hi! not sure if this is helpful or not, but the main idea here was that to get a horse in front of the leg, they have to be willing and want to go forward, it doesn't come from excessive kicking. Lots of transitions between paces and in between paces, and going forward during these transitions. :)

blkgryphon no doubt still a well schooled but young horse that is listening to the rider 🤷‍♀️

the purpose of a flash isnt to clamp their mouth closed... its to keep the bit on the bars of the mouth and make sure that the bit cant move around in the mouth. also helps with softness and acceptance of the bit. i personally dont use flashes, but it really has to do with what equipment fits to the horses needs.

@@Dylan-ez5qx I can't agree with that, on any point. If the bit fits properly and the horse is accepting of it, the horse's mouth stays quiet and the bit will not move around. Many bits don't even act on the bars of the mouth at all. And ask yourself, how does a flash possibly "help" with softness and acceptance? By force. Maybe take the flash off, allow the horse to express its discomfort or lack of understanding (or both), then work to actually help the horse to be comfortable, soft, and understanding of the aid. If you have to force softness, it isn't softness.

@@blkgryphon many bits act on the bars, and tongue of the mouth, at lease the softer ones do. i personally do not use a flash, because there are so many ways to misuse it, and for the ottbs i ride it just simply wouldn't be beneficial to anyone. and i do see what you're saying, i'm just making the point that for some horses, a flash can be helpful. not for every horse of course, but it can. i would say though, that many times the benefits of using a flash are outweighed by the negative effects. however for a high level dressage rider and horse the purpose of the flash goes beyond clamping the mouth shut. you don't know the horse, so if i were you i wouldn't generalize.

that is how you TALK to a horse. they don't speak english