5 year old tb !

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My tb is very tempermental, she has a lovely natural outline but will only go onto it on her own terms. No matter how many different ways you ask, how long you ask for she won't give it to you. With the current show season out dressage tests look horrible as she constantly does the girraffe impression ! How can I get the outline on my terms instead of hers. Have joined up with her many times to try and get trust and respect which works for that day but then the next you would have to do it again. Any tips much appreciated

 

[Holly Hocks]

Why not forget the outline and concentrate on active regular paces with the horse working forwards - the outline should come a bit more naturally and easily then...I won't patronise you asking whether your saddle fits and is her back sore and have you had her teeth done etc...! Good luck!

 

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[QUOTEI won't patronise you asking whether your saddle fits and is her back sore and have you had her teeth done etc...! Good luck![/QUOTE]

Haha the amount of people.... but yes they are all fine, have been working on the paces as she isn't a natural jumper and i believe in getting the flatwork before the jumping, no point in rushing things lol xx

 

[Winklepoker]

With my TB mare I used the theories of classical dressage and the methods of the TTT (training the teachers of tomorrow) google it It really suited her and she went from going like this...

to going like this....

in 6 months! It really is amazing... I also think TBs are quite sensitive in the mouth (on a whole) and until she was seeking a low consistent contact I kept her in a happy mouth straight bar fulmer and only stepped upp to a loose ring french link when we were established.

Hope that helps
Vix

 

[horsey_jo]

You say your girl is 5; how long has she been backed/schooled and in full work? Maybe she needs a little more time to blossom?

Don't put too much pressure on yourselves for this year - she is only young and you have many more seasons to look forward to

 

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She looks amazing, will have a look at that site when i get some time. She is in a sweet iron loose ring snaffle with a copper lozenge and plan to keep her in it. Any other suggestions?? x

 

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You say your girl is 5; how long has she been backed/schooled and in full work? Maybe she needs a little more time to blossom?

Don't put too much pressure on yourselves for this year - she is only young and you have many more seasons to look forward to

She has been broken in for just over a year now, she is very happy in it when she is having a good day, just run out of ideas ! :L xx

 

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Anyone? xx

 

[kovu]

Whats your aim with her and all? Don't push her too hard and force her into it, I always got told work on free flowing paces and the outline comes more and more subtle and quicker.

 

[Dizzle]

I didn't start schooling mine until he was seven, we tried at five. He hated it. Just hacked out whilst he was six and now age seven we've started schooling again. I'm having weekly lessons but will be watching this thread eagerly for tips!

 

[horsey_jo]

Sorry if this is totally noddy - but have you tried...

Maybe spicing things up a bit? You say you aren't jumping her yet which I totally agree with until you are content she is ready; but maybe putting a couple of poles on the ground might keep her switched on?

My arab would be really naughty and almost unrideable when bored! I used to have some trotting poles or a tiny x-pole at one end of the school that I would ride him over when he started messing about. It was quite good to focus him.

I also found that schooling in small amounts each time helped - like hack out then 15 mins of schooling before he cooled down. I always made sure we ended on a high.

Sometimes, if we were schooling and he was going really well, I would stop early and go for a hack out too. Instead of schooling him to the inevitable point of him being a plonker and shying at the letter 'E' every time for no apparent reason other than he was bored of going round in circles now mummy can we do something else...

I also used to school out in the open. In the fields (we also had xc jumps which was always fun as I used to throw and odd one into a schooling session to keep him on focused). I also schooled on hacks eg. leg yield, lots of transistions etc. on the roads as he was always at his most amiable when hacking out.

I also noticed a massive improvement when I started doing more lateral work with him. He seemed to really enjoy the challenge of something new. I also bought this book:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1872082319/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=103612307&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=1872082351&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=0VYZYFZGHPF1DC62WR32 which gave me lots of new ideas to put into my schooling plan.

These are just a couple of thoughts. Sorry if I am teaching you to suck eggs! wishing you lots of luck.

 

[Wagtail]

I don't know how you are riding, but I have retrained quite a few ex racehorses. If you are following the usual BHS teaching methods of short reins and pushing her into the contact then you will never get an outline until she tires. I always teach people to relax their shoulders and allow their arms to hang natuarally at their sides with elbows level with or just in front of their waist. The softness all comes from the shoulder which acts as a pivot. Don't be afraid of holding the reins firmly in the hand rather than having the fingers too loose (which gives the horse a sloppy feel). Follow the movement by allowing your arm to pivot from the soulder with a nice line from the elbow to the bit. Usually, as soon as the rider starts to relax their shoulders, the horse starts to respond by becoming softer. You may have already done this though! Good luck.

 

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[QUOTE These are just a couple of thoughts. Sorry if I am teaching you to suck eggs! wishing you lots of luck.[/QUOTE]

I have tried all the poles, raised poles, cones, old chemical bottles all put around the school to go over/around to keep her mind busy ! None of which work for more than 5 mintues. As soon as there is another horse in the arena she will go like a dream as though she is trying to show off to them. And to the post about short reins etc.. i never ride her with short reins, as soon as i do she tries to run off and evade her bit ! :L x

 

[Carefreegirl]

I got mine off the racetrack and gave her a year off as she was 3. I had the same problems as you and its taken me 3 instructors, the first two were a FBHS (who I used for years) and a British team selector who were to full on and to much for her and me if i'm honest and I know use a friend who competes at PSG, I've no idea if she's qualified but she works for me so much so that in 6 months we've gone from struggling at Prelim to competing novice and working elementary at home.

I always used to struggle with a getting a contact and have gone through various types of snaffles then I read somewhere that most TB's especially ex-racers like straight bar bits so I now ride everyday in a hartwell pelham and she's light as a feather. I went to a local instructor who is bit of a bitting guru and we played around with several bits until we found this one.

Final 'click into place' was moving yards (bit drastic) I was at a yard my horse loved, she was the boss in the field but was a nightmare to ride in the school, spooking at every corner, every car pulling up etc etc. Moved to friends stud yard and she's a different horse. She's now 3rd in the pecking order out of 4 and a joy to ride, infact I used to only ride 4 times a week max as I didn't enjoy her but now I have to remember to give her a day off.

I suppose the jist of my post is to look at every possible situation and to use a phrase I hate 'Think outside the box'

 

[Levade]

I have a tb who is similar!

If he's unfit or undermuscled he will NOT come round, as he finds it difficult and he is too lazy to put any effort in. So make sure her hindquarters and topline are nicely muscled - lots of hill work and lunging in a bungee should help - as then she will find working in an outline easier, and be more inclined to do it, or rather, less inclined to argue! Also when you do ask her to work properly, only sustain it for short periods of time, and build it up slowly.

Also, have you thought about bits? Mine is funny about what he has in his mouth, he doesn't like anything with much movement, he's in a sweet iron eggbutt atm and seems to like it!