Hind Leg Mechanics
One of the most important factors of one's growth in horsemanship is to become aware, to notice small details in general, but also in motion. Horses have it, as they require it for their survival, hence respect among them is measured both in this awareness as well as in the speed of their response.
We should be aware, among other things, of two types of hind leg functions.
1. One is by intermittent shifting of the hind legs in which case both legs have equal output of energy when going straight. All in all, this function can be compared to a man pushing a wheelbarrow, where his legs do all the work. The wheel of the wheelbarrow is like the horse’s front legs, so the nickname for the horse's front legs is, suitably, "the wheels" ("he's got no wheels").
2. The second type of forward propelling is when both hind legs work more together and no longer alternate, as in the walk or trot. This is done in the canter/gallop, when one of the hind legs works harder than the other in propelling the horse forward, while the other assists in pushing but takes also an important part in the supportive (carrying) function, which is important in the balance of the horse.
To know and be aware of the differences is very relevant when riding, because riding changes in relevance to the gait and speed, since the distribution of horse's body weight on his legs differs. This is then relevant to the output and direction of the horse's energy.
The type of seat, the gait, the speed and the rider's ability determines how the horse is ridden, or rather, how the horse should be ridden. We cannot ignore the nature of the horse or the ability of the rider, which will then set the criteria in what to do.
