In this episode, Ryan Rushing continues working his 3-year-old by Modern Gun, focusing on refining lead departures and maintaining softness throughout the circle work.

He begins by emphasizing the importance of a correct lope departure from the center of the pen. The goal is for the horse to walk off quietly, stay relaxed, and remain square and connected to the rider from the very first step.

When the horse becomes distracted and loses softness—spooking slightly and getting out of frame—Ryan doesn’t push forward. Instead, he breaks the exercise back down to the trot and revisits the fundamentals of the lead departure. This reinforces correct positioning, softness, and responsiveness before moving forward again.

To help simplify the process, Ryan explains that he will occasionally use draw reins to remove variables, allowing the horse to focus more on footwork and less on resisting the bridle. This tool helps create clarity and softness without adding confusion.

As he continues through the circles, Ryan works on keeping the horse soft and consistent through the middle of the pen. He emphasizes slowing down in the center to prevent anticipation and avoid the horse bracing or hollowing out. The goal is for the horse to stay relaxed and begin to look forward to that moment of release and slowdown.

Throughout the ride, Ryan reinforces the idea that when something isn’t right, going back to the basics creates a better end result. By maintaining softness, relaxation, and correct positioning, he builds a more confident and responsive horse.

This episode highlights the importance of refining the small details—where softness, patience, and timing make all the difference in developing a quality reining horse.