The Runway is a \u2018complete\u2019 lesson as it contains fine rope communication, \u201cmagnetising\u201d the mat, leaving the mat and a break.
Going through the Runway lesson, you will probably find yourself in the situation that your horse is not lined up well to get to the mat. What to do?
If you go straight, you leave the runway somewhere between two cones instead of passing the mat. Backing straight doesn\u2019t solve the problem but backing in a curved line would get your horse aligned for the mat.
What I am getting at is similar to parking a horse trailer. Imagine you have to back up a trailer into parking spot. You have to turn your car\u2019s wheels in the opposite direction than usual to get the trailer to move in the direction you want? If you are like me, you probably started the wrong direction and have to turn the steering wheel full circle.
You can navigate your horse by positioning her head and neck. If you want the hindquarters to come in, you displace head and neck to the outside. If you want the hind end to go out, you displace head and neck to the inside. The latter is combined with forward movement, the former to backing and the topic of today\u2019s email.
In this next clip, you see Bernadette and her Icelandic mare Helga<\/strong> working for their second time on the Runway lesson. You see that Helga is not in a direct line to the mat. Her handler is asking for backing in curved line to straighten her out so she can invite her to the mat.
The handler is new to Alex Kurland\u2019s rope handling, so we use the treat delivery to get the behaviour. She offers the treat to the off-side, and as Helga bends her neck to take it, she steps into that space and waits.
In this position, Helga is off balance, probably a little uncomfortable, and wants to straighten herself. She can solve this puzzle by bringing her hindquarters in.<\/p>\n\n\n