Teaching Progression for the Tools the first steps in getting started with the AHA toolbox

Space Awareness: teach the student to increase the space between them and their horse. Begins close in, but progresses to teaching the tool of the wiggle rope back-up.

For a horse with more GO---teach the student the tool of the hindquarter yield. When a horse wants to move its feet, that is a sign of internal worry and a need to feel safe. Horses move their feet in order to feel safe, going with their instinct. To allow the feet to move but bring the movement to a stop, we ask and teach the horse to disengage the hq (abbreviation for hindquarter yield)

For a horse with less or no go--teach the student to get the horse moving its feet through longer rope leading with an awareness of where the horse is. The tool here is the 3 Simple Steps or Leading for Relaxation/freed up feet.

Step One

Step Two

Moving the front end: Using the wiggle rope back up to help the horse get its weight to the back end, then teaching to tool of the front quarter yield.

Step Three

Trying to break this down to its most simplistic that would teach the majority of the people.


First, people need to get some space between them and their horse and understand it is actually safer to be further away.


Second, (step two) people need to be prepared for what they will run into when they begin to teach this to horses....usually one of two responses based on whether the horse is a go or no go.


Third, they need to understand the difference between positions in relation to the horse (leading position vs driving position) what that means and what that relates to in terms of where we are going...to better ground manners and ease of handling and/or to safer and more connected riding.


Fourth, (step 3) they need to be able to get the horse out on a circle in the driving position in order to create a place to teach the horse the elements that will lead to safer riding. Moving the front end freed up by teaching a yield of the fq.

first increase the time the horse can stay at a distance. then increase the distance they can be from you.

teaching "quick and dirty" hq yield for safety and bring the horse "back to you" ARC indicators.

3 simple steps also needs to be taught to the horse with more go. and quick/dirty hq needs to be taught to the no go....

Circling you to teach a better quality hindquarter. This is where we start to really get into making changes and having basic tools to be able to get ARC improved and to realize there is a place to start to "read" the horse, examine the foot fall to learn more about what the horse is thinking and how the horse is feeling. Using the tools, analyzing the quality of movements, gets us to the DIALOG part of the toolbox.

Step Four

Getting to the driving position, work begins to relate to the riding

Buttons on the face and neck to ask horse to give you more room

Get horse off of you, many people don't realize this is a problem. Could do a hula hoop challenge to make it fun

Solving the challenges that come up when the horse resists the wiggle rope back up or feel unsafe when they are not on top of you. There is a third, less common reaction and that is the horse that is overly sensitive who backs up too much. Very rarely is the horse that rears.

the study of how horses move their feet and what that means in terms of what they are thinking and feeling (mental and emotional fitness.

Questions that often come up:
Won't the wiggle rope make him head shy? Can I do this with a flat/regular halter?
Why should I send him away when I like him close to me?
Won't I have less control further away from him?
Will he run me over if he is that far away or behind me?
Why do I need such a long rope?
Aren't you never supposed to let the lead rope touch the ground? I was taught that in Pony Club and or I am an endurance rider and that is not allowed and I will loose points.
Doesn't a chain do the same thing?

Questions that often come up:
My horse started out as a go horse but now has changed? why and what do I do now? Isn't turning in such a tight circle as in doing the hq yield bad for my horses legs, tendons, etc.?
Why does my horse change directions and go the other way and is that ok?
Why can't i lead him on a tight lead rope? or they have no concept that there is tension and tightness on the rope (I'm not pulling).
My horse leads, why do I have to work on leading?