Last week after the purchase of my new horse Nativo, Manuel Trigo , my trainer, teacher and mentor evaluated where Nativo was in his training , according to his training system. Manuel’s sytem seems to me to be most like the french style with additions that make his system of training very easy for the horse. Manuel decided that Nativo should be introduced to the Serreta rite away as he was diving down onto the snaffle. The Serreta lifts the head and bends the horse safing the month. ( If the head is raised without proper impulsion the horse will not use his back properly and will not be in proper flexion.) Nativo has a good walk and plenty of impulsion. That said, the good walk with cadence is the foundation forall the training to be built from. With the serretta the spanish curb is used as the bit , this communicates vertical flexion and lowering of the pole, it is jointed to allow some flexibility of shaft and port. This bit is extremely gentle and most horses are very comfortable with it. It is also important to add that that the reins are not pulled, but actions are communicated in an upward fashion or a fixing of the rein. with a closing of the fingers. This takes great skill. The sweet Iron is tasty and is very good for encouraging Jaw Flexion. When proper jaw-flexion is performed I hear clinking sound that tells me that the horse is relaxing and processing the information traveling through the reins. Music to the riders ears. This retraining of the aids is done on the lunge so the person holding the line is acting as a pillar. This way the trainer can concentrate on balance of the horse and training of the aids without steering. The horse is maintaining proper bend, and receiving the gymastisizing effect of the 20 meter circle. That sounds simple but, horses have a nervous system that is seven times faster than ours. When all this is done well with consistency and timeing the horse becomes light very quickly.
