Free IN HAND Workshop - Video 1
The Problem with Tension
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VIDEO 1
The Problem with Tension
VIDEO 2
Anatomy vs Conformation
VIDEO 3
A Pattern for Relaxation
Watch the workshop
VIDEO 1
The Problem with Tension
VIDEO 2
Anatomy vs Conformation
VIDEO 3 - Coming Soon
A Pattern for Relaxation
Watch the workshop
VIDEO 1
The Problem with Tension
VIDEO 2 - Coming Soon
Anatomy vs Conformation
VIDEO 3 - Coming Soon
A Pattern for Relaxation
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What signs of tension can you see in your horse?
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95 Responses
My horse tends to show a bit of tension, or defiance, or maybe, an attitude of I really don’t like being told what to do. I have worked with him for a year. He was really spooky, ran away from me, didn’t want to be petted, and never came up to me. That has all changed. He follows me in pasture but can be skeptical of me putting rope around neck. My big concern now is that he tail swishes when I am riding him. I am not a novice and I have good hands, gentle aids.
My horse hollows his back and pokes his nose, also he leans in on right rein circles. I think this is tension related because I can improve it with stretching and suppling excercises.
My horse tends to be one obstinate in some situations – he also “leans” on me sometimes when I am hand walking him as if I am a security blanket. This worries me because 1) he’s too close and could hurt me and 2) he seems emotionally immature.
I have recenlly purchased a 14-yr-old QH mare with a 4H and gymkana history. She is very responsive but shows tension in all of her maneuvers. I started doing the Masterson Method with her an immediately got a lot of releases in Her poll and shoulder area. She was hard to catch out in the open and is now getting more comfortable at being approached and bonding is building!
I am looking forward to learning more about the release of tension. Thank you!
My horse tends to be reactive and it’s not uncommon
For him to shy and spook Many times because of unexpected loud noises or objects he’s not used to seeing.
I am riding an ottb that I previously raced. he’s struggling with post track life and went from being confident to scared of everything. he was aggressive on the track which may have been how he handled his fear. we are to the point he’s explosive on the ground with me because I’m fearful of him, which is feeding him. we were riding a few months ago! wow, the gaps in his knowledge I didn’t see!
My horse is slightly ewe-necked and hollows through his back. Due to this I haven’t started doing sitting trot or asking for canter as I know his back will hurt.
neck & head coming up, ears back, planting of the hind feet in preparation for rearing
I am riding a 19 year old appy with arthritis in the neck and hocks. He is on equioxx. I am interested in all you have to teach with learning about tension. we have issues going clockwise also. He used to yawn so much trainers noted that they never saw a horse yawn so much. this lead me on a quest and I fount out it was pain related. equioxx is a life saver. He is doing so much better it is like haveing a 6 year old again. Anxious to watch and learn.
Showing resistance to requests/aids. Sluggish, dull. Resistance to going forward.
I see tension in my young horse under saddle. She tends to resist moving forward at the trot and canter. I believe she’s resistant because she lacks balance and confidence,and possibly was held back from moving forward when she did try, so now she is tense and isn’t sure what she’s supposed to do or what’s expected o her. I hope to fix that.
My horses are willing and relaxed some days. Other days, heads high and discouraged to relax. I am just doing groundwork, but some days forget it. I feel I am beating my horse and myself. I want to be the leader and on the bad days forget it.
My horse lacks motivation for forward movement. I feel I’m constantly trying to keep her going. She hollows in the back and head goes up in the trot and she struggles to stay in the canter which we haven’t done a lot of. She looks to the outside of the circle and falls in.
He tends to raise his head in most transitions. Very anxious and tense when working on canter transitions.
He seems ‘angry’ sometimes, pinning his ears and acting like he would like to bite. This happens mostly at the tacking up area. I have endeavored to be sure all my tack fits properly. Maybe it is anxiety or tension? He doesn’t do this under saddle.
My horse grates his teeth only when he is nervous or tense when being ridden.
My horse grates his teeth only when he is nervous or tense when being ridden.
My horse is usually ok when the halters put on. The first sign of tension is when I go to stroke her neck or somewhere else she raises her head or steps away from me. She also dislikes brushing & swishes her tail vigorously wacking me across the face.Tension in the mind.
When riding out from home she is reluctant to move forward or leave the other horse. She display this worry even when lead out.
My horse often feels sluggish or “blocked” at the start of a ride. He lifts his head high and his gait feels choppy and reluctant. I feel like I have to work very hard with my seat or legs to keep him going. on the ground he is slow to respond to aids, sticky when going backwards and unresponsive to do lateral movements or bending.
My horse gets tense and anxious when it is windy. He then shows an inverted posture and is inattentive to the aids.
My newest mule is a killpen rescue. From the moment I brought her home, I could see she had an incredible amount of tension throughout her body. Her mind was completely shut down and she would jump when you touched her and become explosive if you asked for much. The tension in her body was intense and can be visibly seen in her lumbar. Fast forward 2 months and she is finally starting to trust me and relax. She is finally thinking and is becoming more engaged as she is relaxing.
Im hoping this course will give me a few more tips on helping her relax as I prepare her for riding. Thanks!
Thank you for this first video. Very interesting to learn how important it is to relax the horses jaw. And to learn that it is all connected to each other.
When I bought my mare and she had to move to our stable she was very very spooky. It seemed that everything scared her and she panicked a lot. At this moment it is a lot better. She feels at home here, in a nice group of horses. But she still can spook easily. Then her head goes very high and she can turn around and run off very quickly. I have learned how to handle her and calm her but I would really like to learn more about this so I can help her find real relaxation.
Keeping my horse under me on a circle and being able to stay in canter without coming down to trot
My horse lacks suppleness through the rib cage and as a result he will fall in going left and fall out going right primarily at the canter. We also struggle to get cross over in leg yields.
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I ride a Paso Fino mare. She gets tension on the trail when asked to ride behind the other horses. She also gets tension when I ask her to do something that she/I don’t understand. I can feel the tension in her body and face (reins). When she gets tense, she will often chomp her teeth together. It’s very loud. When she does this on the trail, it often makes the other horses, especially, new rider’s horses nervous.
The signs of tension in my horse: high head, low back, short step, ears back, resistance to movement, sometimes she is untouchable… and making angry face.
Actually she has been recently diagnosed with the ulcers in her stomach, so that’s one of the reasons of such tension…
I think it’s very important to make sure that a horse is healthy and that the tension doesn’t flow from physical pain somewhere in the body. Otherwise any technic of relaxation will give only short term results…
Spooky and reluctance to go forward and hangs to other horses.
One of my horses lacks forward and tends to be tight in the poll. He can also brace against the aids. Another horse has a tendency to get tight in the top line and “run” rather than use his body in a relaxed manner (when I am working him)
Busy mouth when standing or tied – trying to bite and chew lead rope
My horse Cinch, is tight in his neck and hind end. He was used as a roping horse for many years. I know it’s a result of the sport. I’m trying to get him more relaxed and supple. I just trail ride him now. I’m looking forward to the future videos. Thank you!
My horse tends to hold his head left and makes it difficult to feel the outside right rein. Never chews the bit or salivates. His poll is usually sore and sore on the right side of his neck.
Early on we had a problem with bolting. Which I think was a sign of mental tension. Now I have had a problem of dropping the right shoulder when running in a right circle. He always used to bolt to the right also. So in some ways he is strong to the right but also less supple and flexible to the right.
Just getting to know my horse off a kill lot.
She loves being with me now and trusts me at first she would run away. When I work her in the round pen I want her just to walk and listen to soft commands. I don’t use a whip any more as she takes off like a rocket. If I just step to the side slightly she will spin and run crazy. Eventually I will turn my back and she will stop and come up and put her head on my shoulder. I just want her to walk not run out of control.
My horse tends to bite. People have said it’s a result of hand feeding. I’m a clicker trainer, but now feed him his treat in a small rubber bowl.
Could it be, maybe that, but also a behavior that’s a consequence of tension?
Resistance to going forward and continuing at the same pace without constant nagging. Stiff turning to the right.
My horse can be responsive to me one day calmly performing arena exercises. On another day he is a basket case; even walking is a challenge and trotting turns into bucking. When he goes here I get off and lunge him and let him get the bucks out. I’m 70 and really don’t want to fall off. Horse is a 10 yr old Appalasoa Thoroughbred gelding.
I bought a 2year old Quarter Horse in 2020 as “Bomb proof” 2 year old mare. She was not! Took her 2months to a trainer. I broke a bone in my foot. When I got her back I was still in a boot. My husband died in September 2021. Winter. She not trained… I did ride her in 2020 and a little in 2021. But because I’m old my son won’t let me ride. She is sweet and she is very gentle! I just need help!!!
While trail riding, my mare will raise her head, stop and hard stare at what she’s concerned about.
My horse looks hollow over his topline. He is 19 and appears to be a little swaybacked. I hope I can improve this.
I was very interested in the information about the Hyoid Apparatus and tension in the tongue. Fascinating!
It’s particularly bad when my 6 year old QTR horse is in heat- but she also she will “randomly” exhibit these behaviors including becoming suddenly spooky and ready to over react to any stimulus; ignoring my aides and reaching back to snap at my foot; head high and ears flat or pricked for longer than you would expect; refusal to walk or trot a straight line (fishtailing) without tons of coaxing to be more forward; constantly stopping at the lope as if I cued a “whoa”. Then there are days ( fewer as of late), where she is calm, attentive and responsive.
Aylen seems to be on high alert a lot and will spook easily.
Bracing and reluctance to move foreward.
Abigael states her opinion of what she anticipates is being of her asked to do when interacting with humans. What she physically does is put her ears back or bends her head towards me if she is being brushed before tacking up. She definitely changes physically daily. I focus on her which is very calming and necessary and I reassure her it’s ok. Then she relaxes and willingly participates. I tell her what We are doing, where we are going and who is coming to work with her. I.e. farrier, massage health etc. She relaxes.
A rushy canter and front end puller in the transitions.
My ex racer struggles with right bend and likes to stick his tongue out on that side when he has the bit in. Is this tension?
yes! Sticking the tongue out can definitely be a sign of tension, especially in racehorses who often have had their tongue tied.
Young horse, not able to flex, a little stiff thru body on near side circle.
my 3 year old is very thick set on her lower neck muscle. she is super strong, will pull and run. she is very moody with flat ears much of the time unless eating!
My horse build tension and bucks
I understand now why I haven’t been able to teach my high headed gaited Mountain Horse head down so he will stop hollowing his back, I seriously thought I must be doing something wrong. I was able to teach him head down on the ground, but not in the saddle.
He does everything that Patrick described: Spooky, nervous etc The right side of his neck is larger than the left. I had no idea that tension could prevent him from learning.
my horses sometimes bucks at the canter. I tink it come from lack of push from behind
In 30+ years of owning, riding, lessons and competition, even massaging horses, I have not heard of the connection of the tongue to the top line! This is part of what I love about horses, one can learn something new every day.
My pony tends to fall into the circle with her shoulder. It seems like a chronic problem but I have noticed that the more relaxed I am the less she braces through her shoulders. Of course it’s because when I am relaxed she can relax. The cycle can go either way; I’m tense so she’s tense and she’s tense so I’m tense, or I’m relaxed so she’s relaxed and she’s relaxed so I’m relaxed. I know it is up to me to start the cycle of relaxation.
This lesson was very informative and helpful, thanks!
Agree re relaxing. My pony carries it a step further. If I am not fully present, she walks away. She comes to me when I am actually relaxed and present.
This was one of the best explanations I’ve heard about the importance of the hyoid apparatus. One issue I’m facing currently with my youngest horse is getting trot to canter transitions without his energy “going out the back door” (kicking up in back)first, or sometimes he gives the transition but kicks up in back a few strides in. He does not have this same response in walk to trot transitions, which he very willingly gives.
Suddenly refusing to pick up trot and canter. Saddle has been assessed and massage therapist sees no issues. It seems like it might be a combination of some physical and mental tension. I am excited to try to work through this with in hand work and build relationship in the process. An exciting detour for us.
My horse shows tension when ridden unless I am following another horse on a hack or in the menage. A bicycle or person is just as effective. On his own in the menage we walk for 20 minutes or so before I can get trot. Once he’s working properly the tension reduces. We do some in hand work and here he is relaxed especially with any lateral work, that is until I try to lunge then he becomes difficult
I don’t ride my horse just yet. When I walk with him, he’s fine and moves easily next to me. Even when I ask a trot (while I jog a few hundert yards) he’s easy and moves nicely.
When I want to lunge him, he’s like made of wood, very stiff and slow..and unwilling to canter more than half a circle or 2 at the most. He also lowers his neck very much, as if he wants to sniff the ground.
I sometimes have difficulties getting more forward.Usually the connection to the lunge is light..he used to pull to the outside a lot when I started with him a year ago (he is 13yo…so no youngster) but doesn’t do that any more.
Another thing about him is that he stretches his neck a lot (witout tack) and chews a lot and shakes his head as if to loosen his neck and tongue.
What can I do to help him release that tension?
Hi Gabi! have you been following along through the rest of the workshop? In Video 3, Patrick shows a pattern that demonstrates some of the in hand exercises. Often with horses that fidget a lot, starting very slow will be best. Even just standing and getting jaw releases. Patrick describes all of this in the course
My horse is arguing while trail riding. That means he stops and refuses to go forward. He starts going backwards, and he doesn’t care about what’s behind him, for instance going backward towards the ditch. It feels like he doesn’t like being told what to do. The more I ask him to go forward, the more he argues. And then he gets angry, really angry! He cranes his neck, kicks one front leg and shakes his head up and down. While walking instead of riding, he stops and stand before walking again. Nothing wrong with the saddle.
My lovely dappled bay mare is somewhere in the 15-17 year old range and certainly has some stiffness at times, but I think her tension is in her right jaw and shoulder especially. She falls in on the right and sometimes picks up the wrong lead at the canter on that side, as well as loses her forward momentum when I change reins from left to right. I also think a lot of this stems from my own tension and balance going right lol. She does have some hock maintenance, too, and I think she carries some tension in her SI as a result. So my trainer actually suggested warming up with a loose rein! Looking forward to hearing what you have to tell me to help Tilly’s tension.
My horse shows tension through spooking and has in the past been reluctant to go forward and tends to become over bent resulting in feeling blocked. Under saddle we have been working on straightness whilst also using lateral work which is helping with freeing his movement and allowing him to move forward. He has regular physio and is often tight in his lumbar region I have asked if there is a problem regarding the hyoid but there seems to be no concern. I am interested to know how I can help him release tension in hand
I think my horse shows tension by being mouthy and nippy, on these days he is mouthy he seems to spook more and head high on alert.
My 13 yr old draft cross has quite elegant movement but is lacking complete throughness. I’ve struggled with an upside down neck and tripping, and his left shoulder dropping into a left turn and popping out to the right while his neck tends to over bend to the right but his pole does not tip to the right??
Please help I do in hand work usually before every ride. We are schooling 3rd level Dressage. At trying to, have qualifying score at second level.
Hi, I am able to get my horse to relax and stretch in walk and trot but as soon as I ask him to canter( both in hand and when ridden) he raises his head and gets tense. Hoping you can help.
Yes, this in hand work can be very helpful for these issues in transitions!
Anxiety at the far end of the arena. He only wants to be close the the barn
An issue with my horse over the past 2 years is that her tongue shows in varying degrees on both sides when wearing the bridle. I have tried many different bridles and bits. Her teeth have been floated regularly. I am curious to see if the in-hand work will help us with this. Any thoughts?
My mare has had difficulty with forward movement on the ground and in saddle. She gets stuck and resists aids. I have the trainer work with her, she gets better, but then worse again after a few months with only me working her. I am not an experienced horse owner.
My ex-racehorse doesn’t seem stiff but tenses round corners or on a circle. So much so that he screws his head to the outside of the bend and starts, what looks like, gnashing his teeth.
He does this both ridden in the school and on the lunge in trot (so I don’t do either of these and stay mostly in walk for both ground and ridden schooling).
My horse is an OTTB who I was able to see while racing and now through his first 7 months of training in life after the racetrack. He came off the track with the underside of his neck more developed. Working on encouraging him to begin to stretch over his topline and to move forward and laterally from leg aid more responsively.
High head carriage though improving with exercices. Stiff bending to the left/ resisting the contact. He is lovely to ride once hes warmed up though. But it takes a while for him to fully relax.
My young QH doesn’t like me putting my hands on his face and near his mouth. He opens his mouth and puts his tongue out and to the side almost yawning at the same time.
My horse was (finally) diagnosed last month with complex dental problems but the main symptom was short choppy strides, tension all over and lack of balance and panic when carrying a rider in anything but a rope halter. This video highlights the link between tension in the jaw and the effect it has on the whole horse. Hoping to learn how to work with him over the next months to prepare him mentally and physically for ridden work once his treatment is well underway.
Excellent article. I have tension definitely in the jaw and the back. Exactly where you have discussed. My mare is very short backed so finding a saddle that fits has been a challenge and because of that she has learned to hold herself.
She never foams and now that I have the right saddle, I am going to get a bit fitter out as well as a chiropractor.
I’m restarting my 22 yr old OTTB after a year off. I’ve moved him to a barn with an arena and I want to focus on relaxation. He can be spooky if I give him too much rein. He sometimes wants to stop when I’m leading him. He stares off and wants to be on guard. He’s not fond of working.
When tense or annoyed my mare wrinkles her nose, and ears go back. She also grinds her teeth, or “squeals.”
I am interested in the hyoid apparatus. Today while I was grooming her, I found a sweet spot, and her nose went up and her tongue went to the roof of her mouth. She kept backing up, so that I continued to brush her shoulder. She often moves into a position so that I work with certain parts of her body. This was the first time I noticed the tongue and head position. Seemed like she really liked having her shoulder rubbed.
My horse injured her stifle (somehow!) and she is in rehab. The therapist constantly finds her sore in the topline muscles. This week it was the lumbar region and her pelvis. I am keeping her exercise to a minimum, but I don’t want to keep her too still. Thinking that I need to be doing some Masterson techniques for her tension.
My horse is pretty saintly and well behaved. But I always notice tension when riding in an indoor arena, particularly if it’s crowded with jumps and other horses. I think my boy is a bit claustrophobic. Even though he is well behaved, I feel him get tense. It’s better if I pick up contact and put my leg on, making him pay attention and carry himself “on the bit.” He has more tension if I let him be free on a loose rein. It’s like he has more freedom to look around and notice how crowded everything is. He has no tension at all out on the trails or riding in the field.
I’ve got a new horse and we’re getting to know each other. His ad said he was more whoa than go, but my trainer and I think he’s just learnt to shutdown. We are doing heaps of in hand work and he’s shown amazing tension releasing. He’s a lovely nature and I look forward to seeing how we progress.
My horse pulls to the right and also drops his shoulder. Sometimes its due to dropping my contact. I am struggling between contact and not creating tension. So when I try not to be too tense I then can drop my contact ever so slightly so little I dont even notice but my horse does and he takes the gap he is given even if inadvertantly so.
My 28 year old gelding turns “inside out” when nervous – raised head, inverted neck, hollowed back. Sometimes I can lessen the effect by asking him to lower his head, but still feel the shortened, choppy stride.
In general he exhibits tension through his inability to bend much in one direction; traveling crooked when walking a straight line; throwing his shoulder in and leaning to the inside. All the signs mentioned in the discussion!
In a new situation he can be high headed and very distracted, not listening. The back feels hollow instead of ‘up’. Not straight. Falling out.
I am riding an OTTB that raced a lot. I’ve had him for 7 months now and am doing basic saddle training with a focus on dressage. His biggest indicator of his constant tension is that he bites and chews on EVERYTHING! Crosstites, reins, ropes, metal, wood, me…. I have had his teeth done by my vet and I do stretches, massage, and long warmups. He is a very willing horse and tries everything I ask, but I know he is suffering from pain or tension somewhere in his body.
My QH presents tension when we go down hill trail riding. I believe that he is not balanced. Is I get a ‘soft feel’ through his jaw and he seems to balance and relax. He will also have a high head and hollow. It take a while to warm him up to bend through his ribcage.
My horse seems to not pick up his hind leg as far as he could. He has had his jaw adjusted twice for the TMJ. and he has had his right hip adjusted. Will this in hand work help him in those areas
We did the jaw release tonight on our 2 yr colt who has a locked patella. I watched as his eyes soften and his head dropped as he moved his tongue. A new tool to use on all our horses. Thank you
When being ridden in a bit, no matter how light my contact is, mare shows tension by sticking her tongue out to the side of her mouth and rolling it around. I wonder if she is reacting to any tension in my body …
what a great video!!! My beautiful mare is very tense but a sweetheart and I used to pull on the reins. This makes me better understand why it is necessary that I no longer do that but help her to relax and release tension.
Very insightful! Thank you. My mare has been high headed in the past. She is still very quick and unbalanced. I have been doing a lot of groundwork getting her to stretch and release.
In all my years of riding and working with horses I was never introduced to In Hand work until I spent some time at the Horseclass Farm. I have definitely seen a difference in my mare, Margo when I am able to relax while working with In Hand exercises. Her tension shows up in her neck, her jaw, aversion to being touched as well as spookiness and resistance to going forward. Any time we do In Hand effectively before a lesson or ride, we are rewarded with a more relaxed horse under saddle and a satisfying time together.
Mouse has an old neck injury, apparently from being roped. She is built like an old-style quarter horse, thick and downhill with her head carried low, short neck with a thick underside. And she hates contact. She’s been checked by vets, osteopath and our equine dentist. I am hoping that stretching her neck more will enable her to come under in back as she is very heavy on the forehand. Yes, we are working against her body type!
In hand work can be really excellent for these kinds of horses!
she has a very tight neck and carries her head high. Her ‘go to’ when upset is rearing.
My mare is 19 and I’ve owned her 15 years! I’ve recently been doing groundwork which I didn’t feel safe doing when she was young. She is no longer spooky under saddle but more often than not she doesn’t really like my hands on her body in stable. Ok with Masterson technique meridian line but any more pressure e.g. body brush) she will make faces or walk away so I know still holds tension. She always yawns a lot before I put bridle on too.