You’re trotting around the arena and your horse feels quick. Maybe even a little too quick. You’re not sure if you should half-halt and slow down, or if this is actually the “forward” everyone keeps telling you to ask for.
Here’s the thing: speed and forward are not the same thing.
A horse can be trotting at Mach 10 and still not be forward. And a horse can be forward in a calm, relaxed walk. Understanding the difference changes everything about how you train.
What “Forward” Actually Means
True forward isn’t about tempo. It’s about energy — specifically, energy that’s available to you as the rider.
Charles de Kunffy describes forward this way: the horse is relaxed, confident, and willingly submitting his energy to the rider’s disposal. He’s not frightened or trying to flee. He’s offering himself.
When your horse is truly forward:
- The hind legs are stepping under with purpose
- The energy travels through the body to your hand
- You feel like you have something to shape and direct
- Transitions feel easy because the energy is already there
- The horse responds to your leg without running away from it
Forward is a state of cooperation. It’s power you can use.
What “Running Away” Looks Like
Running is the opposite. It might look fast, but the energy isn’t available to you. It’s going out — not through.
When your horse is running:
- The tempo is quick but the hind legs don’t step under
- The back feels tight or hollow
- The contact is unstable (too heavy, too light, or constantly changing)
- Half-halts don’t seem to go through
- You feel like a passenger, not a partner
- The horse seems to be escaping FROM your aids, not responding TO them
Here’s the key question: Can I influence this?
If you half-halt and nothing changes — if your horse just keeps barreling along at the same tempo — you’re probably dealing with running, not forward.
Why Horses Run
Understanding the cause helps you find the solution:
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Tension or anxiety — A horse in flight mode can’t be forward because forward requires relaxation.
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Loss of balance — Some horses run because they’re falling onto the forehand and using speed to stay upright.
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Misunderstanding the aids — If they learned leg means GO FAST instead of “offer energy.”
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Physical discomfort — Pain makes horses want to escape the work by speeding through it.
How to Create True Forward (Without the Running)
1. Start with relaxation
You cannot build forward on a tight horse. Walk breaks, transitions, slowing down until the nervous system settles.
2. Think about quality of response, not speed
You want the hind legs stepping MORE under, not just moving faster. Ask yourself: is the energy going somewhere useful?
3. Half-halt to package the energy
Forward without half-halts becomes running. The half-halt tells the horse “keep it right here” — it gives the energy somewhere to go.
4. Reward the right feeling
The moment they give you that pushing, connected feeling — let them know. Walk, rest, pat. Make it clear that this is what you wanted.
5. Check in with the body
If they consistently run and can’t find another answer, it might be time for a physical eval. Discomfort creates evasion.
The Goal: Forward You Can Shape
The ultimate goal isn’t just “forward.” It’s forward that you can direct, package, and use.
When you have real forward, you can half-halt and get a beautiful transition. You can ask for bend and feel the horse stay connected. You can slow the tempo without losing the energy.
That’s the feeling we’re after. And once you know what it feels like, you’ll never confuse it with running again.
Working on creating true forward with your horse? From Stiff to Supple in 28 Days gives you a systematic approach to building suppleness and connection — the foundation real forward is built on.
