Balance before movement

BalanceNelly Abbenes believes that balance precedes movement.

Anyone watching the first steps of a filly or a child will agree that it needs to find and keep its balance. Many times after finding the first bits of balance it staggers and falls again.

So why would we urge the young horse forward, while it really needs to take the first steps and find balance again after the rider has mounted? This creates confusion and misunderstanding for the horse and will bring unbalance to it longer than necessary.

The horse compensates this unbalance by leaning on the riders hand. Often, as a consequence, more forceful aids are given by the rider. Anything but ideal.