Wheels
Well-Known Member
I said on the German vs French methods thread that I'd write a report so here it is
This is my second clinic with this particular trainer and I feel things are going very well. We get improvements during the sessions themselves but have also improved between the two clinics. This was a 2 day clinic with one lunge / in hand session and one ridden session each day. We got through a lot so I've picked some of the highlights
Lunging
At the last clinic our lunging was pretty good, nice rhythm in all paces with good size and shaped circles and squares but the bend, posture and stretch just weren't quite there. We have been working hard to improve this and it's paid off, we can work in a nice posture now both with a good neck extension and a little more collected and round position. To achieve the neck extension I ask the shoulders to move out on the circle and ask the nose to come in, once the bend is correct then this prompts a good stretch.
In hand
We worked on flexions at a standstill, ensuring good even bend and light contact. Then moved on to the in hand work in movement. After an initial warm up we looked at the shoulder in, he is doing quite well but doesn't quite have the confidence to step right under his midline with his inside hind so we used 2 exercises to help this, shoulder in on a circle and asked for slightly more movement through the hindquarters than normal and also counter shoulder in on the circle to help him understand the footfalls required. We also had a try at renvers on a circle, this is an exercise for the future that once the SI is really good we can move onto but the trainer wanted to show me the process so I could have a go in a few weeks time.
Ridden
Much the same as the in hand work but with more work on SI on a straight line. Using a 10m circle to prep, ensuring good inside bend then ask for SI on the 2nd half of the circle and then go along the wall. This really helped to get the inside hind into the correct place. We also did some counter SI on a circle in walk and trot, which again should help.
Then onto the canter. Our 20m circles are going pretty well, the rhythm is good and I can position his head and neck in various positions and he carries himself well. Today we looked at beginning to ask for canter on a straight line. To do this we turned up the 3/4 line, shoulder in to the track, making sure we have good bend and then ask for canter when we hit the track. Over time we will decrease the SI and bend.
Homework for the ridden work is to carry on improving the shoulder in and canter work including adding in some counter canter and walk to canter. Once the counter shoulder in is good on a circle then we can start on the renvers on a circle.
All in all a very good clinic with some improvements from the last one and some exercises to work on for the next time. M now gets a very well earned few days off
This is my second clinic with this particular trainer and I feel things are going very well. We get improvements during the sessions themselves but have also improved between the two clinics. This was a 2 day clinic with one lunge / in hand session and one ridden session each day. We got through a lot so I've picked some of the highlights
Lunging
At the last clinic our lunging was pretty good, nice rhythm in all paces with good size and shaped circles and squares but the bend, posture and stretch just weren't quite there. We have been working hard to improve this and it's paid off, we can work in a nice posture now both with a good neck extension and a little more collected and round position. To achieve the neck extension I ask the shoulders to move out on the circle and ask the nose to come in, once the bend is correct then this prompts a good stretch.
In hand
We worked on flexions at a standstill, ensuring good even bend and light contact. Then moved on to the in hand work in movement. After an initial warm up we looked at the shoulder in, he is doing quite well but doesn't quite have the confidence to step right under his midline with his inside hind so we used 2 exercises to help this, shoulder in on a circle and asked for slightly more movement through the hindquarters than normal and also counter shoulder in on the circle to help him understand the footfalls required. We also had a try at renvers on a circle, this is an exercise for the future that once the SI is really good we can move onto but the trainer wanted to show me the process so I could have a go in a few weeks time.
Ridden
Much the same as the in hand work but with more work on SI on a straight line. Using a 10m circle to prep, ensuring good inside bend then ask for SI on the 2nd half of the circle and then go along the wall. This really helped to get the inside hind into the correct place. We also did some counter SI on a circle in walk and trot, which again should help.
Then onto the canter. Our 20m circles are going pretty well, the rhythm is good and I can position his head and neck in various positions and he carries himself well. Today we looked at beginning to ask for canter on a straight line. To do this we turned up the 3/4 line, shoulder in to the track, making sure we have good bend and then ask for canter when we hit the track. Over time we will decrease the SI and bend.
Homework for the ridden work is to carry on improving the shoulder in and canter work including adding in some counter canter and walk to canter. Once the counter shoulder in is good on a circle then we can start on the renvers on a circle.
All in all a very good clinic with some improvements from the last one and some exercises to work on for the next time. M now gets a very well earned few days off