Phases of the Walk

How can anyone expect to get anything done on a horse if you don't know where the feet are?

The walk is a 4 beat movement. As the right hind foot wrapped in purple steps forward and strikes the ground it pushes the right front foot wrapped in pink forward (photo 1). The right front foot strikes the ground and pulls the left hind foot wrapped in blue forward (photo 2). The left hind foot strikes the ground and pushes the left front foot wrapped in red forward (photo 3). The left front foot strikes the ground and pulls the right hind foot wrapped in purple forward and the cycle repeats (photo 4).

Exercise: See if you can find the moment where each foot strikes the ground. This is the strike phase. The front feet are the easiest to find so we can start there. Count 1..2..1..2..as the feet strike. Feel what your body is doing when this happens. No cheating! Yes, you can stare at the shoulder to find it at first, but don't get into the bad habit of using that technique to find the motion. Staring at a horses shoulder will just serve to put your horse further on his front end. Listen for the thump as the foot strikes. However, Seeing and hearing is helpful, but feeling is the key.

Hint: What is your body doing as the front feet strike? Pay attention to your hips and breathe. Sitting pretty won't help you much here. Loosen up and allow your body to follow the horse's movement.

Next do the same thing with the hind. 1..2..1..2. If you can't get this one, as you count out loud, have a friend validate that you have it right. Listen for the thump as the foot strikes. Again, the object is to feel it so pay attention to what your body does as the horse moves. Allow yourself to relax and move with your horse. Don't do or force anything. Grinding your seat into the horse's back to move him forward ruins the cadence, tightens your body and makes for a resentful horse.

Next, find the moment just prior to when the horse's feet leave the ground. This is the push-off phase. First concentrate on the front, then the rear. Count it out: 1..2..1..2..

Hint: The horses front feet leave the ground at a place under the belly or saddle and strike in front toward the nose. The hind feet strike the ground under the belly or the saddle and leave the ground behind the tail. You aren't going to have much luck seeing this one. This is one you are going to have to feel. Use what you have learned about the strike phase of the walk to aid you in this part of the exercise. Practice until you can call out any foot at random in the strike or push phase of the walk. Once you can do that, you are ready for the next step.

Next: How to move a horse's foot at a walk.