QUOTES BY DOROTHEE FALTEJSEK (page two)
on the philosophical aspects of training

"Prerequisite for chewing the reins out of the hands is that the rider has an even, light contact with the horse's mouth on both reins, and that the horse steps into the rider's hand, chewing softly. When the rider lengthens the reins slowly, bit by bit, the horse must stretch his neck only as much forward-downward as the hand allows. It is important that the rein contact is never abandoned. Only when the horse's neck is completely stretched downward so that the nose almost touches the ground, while the horse maintains a steady tempo in all three gaits, are rhythm, relaxation, and correct back activity accomplished.     "When the horse's neck gets stuck in a certain postition, that means that the horse is not stepping into the hand, just as yanking the reins out of the rider's hands means that the horse is going againsts the hand. In both cases, the horse still holds tension in his back. Relaxation and rein contact have to be improved by calmly and patiently letting the horse chew the reins out of the rider's hands and picking the reins up alternatingly while maintaining a steady tempo in all three gaits." (1983; translation: T. Ritter)