Can anyone help and give me some tips!!

[xDENISEx]

I have a 15h Arab gelding who is now 7 yrs old, i have had him since he was 2 1/2. The problem i have is with the schooling side of things, he doesn't move forward and into the contact! he sits behind the bit and never seems to reach down and move forward??? I have tried so many things, he does silly little pony strides and just doesn't step out. His teeth, back and saddle have all been checked, and his currently being ridden in a simple french link snaffle! I have tried so many bits to make him comfy but nothing seems to be working or helping! Thank you,

 

[Wagtail]

I have a 15h Arab gelding who is now 7 yrs old, i have had him since he was 2 1/2. The problem i have is with the schooling side of things, he doesn't move forward and into the contact! he sits behind the bit and never seems to reach down and move forward??? I have tried so many things, he does silly little pony strides and just doesn't step out. His teeth, back and saddle have all been checked, and his currently being ridden in a simple french link snaffle! I have tried so many bits to make him comfy but nothing seems to be working or helping! Thank you,

What is he like on the lunge? I would try lunging him in the pessoa or de gouge to encourage him to stretch down. Once he is working well in that, I would switch to side reins and concentrate in keeping him forward and onto the bridle. He should then be better ridden.

 

[xDENISEx]

he is a complete git to lunge, but he used to be really good. I may give it another go, his just very hard work on the lunge, his a prime example of a chestnut Arab, fine one min then something catches his eye and his off on one, his a complete hot head!!! x

 

[rockysmum]

What type of saddle do you use. If its a GP or jumping it may be restricting him, even though it fits.

We found ours go forward and stride out better in a working hunter or dressage saddle.

 

[xDENISEx]

his ridden in a wintec GP, yeah a few other ppl have suggested that i try a dressage saddle on him, but in all honestly i just havent got the money to get him another saddle x

 

[AmyMay]

Do you have the help of a good trainer?

 

[rockysmum]

his ridden in a wintec GP, yeah a few other ppl have suggested that i try a dressage saddle on him, but in all honestly i just havent got the money to get him another saddle x

Our little cob has a Wintec GP for everyday plods round the fields, she also has a straight cut leather saddle for schooling and showing. The difference in the way she goes in the straight cut is amazing.

If you cant find any other reason its probably worth saving. Our local saddle fitted sold us a second hand ideal dressage for our youngster (she was still changing shape so I wasn't going to pay a lot) for £200. Worth every penny.

 

[xDENISEx]

i have had lessons with him, (back a year ago) the problem is they say he looks ok, but he doesn't feel it at all, the problem is a trainer or riding instructor will not ride him to feel and understanding what I am saying if that makes sense. Yeah i think i will ring up my second hand tack place see what they have, maybe worth a try at least. x

 

[helencharlie]

Could you try and loosen his noseband and maybe drop his bit down a hole or 2. My Tb wouldnt work forwards and resisted the contact, my dressage instructor suggested this and it worked. Turned out he was just uncomfortable. Once the alterations were made he dropped his head and stopped resisiting.

 

[xDENISEx]

Yeah I will try that, his very sensitive with his head and mouth anyways, so i could try that see if that makes a difference. Thank you for your advice x

 

[D66]

You could try carrot stretches in the stable to start him off.

 

[dollymix]

If your current trainer/instructor wont get on to see how it feels, I would try and find someone who will! This can be realy valuable as it also allows you to see the problem from the ground and gives you a different perspective. It might be worth getting someone to film you riding and whenever he feels unpleasant to you shout out so that when you watch it back, you know which bit it was that felt bad and compare to the rest? Just an idea!!

Fromm what you say, it sounds like he is behind your leg...and therefore it is far more important for you to concentrate on getting him in front of your leg first before worrying what his head is doing. I also pessoa both my mares and have found it has helped them both to work more across their backs.

 

[xDENISEx]

funny enough i actually have filmed myself riding, and in all honestly he doesn't look bad but he def is behind my leg, you ask him to move forward more and in tradition Arab form the head comes up and he has a paddy because his either not understanding/ or cant! ?Then he goes all tense and very uptight in his neck and back and he takes ages to relax again!

 

[AshTay]

I've got a little arab mare and she's not keen on schooling. She can be very stuffy and hard to keep going to begin with but will work really nicely when she's realised it's easier that way (and when I manage to get everything right!). lol.

I would agree with changing your instructor to someone who will get on him. My instructor will get on my mare to help her to figure out how best to help me.

Things that I find help with her way of going are all really to do with my position. I need to keep my legs down and back to keep my weight very central on her. And also keeping my hands very close together seems to help her too. Obviously all horses are different but these have halped with my arab.

 

[BorgRae]

Agree with changing your instructor. It's so valuble for them to be able to feel what you feel so they can teach you how to react to your horse in the best way and understand what the horse is doing.

My instructor has only been on mine a few times, but each time, she has found the problem and helped me to correct it.

Definitely change instructor. I wouldn't have one that wasn't prepared to "feel" what i feel in order to aide our improvement

 

[xDENISEx]

Here's my boy x

 

[xDENISEx]

that was back in 2009 will try and find a more recent picture

 

[Zimzim]

I have a chestnut arab mare, and one piece of advice I can say when riding an arab is whatever you do, do not pull back or tug your reins at all.

Keep your contact light and give the rein (over exaggerate this at first), he will learn to stretch down and carry himself and he will learn that you will not hold him in your hand if that makes sense. Use simple half halts if he gets a bit quick but use plenty of leg to back this up to keep him going forwards and bending.

To bend open your inside hand out a little to encourage him to bend in the direction you want - but dont pull back, just move your hand to the inside (sideways). Use your inside leg to encourage the bend and your outside leg to stop him swinging out his quarters and get him going round. Let your outside hand move slightly forwards to allow him to bend round.

Dont do too much in the school, keep things short and sweet, plenty of changes of rein and lots of transitions to get him thinking forwards, give him plenty of breaks on a long rein throughout your schooling session as arabs find it hard to work in a consitant outline for long periods of time, its just how their built, and it will take time for all the proper muscles to develop correctly so he will get sore.

You will no doubt experience some tantrums (I know exactly what they're like!) until he understands what you want. My mare is 8, and it has taken a long time to get her to work consistantly without having a melt down. Hard work and takes time, but just be patient.

Also use a pessoa for lungeing, will help encourage him to move forwards, relax and stretch down across his back and neck.