Advice please - rushing

[OFG]

Not sure what I need to be doing to stop new pony from grabbing bit, poking his nose up and getting very heavy on the forehand when out hacking (not schooling at the moment as don't have an arena and fields too soft).

He's not too bad in walk and I have been pushing him up into a contact (most of the time when I can get him to listen) but when trotting he's off.

Have been doing leg yields and shoulder in to get him to listen and to use riding time as a schooling period. Transistions are sloppy. Walk to trot is OK but trot to walk is a battle and he ends up sort of shuffling into it rather than a nice positive transition.

Am considering getting myself some lessons on him as although I have been riding for over 26 years and went through PC etc I haven't had serious lesson for years. Went last year with sons pony for a lesson and instructor said I was a good rider (which is nice to know ) but I feel like I have forgotten so much.

Thanks for reading

 

[Miss L Toe]

Not sure what I need to be doing to stop new pony from grabbing bit, poking his nose up and getting very heavy on the forehand when out hacking (not schooling at the moment as don't have an arena and fields too soft).

He's not too bad in walk and I have been pushing him up into a contact (most of the time when I can get him to listen) but when trotting he's off.

Have been doing leg yields and shoulder in to get him to listen and to use riding time as a schooling period. Transistions are sloppy. Walk to trot is OK but trot to walk is a battle and he ends up sort of shuffling into it rather than a nice positive transition.

Am considering getting myself some lessons on him as although I have been riding for over 26 years and went through PC etc I haven't had serious lesson for years. Went last year with sons pony for a lesson and instructor said I was a good rider (which is nice to know ) but I feel like I have forgotten so much.

Thanks for reading

My definition of a good rider may not be the same as your BHS instructor's, you need to go back to basic long reining to find the problem with the pony then get a few lessons with a good instructor.

 

[Irishbabygirl]

My horse was just the same! It took about a year to get him to where he is now. Sounds like your doing all the rigrht things, keep

 

[Irishbabygirl]

Sorry...keep going with him and I found lots of lunging helped with his transitions. Is he young? What bit are you riding in? He'll get there!

 

[FairyLights]

You could try doing work in- hand. Lots of leading getting the horse to move over.turn on the forehand turn on the haunchs;slow walking;faster walking.leading over poles and little obsticles. walking forward a number of steps then halting say 6 steps. vary the number. backing- up. Do not pull the lead rein or rein;a light touch only for direction and halt;use a stick to guide;when my youngsters pull I lead with a crop in front of their nose and let them walk into it "bumping" their nose. they soon learn to respond to a light touch. Basically getting the horse to listen to you. it all helps.

 

[OFG]

Thanks.

He's 12 and currently in a dutch gag on 2nd ring. As he's on loan (had about 2 months) will speak to owner and see if any particular reason she has chosen this bit and maybe swop over (she did send another one with him which she used when doing dressage but can't remember what it is ).

He will steady in trot but very much leaning on my hands.

Haven't tried lunging yet as fields too wet but am hoping that things will dry out a bit sooner rather than later. Will definately do more in hand ground work. Will also help bonding too so all benefits.

 

[PeggyPatch]

Could be really unbalanced hence why he is heavy and rushing. Shame you don't have a school to practice in. You could do lots of transitions with only a few strides in each to get his bum under him and try to balance him more. I know it's hard but when he leans try not to give him anything to lean on. So give the rein a bit and push him on. then when he is light collect again. Or try some half halts.

I am struggling with the same thing at the moment with the pony I ride. He is quite unbalanced and rushes getting heavier and heavier in your hand.

 

[Irishbabygirl]

Yep, I would agree its probably just because he's unbalanced - I had to bite the bullet and move to a small yard with a school as where I was before didn't have any facilities and since I've moved him (I school once a week, lunge once a week,hack twice a week and have a lesson once a month on him) I've noticed a vast difference!
He'll always be a lively chap but he's off the forehand and much more balanced now! He still falls out on the corners sometimes now I've progressed to canter in the school but we are getting there! He's only 5 so we're taking everything nice and slow