Recent content by JenniferR

Thank you, CoachinaCar. I was hoping you would respond as I find your replies very helpful. I don't think she is quite as hopeless as other replies have suggested as she did score 71% a few weeks ago in an Intro from a BD judge. I am beginning to put my leg on and I now ride in short boots so I...

I think I may have made things sound more negative than intended! It is really is only a momentary loss of balance when she lowers her head like that. She is not a "curler"!! Can't find the post now but the person who suggested coming back to walk, then stretch, then walk/trot transition again...

If anyone can be bothered, I need a bit more help. This young horse has come up with a new trick in trot. She is beginning to learn a steady and slower tempo and rhthymn and that is having a good effect on her balance. Pleased with the progress on that and horse is trying very hard to please...

Thanks, that's good to know. She's still quite spooky in an indoors arena so it's all good experience for her even if the marks aren't great.

Thank you, Tristar. I am learning so much from all this! I think I have been unconsciously holding my leg away from her side to prevent her getting any more going forward aids from me. Last night I tried just gently touching her sides and she was fine with that but it did rather make the point...

Thank you again. All really useful stuff. It was also useful to know to sometimes ignore a dressage judge's comments. My young horse is where she is in her training. We got better marks when she was more forward but she was also above the bit the whole way round, unbalanced in places and...

Thank you, thank you, thank you, CoachinaCar. That finally makes sense and seems achievable as a training method for this horse. I could not understand how I could achieve anything useful by putting my leg on a forward-going unbalanced horse.. This is SO useful and fits with my instincts of what...

Thank you Tally ho and Be positive for your help. More questions I'm afraid! I was thinking that the slower (lacking energy) rhythmn would be a stage along the way to becoming a balanced, forward horse. I'm not aiming for perfection just yet. Once I've slowed her down and got her balanced and...

Hi Thanks for your really useful post. I agree about not using my leg. She's forward going and responsive and just goes faster/unbalanced if I do. I've slowed her right down using half halts and various other exercises. Just wondering about the "not using your leg as it will confuse her"...

Get someone to video you doing circles. You'll be amazed at what you see! I couldn't believe how quickly we were trotting until I saw it with my own eyes and how I was encouraging this by pinging up and down with! Good luck and keep at it. I don't have a school either but can do some schooling...

Well, progress has been made! Thanks to all who posted. Speed seems to be the key to her balance and she needs to go much slower than I ever imagined in order to find a consistent balance. She is quite a bit smaller than my previous horse and so although we seem to be not covering the ground, in...

Thanks, that advice about trot to halt and back again sounds like a useful idea and something I can do out on hacks. I'm also introducing a "zero tolerance" policy to rushing in trot. If she rushes, she goes back to walk. Fantastic ideas everyone. Thank you so much. Really useful.

That's very interesting about the half-halts. She is definitely forward going and I do think I sometimes confuse her the use of my leg as up to now this has meant go forward/change pace. I have another lesson booked for Monday and will try the half-halts as suggested under the watchful eye of my...

Yes, they do sound very alike! She is super sensitive to everything you do so and really tries to please but it's like riding 3 different horses at the moment and you have to change your tactics every few seconds. There is very little consistency. I guess that's young horses for you. I think you...

Thanks, everyone for the tips and reassurance. It's good to know that a certain amount of this is to be expected. Just don't want to spoil the little horse or make schooling a misery.