Diamonds really ARE a girl's best friend

 

Sure the sparkley stones of stature are fun too, but I am talking about a totally different kind of "Diamond" here....one that will not only help your 3 year old TB learn what leg means, it will also help him understand the concept of straightness!!!
The concept is deceptivly simple...where you would usually travel on a circle pattern, instead create a diamond shape.

Nevermind the random letters, just use this image to appreciate how you are supposed to alter your track to accomplish the promised straightness. I always start everything at walk first....young horses need that slow, deliberate communication.  Set them up for success and move slowly.  OK, anyway....see how you will create "points" in your track??
Use these markers to allow your horse to move his shoulder around the "points", keep his body straight and DO NOT pull him around the point with your inside rein.  That is a no-no! Instead....use your outside aids (my favorite) to bring his shoulder around.  Your outside
leg will keep his outside shoulder in check and ask him to step over with it.  Your glorious outside rein will keep his body inline and help to avoid that overbending thing that I am sure some of you are tempted to do.  Ok, so yeah....it may feel odd at first...like your horse is a 2x4 pivoting on the "point"...but like I have said before, you can't bend correctly until your horse is straight!! Relish in the functionality of your outside aids...an opening inside rein is totally acceptable to lead your horse in the right direction.  Especially if he is noodle of a young one like mine is. ha ha ha! And of course, inside leg is good for forward motivation....but I am telling you people, this diamond thing is priceless!
Once you have set your horse 'straight' (no pun intended), then or course it is time to bring a little bend into the picture....but please, keep those outside aids and don't loose that shoulder.
I am gushing about this exercise today because it prooved so flippin' valuable with my young TB the other day. He is all over the place...his shoulder is going one direction and his head another....his hindquarters are in lala land. I just love the babies!! This exercise really put him together and helped him understand that if he uses his body as one functional unit life is MUCH easier. Of course success was ours only at the walk, but I will TOTALLY take it!!! I just kept thinking...."outside aids, move the shoulder, forward forward". I told you....I talk to myself while I ride. Go ahead and laugh...my pony walked straight and forward. ha ha ha!!