Call (352) 763-0800.
How The Pro Balancer Works
What the horse feels
- Step 1 The ask
Rider applies a light request through the hands.
- Step 2 Clear communication begins at the nose
Horse feels nose pressure first (a cue it already understands from halter work).
- Step 3 Cue refinement follows at the bit
Horse feels the bit cue as the next layer of communication.
- Step 4 Horse searches for the release
When the horse softens/yields, the system is designed to support a cleaner release pattern.
- Step 5 Reward
Horse learns through the release and becomes more confident in the correct response.
The real genius is the release sequence
1: The release is the point of learning
In horsemanship, the release is everything. Horses learn from the moment pressure goes away. That moment is the reward.
2: The horse is often faster than the rider
Many horses respond quickly, but many riders, especially kids, newer riders, or “everyday” riders, can release a fraction of a second slower than the horse needs. That tiny delay can accidentally teach brace and frustration.
3: Designed to level the playing field
The Pro Balancer is designed so that as the rider begins to release, the bit release happens faster/first, followed by the nose release second. This helps deliver a clearer reward timing even when the rider’s release is still developing.
Balance affects the brain: “thinking” vs. “reacting”
When a horse becomes tense, raises the head, and hollows the back, balance and tension can increase, and that can contribute to reactive moments. In many horses, elevated tension is where “learning stops” and survival instincts take over.
The Pro Balancer is designed to support clearer communication and a more level, balanced way of going, which can help the horse stay in a calmer, more “thinking” mindset while you train.
This is not a guarantee and every horse is different. The goal is to support calmer communication so the horse doesn’t feel the need to escalate.
Common resistance behaviors this tool is designed to help with
Many resistance behaviors come from confusion, brace, or a learned habit of pushing through cues.
The Pro Balancer is designed to support clearer communication and cleaner releases, helping reduce tug-of-war patterns that can reinforce resistance.
Examples:
- Leaning / bit grabbing: supports clearer “give” moments and timely release
- Head tossing / bracing: encourages the horse to search for softness
- Overpowering smaller riders: supports clearer signals and more organized hands (especially in the Junior set)
The foundation is pressure-and-release
Before a horse ever carries a rider, it learns how humans communicate: halter pressure, lead rope cues, yielding to pressure, and finding the release. That release is the “yes.” It tells the horse: that was the right answer.
The Pro Balancer is designed around those fundamentals, so the cue stays understandable, and the horse doesn’t feel like it has to brace, resist, or fight to make the pressure stop.
First point of contact: the nose (a language the horse already knows)
When the rider asks through the hands, the first point of contact in this system is nose pressure. That matters because the horse has typically understood nose/halter pressure since early training. It’s familiar. It’s clear.
Starting the cue at the nose helps many horses stay calmer because they aren’t immediately thrown into a “fight the bit” experience. They feel something they already recognize as communication and are more likely to search for the correct response.
Familiar cue first = clearer communication and less resistance.
Second point of contact: the bit (refinement and precision)
After the nose cue, the system follows with the bit. This creates a layered communication approach: the horse gets a clear request first, and then the bit provides refinement.
This is especially helpful for riders who are still developing their timing, feel, and consistency, because it gives the horse a clearer pathway to the answer.
- Nose cue: familiar foundation
- Bit cue: refinement
- Rider goal: clarity without escalating pressure