Mike discusses bits and the fact that a horse cannot be happy with a harsh bit and tight curb chain. As trail horse trainers we believe a happy horse is going to perform out on the trails in a manner that is calm, relaxed, soft and supple. Keeping a horse soft, supple, light and responsive is calming and relaxing to the horse thus providing a much better trail partner and a better experience for the rider. Bits are a large part of how soft a horse is able to be. A harsh bit with pressure on the mouth makes a horse stiff from the mouth throughout the body. Then add the pressure from legs to the pressure of the bit and you are asking for a stiff, unresponsive high headed horse. Working on the softness with a snaffle bit will allow the horse to become soft, supple and light and therefore a much better situation.
Gaited horses are naturally gaited. When you work to soften your horse, the natural gait is allowed to rise to the top and as the horse naturally gaits the gait becomes better and better. This process frees the horse up to do a gait that they are bred to perform. Unnaturally forcing a gait simply put causes stiffness and resistance in the horse.
Balancing exercises helps to build a horse that carries themselves. Balancing helps the horse stay in time with their head and feet. Thus, giving you a horse that trips less, has less trouble staying in time and smoother gait. These exercises also are the foundation to the side pass, as well as teaching your horse to respond to leg pressure. The ultimate goal is to be able to cue your horse with very little bit movement. Using your body to let the horse know what you want them to do.
Mike also has a demonstration rider to show the stop from your seat and what to do in the event of a rear. It's important for riders to be aware of the proper responses to situations that might arise while riding. If you do not work on these things when they happen, you will not have the quick action needed to stay safe. We certainly hope you never have to use the responses but, it is much better to be prepared in the event something does happen. Out on the trail you are not in a controlled environment which makes it a much more dangerous situation.