Forward
Being the first block in the training it is the most important. By
saying forward one means being light off the leg. The horse must
respond to the leg and move forward from pressure of it. But at the
same time the horse must be obedient. This means not wringing the
tail, sucking back, pinning the ears, falling into the legs among many
other resistance's. When the rider places the leg against the horse
the horse must accept it, moving forward from any leg pressure signaling
forward motion. At the same time acceptance of the leg aid and obedience
to it requires that the horse not leap at the slightest pressure and be
overly sensitive.
The horse should also be relaxed. When the horse is moving forward
in a relaxed, obedient way the horse is ready for the next stage in training.
This is because until the horse is moving forward off the leg aid freely
and with relaxation he can not be ridden into a light proper contact, can
not be worked on rhythm or any of the other steps in the training pyramid.
A
green horse moving forward quietly and obediently. Not yet at the
stage of training requiring him to be round in a frame light contact is
putting this horse's head in a natural and effective position
A horse who is moving forward will have a nice swing from behind.
Be pushing from the hind end with a big step in the front end. Ideally
the horse will be tracking up his hind foot prints falling in or beyond
the for foot's print. The main consideration of this training step
in the pyramid is the obedience and relaxation of the horse. The
step and tracking of the horse will improve with latter stages of the training,
especially the suppleness and rhythm steps.