TRAIN FOR TRAIL CLASS By Cathy Hanson Lesson Seven Gates and Backing

ASSIGNMENT      It may take a month or more to complete the assignment.  Take your time and don’t rush your horse.  Email me if you are having problems.  You can send a video to demonstrate the problem. 1. Send a video of you and your horse standing quietly at the gate, in preparation to do a left hand walk through. 2. Send a video of you and your horse negotiating a left hand walk through gate (just like the lesson describes).  Be sure to stand quietly when you complete the maneuver.  3.  Send a video of you and your horse walking into a straight chute and then backing out. 4.  Send a video of you and your horse backing an "L".     Please load your videos to YouTube.  Send the links to: cathyhansonqh@gmail.com

Abiding by American Quarter Horse Association rules, at least six obstacles must be used in a trail competition; there are three mandatory obstacles…a gate, ride over at least four logs or poles and a backing obstacle.    The other three obstacles can be selected from this list of acceptable obstacles: water hazard, carry object from one place to another, ride over a wooden bridge, put on and remove a slicker, remove and replace items from a mailbox, side pass, and an obstacle consisting of four logs laid in a square in which the rider must execute a turn.  A combination of two or more of any obstacle is acceptable as are other safe and negotiable obstacles which could reasonably be expected to be encountered on a trail ride.

WORKING THE GATE        There are eight ways to work a gate: right hand-push, right hand pull, left hand push, left hand pull, right hand pull and back through, right hand push and back through, left hand pull and back through, left hand push and back through.        In many of today’s trail courses a rope is used as the gate barrier since it is easier to assemble, faster to work and safer for the horse.  The rope gate is constructed of two standards with a rope looped between the standards. If using jump standards, use a jump cup to keep the rope from sliding down the standard. This type of gate is a “ride through” gate or “back through” gate.  With a rope gate you don’t “push” or “pull.”

When working a gate, be efficient, quiet and minimize the horse’s steps.  The horse should position the rider to work the gate easily.       To begin, teach your horse to stand quietly next to the gate.  If your horse is nervous about standing next to a gate, remain patient and spend time just standing next to the gate.  Do not try to force the horse to stand still next to the gate; instead, take the time to let him learn.  There is no point in “forcing” the issue since it will only cause more problems and delay your horse’s training.  Your horse must become comfortable on his own.       Walk up to the gate and stand quietly; then walk away.  Practice, and then practice some more until the horse is quiet, yet attentive when standing next to the gate.       The horse should position the rider to open the gate so the rider’s hand is opposite the latch or rope loop attached to standard.

To work a left hand walk through, picture the standards as being named: “A” and “B”.  Walk to the gate until you are next to standard “B”.  Grasp the loop, and lift off the standard.  Now back your horse straight until the horse’s nose is well past the “B” standard.  You then ride through with your horse on a slight left bend.  The horse will make a half circle. Make sure to continue with forward motion until the horse’s hindquarters have cleared standard B.        The horse will then be parallel to the gate facing standard A.  Back straight and close the gate by replacing the loop or latch on standard B.        For training purposes stand quietly for a period of time after closing the gate.  This will prevent the horse from anticipating the next maneuver and hurrying through the gate which could result in an error.

To perform a left hand back through ride to standard “A” and stand parallel to the gate with the rope loop slightly forward of your left shoulder.  In this position, you and your horse will be looking forward toward standard “B”.         Take the loop off the standard and ride forward until the horse’s  hindquarters are well past the standard.  Push the hindquarters to the left to pass through the gate. Continue to back your horse and guide him so that he is standing parallel to the gate facing in the opposite direction.  Now walk forward and latch the gate (return the loop end of the rope) on standard A.

When working a back through pull gate, (visualize as standard “A”), ride parallel to the gate and up to the latch.  Lift the latch with your left hand, and then side pass your horse to the right, away from the gate.  When you have side passed far enough for the end of the gate to be in front of your knee, you can begin to push the horse’s hindquarters to the left around the end of the gate. Guide the horse’s forehand so he is able to back up straight through the gate.  Allow your hand to slide along the top of the gate, but do not let go.         Once the nose has passed standard “A”, ride forward and latch the gate.

To increase the difficulty of ride through gates, add a pole between the standards so the horse must step over the pole when moving through the gate.  Adding poles parallel to the gate to act as barriers will also add difficulty.         The horse will never be asked to back over a pole.

Common errors when working a gate include failing to clear the standard with the horse’s nose so that he bumps the standard; failing to arc or turn when walking through the gate.         You will lose style points if you allow the hindquarters to swing out after working the gate.  The hindquarters should stay parallel to the gate.  It’s considered an error to not back straight when moving to close the latch; hitting a ground pole when walking through the gate; or “fidgeting around” while standing or working the gate.        You will lose style points if you are too far away from the latch to easily close the gate.        Dropping the rope, letting go of the gate or stepping on the gate standards will cost you points.        Be sure you always back your horse far enough that his nose is well past the standard when you are going to walk through a gate. Be sure to back straight.        When horses are first learning to work a gate, they may feel uncomfortable backing next to a barrier, so they tend to drift away from the barrier; you must keep the horse backing straight.        More experienced horses will know they are going to walk through a gate and they’ll sometimes attempt to go through before they have enough clearance.  Don’t let you horse make the decision of when to walk through the gate.  Make your horse wait for your cue to move forward.       You should be aware of staying centered while working the gate.  If you lean over to reach the gate latch, it is easy for your outside leg to move away from the horse, while your inside leg presses into the horse.  If this happens you’ll be asking your horse to move away from the standard…that is rider error and will be penalized.  Your legs need to stay close to the horse helping to maintain straightness.       The same is true when closing the gate.  As the horse passes through and turns to become parallel to the gate, riders often allow their outside leg to move away from the horse, opening a door for the horse’s hindquarters to swing out.       It is your responsibility to stay centered and use your legs to provide secure directions for your horse.       If your horse fidgets and takes extra steps while working the gate, he will be penalized.  Keep your hand centered and avoid pulling the reins causing the horse to continue backing or moving around trying to figure out what you want him to do.       Practice working the gate very slowly, so your horse learns patience, and you can teach him the precise steps needed to work the gate efficiently.  Back a step and then stand.  Standing quietly and waiting for requests are good things to teach.       When showing in the class, it is preferred to be efficient and keep moving – although not quickly, just smoothly.  Efficient means not having extra steps trying to get through the gate.  A good cowboy and his horse don’t let the cows out when working a gate.       If your horse will not remain close to the gate, it is because he is not comfortable with the barrier by his side.  Your horse needs time just standing next to the gate.  Walk up, stop and stand, walk away.  Build your horse’s confidence by removing the rope, leaving just the standards.       Use the same procedure as if the rope were still there.  Walk up, stop, back, walk through, turn, back up, stand and walk away.  Add the gate or rope once the horse is comfortable with the pattern.

BACKING OBSTACLES        A backing obstacle will be found in every class, so be prepared.        Backing between poles or around cones is very common.  This obstacle shows you have control of the horse’s body and the ability to maneuver him. This obstacle requires the horse to trust his rider.  The horse cannot see directly behind himself, so he must rely on the rider to direct him through the obstacle.        The rider must be able to control the horse’s hips, ribs and shoulders.        Teaching the horse to pivot and perform a turn on the forehand is beneficial.  The lessons result in control of the hindquarters and the forehand independently, and this control is needed when backing through obstacles.

Always start teaching a new trail horse to back an obstacle by first getting him into the obstacle by riding forward.  Once in the obstacle you can teach him to back the obstacle.  It is more difficult to try to back a horse into an obstacle, as the horse knows there is something on the ground and he doesn’t want to hit it.  Once the horse has developed trust and has learned how to respond to your cues, it is okay to practice backing into an obstacle.  You must be careful not to allow the horse to strike the obstacle as the horse backs into it.  If the horse is not comfortable, return to riding forward into the obstacle.  It is difficult for a horse to be outside the poles and back into them, so don’t try to rush his learning; it will take time.       Begin with two parallel poles four feet apart.  Walk through the poles and stop while still between the poles.  Practice backing straight between the poles.  This obstacle requires lots of patience.  Back a few steps and stop and stand.  A horse will learn quickly and try to back on his own, causing errors.

When backing an “L” shape, back the horse so his hind feet are in the center of the turn.  Then push just the hip around the turn.  Guide the forehand with the rein to move in the opposite direction one quarter turn and stop.  Then complete the straight back up.

To earn plus points in a back through, be efficient. Don’t use more steps than necessary to negotiate the obstacle.  Keep the horse centered at all times to prevent rubbing or bumping the poles.        When working a back through avoid looking from side to side.  When you look first at one side and then the other, you shift your weight and your horse will react to the weight shift.  If an adjustment needs to be made with the horse’s feet make sure the horse is stopped first, then look and check the position of the horse’s feet.  Make a decision as to which foot needs to be moved.        If you need to move the foot a very small distance, ask the horse to shift his weight back at the same time he is moving the foot over; this will result in a more subtle movement of the foot.        When backing your horse, make sure the horse keeps his head straight and the neck level.  If the horse moves his head side to side, he will cause his hindquarters to move sideways as well.        Keep your hand centered when checking on the feet.  It is easy for the rider’s hand to drift when checking the horse’s hind feet.  If the horse’s head and neck turn to the right, the hindquarters will swing to the left.  If the horse elevates his head, then the back will be braced and the horse will not be as willing to back.         A training tip: use the back through obstacle as a resting spot.  Work your horse on the walk, jog and lope overs, and then enter a back through and stop and stand.  Your horse will welcome the break and not be as apt to fidget.