“Calm, forward, straight”
~ General Alexis L’Hotte

Calm:   freedom from disturbance; tranquil

Forward:   towards a point; ready, prompt, or eager.

Straight:  without a bend, angle, or curve; exactly vertical or horizontal; without change in the original melody or tempo

Any discipline of riding, be it dressage, western pleasure, equitation or trail riding requires that the horse be calm, forward and straight. Deviations cause misharmonies causing incongruencies and mistones between horse and rider.

CALM:  freedom from disturbance.

From Mind
From Rider
When a horse is feeling other than calm then his mind is on the distraction and not on the rider. He will be stiff and uneasy.

When the rider is feeling other than calm then his mind is on the distraction and not the horse. He will be stiff and uneasy.

FORWARD:  towards a point; ready, prompt, or eager.

Give the horse a place to go! LOOK where you want to go and keep your mind on your point of focus. In doing so your energy will direct the horse to also move forward promptly and eagerly. Be an apt Leader.

The horse wants the rider to BE with him – physically, mentally and emotionally. These 3 elements will help to blend the rider’s energy with the horse’s energy and focus.

STRAIGHT:  without bend. exactly verticle and horizontal; without change in tempo.

BALANCED!  If the rider is not straight then the horse cannot go straight, either. Help your horse by ensuring your own straightness. Then allow your body to move WITH the horse, to be IN the back of the horse to blend and harmonize with the grace a beauty of the horse’s movement.

Horses ‘naturally’ move relaxed, forward and straight all on their own. It’s when the rider ‘climbs aboard’ and attempts to ride the horse that the horse becomes encumbered by all of the rider’s limitations and faults. Some very special horses will move with beauty and grace no matter who is on their backs but those horses are rare. Most horses will REFLECT exactly what they feel from the rider.