Lundahl Performance

Synopsis

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This training session focuses on Joey’s progress toward structural balance, confidence in contact, and straightness while maintaining shape. Joey arrived for training with issues surrounding his ability to "find center," meaning he struggled to stay between the aids without leaning, wiggling, or evading contact. His primary challenge was mental—he associated pressure with conflict, leading to either bracing against the bridle or over-flexing and hiding from it.

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Jake employs a structured, methodical approach to reshape Joey’s response to pressure, emphasizing Softness, Acceptance, Balance, and Rhythm in each exercise. The session systematically guides Joey through progressive steps, from foundational bending drills on a circle to more complex exercises demanding straightness while maintaining shape.

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Areas of focus include:

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• Establishing consistent contact and confidence in the bridle – Joey initially evades contact, either stiffening or ducking behind it. Jake counters this by creating an inviting, elastic feel in his hands, encouraging Joey to meet the bit rather than retreat from it.

• Teaching structural alignment – Joey is already soft, but his excessive lateral flexibility leads to a lack of organization in his movement. Instead of further softening him, the goal is to provide shape and structure so that he learns to hold a frame while tracking forward.

• Encouraging balanced movement at all gaits – Joey’s biggest struggles at the lope mirror those at the walk and jog but are amplified at speed. By refining his balance at lower gaits, Joey is better prepared to maintain structure in faster work.

• Developing the ability to hold shape on a straight line – An advanced skill requiring both mental and physical commitment, Joey learns to better maintain proper balance without using the circle as a crutch.

• Fine-tuning Joey’s reaction to pressure and leg aids – Instead of responding with tension or guessing at answers, Joey learns to calmly accept pressure and stay engaged rather than seeking to escape it.

 

The session ends with a cooldown focused on reinforcing the work done, ensuring Joey finishes relaxed and mentally receptive.

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Key Points

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• "Finding Center" Defined – The ability to stay framed, balanced, and between the aids without leaning, wiggling, or reacting defensively.

• Correcting Over-Flexion – Joey initially avoids contact by hiding behind the bridle, which weakens the rider’s ability to aid his balance effectively.

• Contrast-Based Training – Jake applies structured pressure, rewarding Joey for finding balance and alignment while discouraging evasive habits.

• Shaping Without Over-Suppling – The focus is not on creating more softness but on channeling that softness into structured, balanced movement.

• Teaching Shoulder Control on a Circle – Monitoring the outside shoulder’s movement ensures Joey tracks correctly rather than falling in or out of the arc.

• Introducing Straightness While Holding Shape – A critical step toward advanced maneuvers such as lead departures, spins, and flying changes.

• Applying Theory to the Lope – The same principles from lower gaits carry into loping work, ensuring balance and correct carriage at speed.

• Cooldown for Mental Retention – A strategic end to the session that cements progress and prevents mental fatigue.

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Analysis

 

Jake starts the session by addressing Joey’s root issues:

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1. He struggles to find center – Joey is unsure how to accept the structure provided by Jake’s hands and legs. He either leans, rushes, or hesitates, rather than staying consistent and balanced.

2. He is over-faced in contact – Any rein pressure triggers a defensive reaction. He either stiffens and roots his nose or ducks behind the vertical to avoid engagement.

3. He lacks consistent forward intent – His movement is choppy and inconsistent, meaning he is mentally hesitant about accepting guidance.

 

Jake’s strategy for addressing these issues revolves around providing clear parameters and gradually reshaping Joey’s perception of pressure from something to fear into something that helps him find balance.

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Step 1: Establishing Softness with Structure on a Circle

Jake begins with a bending-with-vertical drill, where he maintains a slight bend while ensuring Joey stays balanced and tracking properly. The key elements include:​

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• Contact is maintained until relaxation occurs – Instead of immediately releasing pressure when Joey shows resistance, Jake waits for Joey to settle into the bit before rewarding him.

• Monitoring the outside shoulder – True balance isn’t just about inside bend; Jake ensures Joey’s outside front leg and shoulder have a soft, rolling energy, indicating he’s truly committed to the circle rather than just bending his neck.

• Encouraging slight firmness when needed – Since Joey is prone to over-bending, Jake deliberately invites him to lean on the bridle at times, ensuring he doesn’t over-flex and lose forward intent.

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Step 2: Shaping on a Straight Line

Jake transitions from circles to shaping Joey’s body while traveling straight—a significant leap in difficulty. This is where he refines Joey’s structural integrity by:

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• Using leg position to manage energy flow – Inside leg picks up the shoulder and shifts the horse's balance, outside leg aids forward motion and direction, and rein contact provides structure.

• Releasing only when Joey finds the right balance – If Joey leans or wiggles, Jake corrects him subtly but does not release until Joey honestly commits to the desired shape and line of travel.

• Using reference points (like cones and arena markers) – These provide a clear directional goal for the rider and promote alignment. 

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Step 3: Applying the Concept at the Lope

The same principles from walk and jog exercises are scaled up to the lope, where Joey’s issues become more apparent due to increased speed and momentum.

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• Encouraging Joey to "meet the bridle" instead of hiding – Jake maintains consistent, elastic rein contact, discouraging Joey from ducking behind the bit or bracing against it.

• Tuning Joey’s lead departures – Joey must step off from a correct, balanced position rather than a rushed or crooked stance. Jake sets him up as if he were preparing to lope off every time, reinforcing proper body alignment.

• Holding structure at speed – Instead of running into the bridle or leaning through turns, Joey learns to maintain correct alignment at a faster gait.

 

Jake meticulously smooths out Joey’s reactions, reinforcing balance, confidence, and mental relaxation throughout the loping work.

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Theory Insights

 

Jake ends the session with a philosophical observation:

 

"On a green horse, we teach them to go straight on a straight line and curved on a curved line. On an advanced horse, we teach them to go curved on a straight line and straight on a curved line."

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Joey is in the transitional phase between those two stages. He is learning to:

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• Hold a structured shape without relying on the circle to maintain balance.

• Maintain consistent forward energy even when asked to shape or adjust his balance.

• Accept that pressure is not punishment—it’s a guide to finding more efficient movement.

 

The session concludes with a long, relaxed cooldown, reinforcing the work done while allowing Joey to process everything mentally.

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Final Takeaways

 

This session highlights a step in Joey’s evolution from a reactive, evasive horse into one that is starting to trust structure and guidance. The work here lays the foundation for collected lead departures, flying lead changes, and other high level reining maneuvers.

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Joey is learning how to "find center" with his entire body, not just soften his face, and that’s a massive step in his journey.

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This session highlights Jake’s methodical approach to performance training—pressure is applied with clarity, releases are timed with surgical precision, and every movement is part of a larger strategic progression.