~Hanz The Thoroughbred: Episode 4~

“If you climb in the saddle, be ready for the ride.”

~ Unknown ~

In this exciting chapter of Hanz The Thoroughbred, Hanz is really settling into farm life and bonding beautifully with his herd. With a few weeks to adjust to his new surroundings, Becca and I decided it was time to get serious. We got more focused and dove into our first lesson series, focused on unlocking a whole new feel for Hanz—one that brought him forward, light, and responsive, all without relying on whips or “artificial aids.” Hanz showed us he’s got a big booty rocket engine!

Gearing Up for Lesson Time

After weeks of Hanz soaking up his new home, Becca and I thought it was finally time to turn up the volume a little bit. My anticipation was through the roof as I navigated the frustrating Raleigh traffic (US 1, why must you be like this?). But even the stick shift and bumper-to-bumper congestion couldn’t dim my excitement. What would we focus on? Jumping? Flatwork? The possibilities swirled in my mind as I pulled up to the barn, ready to dive in.

Becca had already fetched Hanz from the field and was giving him a quick grooming when I arrived. That was a relief, especially since her afternoons are packed with family obligations. After a quick chat, she handed Hanz over to me so I could tack him up. As I worked, Hanz started pacing a little in the wash stall. For some reason, he’s never been a fan of the more tight spaces we have for wash stalls. Put him in the barn aisle, and he’s calm as can be, and sometimes I don’t even need cross ties! But we’re still working on his comfort level with the new barn.

Getting the Saddle Just Right

As I finished tacking up, Becca pointed out that my saddle placement was off, sitting a little too far back. Together, we took a closer look, especially at the points of the saddle tree. Turns out, the forward flaps of my Black Country saddle had tricked my eye into thinking the tree points where in a different location and would block Hanz’s shoulders. Once we adjusted it and found our for sure, the saddle fit perfectly—lesson learned!

With his saddle in place, I hopped into the saddle just as Becca took a quick call. No worries—I used the time to get Hanz moving in a light, stretchy walk in the ring, focused on getting him loose and forward. When Becca rejoined us, it was clear from the start that Hanz felt different—lighter, more responsive, and eager to move. The saddle adjustment had done wonders, and Hanz was in full “let’s-go” mode.

Discovering New Levels of Suppleness

We transitioned into the trot, focusing on suppleness and getting him long and low. Becca had me work on serpentines and small circles, and it felt like I only had to think about what I wanted, and Hanz would do it. It was incredible. My usual habit of over-relying on my legs was unnecessary today—Hanz was that tuned in and ready. Of course, it’s a good problem to have when your horse is too responsive, but it’s something I’m learning to balance!

Midway through, I noticed Hanz was starting to drift out of the circle with inside bend. I’d been overworking my inside leg, a habit from riding less supple horses, and Becca quickly caught it. She had me use my outside leg more effectively, keeping my inside leg as more of a sturdy “post” for him to bend around. The change was instant—Hanz stayed beautifully on the circle, bending like a pro and stopped falling to the outside.

The Engine of the Horse: Riding from the Hind End

Later in the lesson, Becca shifted our focus to engaging the hind end. Hanz, she explained, had a tendency to get a bit stuck on the forehand. She emphasized that true engagement, roundness, “forwardness” comes from the hind legs, not from pushing the horse forward with the front end. This was a lightbulb moment for me. I’d always been a bit confused by the phrase “riding the horse forward,” thinking it meant just keeping the horse moving energetically. What I learned was it’s really about creating energy in the hind legs and channeling that into forward motion through the back, and out the pole of the horse.

As we worked on this concept, something clicked for both Hanz and me. He started “springing” forward into transitions, no longer dragging on the forehand. I realized that riding forward is about harnessing energy, not just moving faster or quicker. It was a huge breakthrough for both of us.

Cantering with Ease and Confidence

We wrapped up the lesson by practicing canter transitions from seat aids rather than relying on leg cues. Hanz took to this like a champ, even throwing in a playful buck as he launched into the canter. His enthusiasm was contagious! By the time we finished, we were both feeling amazing, and Hanz confidently soared over a small cross rail. He absolutely launched himself over it and I had lost my balance a little bit because I wasn’t expecting such a large jump. He landed with so much energy that I had to bring him back to earth. He was on cloud nine, and honestly, so was I!

Next Steps for Hanz

After the lesson, Becca mentioned how Hanz’s personality and energy are really starting to shine. She suggested we put him in full training for a month, where she’d ride him a few times a week and we’d continue with our lessons. It’s a great opportunity to give Hanz the education he still needs as a young horse. Sometimes his calm, polite demeanor fools me into thinking he’s further along than he really is. But we’ve got plenty of work ahead, and I’m excited for the journey.

In the meantime, I’ve been hacking him out on the property and riding him in the ring. I even managed to capture a little clip of us cantering—apologies for the less-than-stellar camera work! I’m planning to get a Pivo or something similar so I can share better footage of our rides.

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Hanz the Jumper: Precision and Playfulness

In another lesson with Becca, we revisited much of what we’d been working on, but this time with a sharper focus—getting Hanz to jump more consistently and and with more precision. After our recent breakthroughs in flatwork and hacking, it felt like the perfect next step. The warm-up was all about refinement, full of serpentines and transitions to keep Hanz supple, responsive, and “in front of the leg”, all by staying connected to the hind end.

As expected, Hanz felt steady and focused after several good rides in the ring. My attention was fully on building energy in his hindquarters, imagining the feel of an “uphill” ride where his balance was light and forward. He was right there with me, moving in rhythm and keeping a lovely pace.

Once we warmed up, it was time to tackle the jumps. Becca set up four or five small jumps around the arena, each about 18 inches high. This wasn’t a day for big, dramatic heights—it was all about technique and schooling. Hanz approached the first jump with calm confidence, popping over it with smoothness and control, without rushing on the landing. Exactly what we were aiming for: relaxed, balanced, and precise. All I had to do was get in sync.

As we approached each jump, my focus was on staying connected with Hanz, keeping him balanced, and staying tall in the saddle. I made sure my hips were back, letting him cue me when it was time to balance, and—above all—avoiding the dreaded mistake of catching him in the mouth. No horse deserves sharp, aggressive hands. By staying mindful of his balance and keeping him straight, Hanz soared over the jumps with smoothness, and I was thrilled by his consistency and willingness.

Linking Jumps and Finding Flow

As the lesson progressed, Becca had us string together several jumps into a schooling figure, getting Hanz to think about multiple jumps in succession. We started with a canter, tracking left towards a teal jump set perpendicular to the field. Hanz, ever the clever horse, tried to cut the corner, but I guided him straight. He popped over the vertical effortlessly.

Immediately, I had to refocus as we turned toward a white cross rail, approaching it in the opposite direction, like half of a circle. Hanz stayed sharp, landing with excitement and picking up speed as we tracked right, heading home. He eagerly gathered pace toward a small oxer, his energy shooting upwards and forwards. I fought the instinct to stare down the jump and kept my eyes up, giving him gentle half halts to keep his excitement grounded.

Hanz’s enthusiasm was contagious, and as he gathered himself on the hind end, I felt in perfect sync with him, finding the “cue” at just the right moment. We landed the jump smoothly and came down to a walk after a small half-circle, Hanz still full of energy but still willing to listen. I love Thoroughbreds.

The Thrill of Gymnastics

Becca was thrilled with how the jump schooling went, and we ended the session with a small gymnastic set up. She even caught a short clip of us in action! As we approached the line at a trot, tracking left, I grabbed mane and kept my eyes up—no shame in holding on! That’s the essence of schooling: learning, growing, and letting the horse show you how to move. All you have to do is listen and tune in.

Hanz was fantastic through the gymnastic, full of forward energy and clearly enjoying himself. He’s such a natural jumper, and I can already picture us moving up the levels. It’s a big ambition of mine, and I’m excited because Hanz seems to love it as much as I do. He never minds me figuring out the technicals of the jumps—he’s got such an incredible attitude and willingness, which makes every ride feel like a team effort.

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September 26th, 2024