top of page

Here's what you'll get:


Proven patterns Marie Hoffman developed over 30 yrs and multitude of horses of all types.  This is not theory but results realized over and over. Here is a list of how each of the  A-Maze-ing Patterns can help your horse.

 

Here is a list which are the A-Maze-ing Patterns that I use for these problems 

 All of the circular patterns that have curves and circles in them will help bring a horse out of sympathetic flight fight into parasympathetic rest digests learn
My favorites are 6, 18, 10,14
All the patterns 1-25 do in order it shows in the  book for best results, watch for your horse to  blinking fast than slower then lick and chew, return to normal speed of their legs. This body language is when they switch to thinking and learning ( Parasympathetic)

Listed below are my favorite maze patterns for these problems, each horse is different, find the Pattern(s) that work the best for your horse, listed are my most common patterns used for these problems
 

Learning to lunge equally balanced both directions, start with Patterns 1 then 2
then 4 and 5 for change of direction balance and responsive to handlers’ aids
 

Patterns I use for Common riding challenges, Each horse is different and your horse may respond differently and other patterns may be more useful.

Hot-forward wanting to trot instead of walk, jigging Patterns 18, 22,23,24
Spooky and distracted Patterns 4, 5, 16, 22,23,24
Does not bend in rib cage, move shoulders or bend in neck or poll Patterns 4,5,610,14,15,18,19,20,
Learning inside leg to outside rein, to engage  Patterns  ridden 6,13,11
Learn move shoulders and walking pirouette or turn on haunches Pattern 25
Improve walk trot transition  Pattern 8,14,15,6
Improving canter departures trot  Patterns 13,19,14,15, then canter Pattern 10,
Collecting canter, trotting Patterns 14,15  then trot then canter Patterns 26 parts 1,2,3, 27
Improve strength of thoracic sling use All of the maze patterns  

Not aware of their feet Patterns 16,17
Jumping straightness ( can make jump in middle) Pattern 16
Improve balance,- all the patterns will improve balance
Horse's barrel flexibility Patterns 19,20,14,15

 

Suitable for Any discipline that requires balance and strength with a quiet mind.


Each Pattern comes with 4 sections of instructions

1 How to do the pattern

2 Benefits for the horse

3 Rider or handler hints

4 What IF? Common ways horses may not cooperate, what I do to help the horse to be successful

Below is list of patterns and how they can help your horse
 

Groundwork Patterns that build your horse's confidence and focus from the ground up—
Pattern 1. Easily teach how to Lunge, develop inside bend, calming for the horse
Pattern 2. Cantering on lunge, improve balance, stops horse that cuts in while lunging
Pattern 3. Guides horse to lift inside shoulder as they move away from  their handler
Pattern 4. Guide to balanced change of direction while lunging, become more flexible in ribs, neck and poll
Pattern 5. Putting together balanced changes of directions requiring more skill

Phase 1 Riding Patterns
Pattern 6. Guiding the horse to bend their bodies then bring their shoulders toward inside of the circle as they straighten their bodies which is when engagement happens.
Pattern 7. Do Pattern 6 on the outside of the Maze to give horse help to lift the inside shoulder while the rider guides with the outside aids.
Pattern 8. Improve the horse's balance and engagement, help rider gain skill and or teach  horse balance of rebalancing half halt
Pattern 9. Improve horse's responsiveness and maintaining balance during changes of direction
Pattern 10. Improve horse's ability to change directions balanced with more engagement utilizing thoracic sling.
Pattern 16. Horse improves overall balance and awareness of hooves (teaches straight to a jump or any target)
Pattern 17. Maintain balance and rhythm while changing direction at faster speeds


Phase 2 Patterns
Pattern 11. Improve leg yielding and responsiveness to the riders aids
Pattern 12. Improve balance while flexing poll left and right keeping horse's body with consistent bend on the circle (this is key to horse finding balance at the canter).
Pattern 13. Keeping balance and rhythm while changing size of circle
Pattern 14. Improve horse's ability to change bend of body, neck and poll while maintaining balance by engaging core and thoracic sling ( also canter prep)
Pattern 15. Improve the horse's balance circling at faster speeds and change of stride length utilizing core and thoracic sling during shortening of stride then changing directions of travel ( also canter prep)
Pattern 17. Improve balance and hoof awareness of going straight and then half circles to straight while going over poles of different spacing in rider guided line.
Pattern 18. Calm the excited horse in short time, the horse will choose to walk and go into parasympathetic fairly quickly. ( Favorite-- one to calm horse )
Pattern 19. Calm, Improve balance and rhythm while changing directions with horse choosing to change bend because it is the easiest way to navigate the pattern for the horse.
Pattern 20. Horse becomes more responsive as rider creates own pattern 19 guiding horse with their aids to bend and change directions

 

Phase 3 Patterns
Pattern 22. Improve balance while calming mind of horse
Pattern 23. Improve balance while calming mind of the horse and useful for improving the horse's ability to keep balance while changing the bend in their bodies along with hoof awareness


Pattern 24. Another version of Pattern 23 with same benefits
Pattern 25. Teach turn on haunches, and control of the shoulders.Phase 4 Patterns
Patterns 26. ( 1,2,3) Steps to collect the horse's canter with proper bend, engagement and rhythm
the horse learns to collect themselves to navigate the pattern. 
Pattern 27. Balance collected trot to collected canter and usually done after Pattern 26 but is easier do before pattern 26 steps.

Disclaimer:This discription is how Marie Hoffman uses the maze to train horses. This information is for the informational and educational purposes only. The information in this discription does not include the scope of information needed to safely work with any horse. Marie Hoffman does not offer any representations, guarantees, or warranties, of any variety including but not limited to your safety or success using Marie Hoffman-Total Horse Method techniques included in this discription. 

A-Maze-ing Patterns: Training Guide for Horse & Rider, click book for more info

SKU: 364215376135191
$25.00Price
Quantity
  • With my exclusive training book, you'll discover 27 pole patterns designed to transform your spooky, reactive horse into a calm, focused partner. These patterns work by switching your horse's brain from sympathetic (fight-or-flight) to parasympathetic (rest, digest, and learn) mode—so they can actually absorb what you're teaching them. As your horse navigates these patterns, they'll naturally improve their balance faster, engage their core, and strengthen their thoracic sling as they perform the patterns. The poles shape the horse's body in a way so they change their carriage themselves to navigate the patterns. Students use them for groundwork or under saddle at walk, trot, and canter—they're especially powerful for teaching balance, softness, and collection at the canter!

bottom of page