Question-Box International Open Day France - 2nd Question
During the Open Day in Bourg-en-Bresse visitors had the opportunity to submit all kinds of questions in a box provided for this purpose. As we ran out of time during the Event, we suggested to publish the Masters’ answers in the Appel-Club.
Question asked during our Open Day (sheets placed anonymously in the ballot box)
Since beginner riders do not yet have complete control over their
hands, how can we protect the mouth of the school horse?
I am always very happy when people ask this question! It reassures me and encourages me to
believe that attitudes are changing towards greater respect for animals in riding schools.
First of all, I think it is essential that the student has a sufficiently independent seat before
taking the reins in hand!
By independent seat, I mean that the rider should be able to move with the horse’s motion
without disturbing it, with relaxed legs, knees, arms and hands. In other words, she/he must be
in control of her/his balance at all three gaits.
This is acquired gradually through lunging sessions involving various exercises. First, with
the help of the hands on the saddle, the surcingle or the mane, then gradually without holding
on at all... with or without a saddle and even through vaulting sessions on horseback.
It is also a good idea to teach from the outset how to turn the upper body to the right and left
to initiate turns by slightly changing the balance, stop the horse with the seat, etc. This is also
a good way to keep school horses educated to the seat and light, as the teacher will use the
lunge line and cavesson to explain or remind to the horse, if necessary, the response expected
of it.
Some students improve very quickly, but learning to follow all the horse's movements being
confident in one's own body can be more difficult in other cases.
Once this stage has been completed, with the horse still on the lunge line, reins are placed on
either side of the cavesson, as we do not consider lunging with a snaffle or any kind of bit, to
teach the rider not to cling to the horse’s mouth. We explain and repeat the actions of the
hands:
- guide the horse with opening reins,
- change the position of the neck or head: “1/2 arrêt/descente de main” on both reins to raise
the neck and lighten, on one rein to ask for a bend,
- give to extend,
- follow the natural movements of the neck, especially at walk and canter.
International
Open Day
Bourg-en-Bresse (France)
At the same time, the beginner rider can learn and understand the “descente des aides” that we
may translate in “lowering of the aids”, it means quit the action of an aid and return to a
neutral position. An important condition for the school horses to remain sensitive and
respectful. Very quickly, the lunge is no longer necessary, the aids are clear to the horse,
which will be more inclined to remain sensitive, respectful, well-behaved and accept
understandable and fair corrections.
After a few repetitions on the cavesson, the teacher will be able to see if the student is ready
to use the snaffle, to continue training the hand and develop the sensitivity and tact.
Whether for training horses or riders, the École de Légèreté offers progressive, step-by-step
instruction in which students are confronted with only one thing at a time, which must be
sufficiently understood and confirmed so that the next step does not compromise its quality.
This type of progression avoids a great deal of tension and allows students to develop greater
self-confidence.
On the other hand, systematically having novice riders ride with any bitless equipment on the
pretext of protecting the horses' mouths, without explaining and teaching the correct and
precise actions of the hand, is not the best solution, as the student will never have the
opportunity to change the reflex to cling on, tense up and pull as soon as they have the reins in
their hands... The excessive pressure exerted on the horses’ nose with these different types of
nosebands has very harmful consequences, even if they are less visible because the horse
keeps its mouth closed... not to mention that it maintains the natural reflex of opposition in
equines when they feel constant pressure, which causes not only tension but traction on the
reins!
Riders who are trained following the principles of the École de Légèreté are aware from the
outset that the horse's mouth must be protected, they learn how to do so, and the cavalry of
school horses and ponies maintains a sufficient basic education.
A big congratulations to everyone who is interested in the École de Légèreté, but especially to
those of you who have decided to develop your riding school and your entire structure
according to its principles! Generally, horses and ponies that ‘put us in the saddle’ are not
given enough credit! 😃
Master Teacher Stéphanie Durand
July 2025
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