How do I get my horse to go on the bit?

Hello! 🙂 Getting the horse to work on the bit really does help make the paces more comfortable to ride. Working a horse into a good outline is a job over time, schooling the horse to answer the rider's aids correctly and to build strength in the right way. Going on the bit is really about putting the horse into a better posture. Think of how we humans hold ourselves when we run up to a trampoline, carrying the body with the spring it needs to push off well.

One way to work on the horse's outline is with turns, where the horse turns with a fairly straight body and neck while the forelegs lead the movement. The next step is lateral work such as leg-yield. To do either of these, you need to be sure the horse understands your aids for going forward, halting, and moving the forehand and the hindquarters. In short, it comes down to schooling your horse to the rider's aids.