can i have some schooling advice please?

[mazziek]

So i did prelim 13 on tue past there and a few times "above the bit" was mentioned how can i encourage my mare down? her back/saddle/teeth etc are all ok and recently checked. shes an ex sj pony and i have been lunging her in a harbrige training aid but maybe too loose? i also do carrot stretches wit her to encourage her stretching. i would really app some advice, shes ridden in a french link, egg butt. thanks

 

[TinselRider]

Lots of long and low work schooling long and low over poles on the floor should encourage her to look and stretch downward

 

[Holly Hocks]

Lots of circles and transitions - start to bring the circle in smaller and then try and do some leg yielding out. Don't force her head down, let her drop down in her own time and she will eventually learn to carry herself.

 

[ofcourseyoucan]

90% of the solution to most problems is more leg working forward into a sympathetic hand. remember the half halts going into corners and before transitions to set the horse up for the next movement command!

 

[Hels_Bells]

I find doing a ridiculous amount of transitions is also very helpful. It helps to get the horse using it's back engine which in turn helps to bring it into a correct outline with the head. I do what I call clock transitions on a circle, so every time I get to quarter past, half past, quarter to etc I do a new transition. Walk halt, walk trot, trot walk, walk halt etc etc etc building up through trot and canter and then also (if you feel your horse is ready) doing halt to trots and walk to canters. I can do this for 15 to 20 minutes at a time then I move on to lateral work (as mentioned by previous posters).