, but he was honest.

Buck encouraged some to use their legs to get their horses going.

"It is impossible to have a horse light to the hand that is dull to the leg.  My leg is pushing on an air bubble, especially the lower leg.  (and my leg is saying) "I have every intent to kick you if you don't listen to this good deal."   Buck went on to say that legs were only used for transitions, not for maintenance of impulsion.

"Riding is supposed to be discreet.  If my horse starts to slow, I might kick a fart out of her."

(a side note:  I tried this on Oberon.  He slowed, I followed through and gave him a BIG kick with both legs.  He really jumped forward!  Since then, all I have had to do is pull both feet out from his sides and he speeds up. I have not had to wollup him again since!)

Of course, no Buck clinic is complete without a few quotes from Ray Hunt "See how little you can do to get them to trot".

And so, as the class went 'round and 'round the ring, Buck kept offering advice.

"Try to make it invisible.  Slow walk to fast walk ... liven up YOUR body.

I believe the horse above was Buck's "green" horse - which I found amusing as most people's horses never behave
and listen as nicely as this gelding.

Fascinating and my notebook is full of advice:

Lateral flexing - Buck looks for a soft feel, pole slightly higher than the withers, ears level, with head turned; it doesn't have to be all the way back to the riders foot.

Longitudinal flexing - he is looking for the proper elevation of the head.  The head WAY down (like the western pleasure show people like - he called it the "new fad" - holds the rib cage and spine down... spurs do NOT lift a horses back.

So how does one raise withers without getting the horse dull to our hands and legs?

Well, Buck said the pole must elevate to the proper position, the withers must rise so the horses hips can engage.

And there are exercises for this.  I will highlight them in my next posts.

Buck Brannaman "Redirect Energy"

Buck Brannaman is a legend in the horse world for some.  After auditing a clinic I must say, on horseback he is "poetry-in-motion".  He makes everything appear elegant and simple... which of course, when I went to apply what I learned back at my "home" arena with my horse, it wasn't easy at all.  It takes a lot of patience and practice.

HERE is a great article that sums up Buck fairly well.

The four day clinic I attended was held at Sullivan Farm Hanoverians , a top notch private farm that has been hosting Buck every other fall for many years.   I think there were about 15 - 20 riders in the Horsemanship 1 class.

So much information is at hand at a clinic like this, so I had a notebook handy and wrote down bits and pieces of what registered with me.  My next few posts will be about things that made me pause and think.   My first "pause & think" moment is below.





Buck is a patient man, but there is no room for "non-listeners".  That goes for his students AND his horses.  He said:

"My horse needs to be quiet enough not to draw my attention".   He expects accurate movement, no milling around.   If one is tuned out by their horse, he said to change subjects.

"You want your horse always aware of you.  Be aware of your horse!  Fidgeting?  Direct that!  Think of it as a gift.  Do something with that energy; redirect it or it will be a negative."

"Don't let your horse check out.  A horse wants peace.  Trade movement for peace."

"Buck Brannaman" seminar this weekend in nearby Reidsville, NC

Buck Brannaman?  Hmm, I think we'll stay here and keep an eye on the place while you're gone

Well, these two mares could use a bit of work and they are for lease with "a bit of work needed" in mind.  The horse is a bit shy and needs lots of handling and the pony has been riderless for a few years and is fat and a bit head strong (as a pony tends to be!)  But both are naturally sweet mares.  My two girls will soon be doing ground work with the pony as they take turns on our QH Oberon.

Buck Brannaman Horsemanship & Cow Working Clinc will be at Flintrock Farm from Friday September 30 - October 3, 2011.  Dotti & Larry Davis are sponsoring this event and I called them. Larry is a real charming man and encouraged me to bring my daughters.  I have decided to take them out of school on Friday to enjoy the day.  It begins at 9:00 am and we will bring our lawn chairs and a picnic basket, although food will be available to purchase.  The cost is $25 a day.

Below is a great interview with Buck:



Larry shared with me a few other names he enjoys in the horse world, however, I could tell he hesitated when I used the term "Natural Horsemanship".  He went on to say there is nothing "natural" that we do with horses as humans and that he can tell more about a person in a few minutes by watching how their horse behaves, and I have to agree with him.

One name he mentioned was Bryan Neubert and I can't remember the rest he mentioned.

I will, of course, bring my camera and will share what we see and learn this weekend!