The ROLLBACK, done correctly, is essentially a 180-degree turn where the horse moves fluidly on the hindquarters and begins going the other direction. Leg positioning, hand positioning, and timing are all critical components of teaching and accomplishing the rollback.
Leg Positioning:
Position 1 cues the shoulders - turn your toes out, and reach your spur toward the front cinch.
Position 2 cues the ribcage - place your spur in the middle of the front and back cinch (generally where your leg normally rests)
Position 3 cues the hindquarters - slide your foot back toward the back cinch
Hand Positioning:
Keep your hands low toward the saddle horn, and slow.
I like to use 3 different exercises to help teach the rollback. Each of these 3 exercises is completed on a 20-30 foot circle.
Exercise 1:
Keep your inside leg in position 2 to bend the ribcage and hold the arc on the circle. Then take your inside leg off position 2 and move the outside leg to position 1 to move his shoulders around and change direction. Resist the urge to pull on the horse's nose to get him to come around. If you do, it'll get ugly. Your hands won't do much of anything; the outside hand will act as a reinforcer to stop the horse from going forward.
Exercise 2:
Similar to the first, except we will be turning to the outside of the circle instead. As in the first exercise, hold your inside leg in position 2 to keep the arc to the inside of the circle. Then, change the arc of the circle to the outside: place your opposite leg in position 2 and change the flexion of your horse's nose using your reins. Use your new outside leg in position 1 to roll around to the outside of that original circle, then immediately drive forward.
Exercise 3:
This last exercise is super fun, but can get a little confusing to some. You'll begin by traveling in a circle with your leg at position 2, just like the first two exercises. Then you'll stop the horse using your outside rein. From there, you will begin backing a circle, keeping that same arc you began with. The horse will be backing away from that inside leg, and his hindquarters will be traveling the circle instead of the front end. When the horse feels balanced beneath you, bring the outside leg to position 1 to bring that horse forward through the arc he is in.
This lesson today reminded me of one very important character trait: WISDOM. Wisdom in horsemanship often shows up in knowing when and where to stop. It also comes into play when deciding how much pressure is too much. We grow in wisdom over time, and through experience, but one good rule of thumb to remember is to quit early and reward often.
I hope this video helps gives you and your horse a solid foundation for the rollback. Make sure to stay tuned for Part 2, where we will utilize the rollback with cattle.
Until next time, may God bless the trails you ride!
- Ken McNabb