CC please?

Eriskayowner

Eriskayowner

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Riding is very poor (and beige jods are not good!) but anything good or bad to say about little horse?

Am really proud of how much he's improved over the last year. Never did I think I'd be able to put him in a snaffle - happily!

He's a pretty boy!
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Sequence...
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Sequence on the other rein

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Sorry for the masses :S
 
A lovely looking horse and you look like a really happy combination together, but I'd say he was rather on his forehand and not working from behind, using his hocks enough.
 
I'd second Loubiepoo's comments. You just need to get doing some exercises in the school to get that engine working more effectively.
 
As above, maybe try lengthening your reins slightly IMO looks like he would benefit from stretching down a bit more as looks a bit tense in a couple of pics. Would also encourage him to carry himself a bit more if he can't rely on your rein contact.
Congrats on all the work you#ve done with him so far.
 
Agree with above - also you need to get your lower leg more underneath you- think shoulder hip heel inline and that should help - you also in a couple of pics are hanging off the side which im sure youve noticed yourself. Very pretty horse you have x
 
Your horse is lovely, very handsome!

I think your saddle is too small and therefore you can't sit in the "correct" position like sandg1 said. Ideally you should get a handspan from your seat to the cantle. Once you can sit comfortable and get your leg underneath then you'll be able to get him working from behind as e looks a little weak behind the saddle.

Also if you lift your hands then they won't be restricted against your legs and you'll have more room to move, this will also stop him leaning on you as it looks a bit like you brace your hands. I had a horse that lent on me and I rode in the exact same way to hold her up almost, once I learnt to lift my hands and make her carry herself we got on much better and quicker.

Not seen the "before" pics but he looks fab and gleaming with health. Good luck
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I hope you don't take offence to this - but I think your horse would benefit from losing a bit of weight. It might get him moving and mean he can use himself a bit better, if that makes sense
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I hope you don't take offence to this - but I think your horse would benefit from losing a bit of weight. It might get him moving and mean he can use himself a bit better, if that makes sense
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I think his weight looks fine.
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I'd love for Pete to look like that. He looks really healthy and gleaming coat. As others have said its more about getting him to use his hindquarters, not lose weight in my opinion.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Your horse is lovely, very handsome!

I think your saddle is too small and therefore you can't sit in the "correct" position like sandg1 said. Ideally you should get a handspan from your seat to the cantle. Once you can sit comfortable and get your leg underneath then you'll be able to get him working from behind as e looks a little weak behind the saddle.

Also if you lift your hands then they won't be restricted against your legs and you'll have more room to move, this will also stop him leaning on you as it looks a bit like you brace your hands. I had a horse that lent on me and I rode in the exact same way to hold her up almost, once I learnt to lift my hands and make her carry herself we got on much better and quicker.

Not seen the "before" pics but he looks fab and gleaming with health. Good luck
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What TPO said!! Especially about lifting the land and then pointing thumbs more forward so riding a horse and not a bicycle!
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He looks very shiny too. Whats the background to him??
 
Hey everyone - thanks for all the comments so far. They are really useful.

The hindquarters is a bit of a problem as the only experience he's ever had in the school is to be galloped and galloped (with no warm up) until he's on his knees, so when he gets in there now he's very tense and I'm desperately trying to get him to calm down a bit! (also explains why my legs are no where near his sides!)

My hands are a bit of a problem as well and I'm working on them. I do a lot of my schooling on hacks (to avoid the mad trotting sideways start to schooling sessions!) and my riding (I think) is better then. He does use his back end a little more as well (especially coming home!) and the outline is a lot more consistant, but these were the only pictures I had of him working "nicely" in the school!
 
1st of all I think you make a wonderful pair! I think you look to be a very sympathetic rider & altho he looks slightly tense in a couple of the pics his eye is very relaxed & he looks happy and his ears indicate he's listening to you, so well done!
I'd agree with the others about his backend but crickey do I know how much easier it all is said than done!!!! I don't know how much lateral work you've done with him but we're finding shoulder in very useful at the moment to engage his hindlegs and also spiralling is a good exercise too.
Getting them off the forehand is a long process I think - transtions are helpful.
He's certainly a stunning boy & he looks to be in fab condition so even if you're not where you want to be with your schooling at the mo you should feel very proud cos his condition speaks for itself!
 
Thanks NaughtyNutmegAngel that's really kind!

He is a very very tense horse in the school and we are only walking. He's been used and abused in the school - mainly by being pushed faster and faster by a heavy male rider who really damaged his back and has made Jazz v v nervous of going in there as he has no idea when he's going to come out and how exhausted he will be/pain he will be in!

The lateral work is coming but he's now 12 and teaching an old horse new tricks is not easy, especially when they've had such a bad experience in the school. He will leg yield/shoulder in nicely on hacks and I'm trying to carry this into the school as well, but it will take him a long time to go in and listen from the start which is a shame! I don't want to do too much in the school and him start resent going in, but I need to do enough to make small improvements each time!

Tricky!
 
You're most welcome!
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I see what you mean, it does sound quite a tricky one!
What about working him from the ground in the school? We've introduced older horses to long reins with a fair amount of success & you can teach him the things you'd do on board? Or you could try lunging over poles or something to make it a bit of fun but also get him off that forehand in the process?
I really hope you manage to get this bottomed, please keep us updated on your progress with your lovely boy!
 
Polework is another slight problem! When he was about 6/7 years old I was told that his then-owners (I only have him on loan from a lady with another horse at the yard) were loose-schooling him over a 4'0" spread (approx) and he caught the top rail, flipped himself up in the air and landed flat on his side, doing some damage to a nerve somewhere between his withers and his off-fore foot.
He consequently has a tripping habit. My sister was doing some pole work with him a few months ago (I'd dislocated my knee cap (regular occurance) not long before) and, although he'd been through them a few times, this time it was like he didn't know they were there - his OF foot caught under the pole, bringing him down and he ended up skidding across the floor on his face
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The long reining/lunging is a good plan - I've lunged him a couple of times and he's not too bad. Good thinking!
 
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