What everyone ought to know about getting your horse on the bit 

I love the description of the "Expert Rider" who drew the back up at the Halt. I always do this BEFORE I move of from the mounting block. Its so easy to do and teach. Its got nothing to do with the riders posture, but what they do with their legs. Its called the Effect D'Ensemble a MUCH misunderstood and little used technique to Lift the back of the horse. In fact its a lifting of the whole Spine NOT a lifting of the back per say, within the shoulder sling (horse do not have a collar bone like we do). When you do the Effect d'Ensemble at the Halt, you will feel the front of the saddle lift, and the neck will will lower, and the mouth will "chew" (no tight nosebands allowed!). When you get this ask for either the right or left hind leg to step forward into the walk. The walk will be ground covering immediately as a result. Horses always move away from pressure which is a phenomenon we use to train them. The ONE EXCEPTION to this is when we need to train them to move INTO pressure. That is the pressure of us Sitting on his back!! The EE can be used whenever you feel the withers drop and you "loose" the back, when in all 3 gaits. To rely on Ranvers, Travers and Shoulder In to get the Wither/Back lift is a bit hit and miss as some horses do not understand they need to stay lifted within the spine. The EE is an "aid" much as any others to "Speak" to the horse (via the legs/heals) to say....hey lift your back please!! It needs to be taught to any horse as any other aid. Once it has been taught in Halt, and all 3 gaits with a lowered neck, it can be used (subtly) when the neck is in a higher position if the rider feels the back beginning to Hollow. One needs to develop feel in the seat to identify when this is BEGINNING to happen, and apply the "Aid" BEFORE the back has been lost completely. If it has been lost, and the rider has not acted soon enough, the horse will "run" onto its forehand. You need to STOP and start again within a correct posture, and try again.