Cobs, dressage, medium trot ..help?!

Molly'sMama

Molly'sMama

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I'm aiming to compete my 6yo cob mare in a local prelim test in a month or so but ,although we've just about managed a working trot ,we're struggling to extend out a tad more, like a medium/working trot. She has improved a lot this past year, other liveries/my instructor says shes a lot freer and open in the shoulder and her transitions are sharp but its just getting her reaching out. You'll also see in the pics her mouth is quite fixed,its hard getting her round.
Oh, and please no nasty comments on her weight , I know shes fat, and shes on a fitness plan and has a grazing muzzle, with my YM and instructor guiding me.

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Another that agrees - 'what a lovely coblet'!!

At prelim level i wouldnt worry about medium trot - its not included in tests until Novice level, and then you can get away with just showing a change rather than full blown medium if you're just starting off (obviously you wont get as many points as thise that do full medium - but its all a learning experience at the beginning!). I would concentrate on getting her to useherself fully and a more rounded outline at Prelim - accuracy and consistency is key at Prelim level - and I always found that giving the judge a big grin/smile as you go down the centre line at the start and end of the test always helps too!

Keep us updated on how you're getting on! :)
 
Aw, she looks like a real cutie!!

Developing medium trot is not always easy for some horses, one technique you could try is some trotting poles that you gradually move apart so she has to reach to make the distance.

As for the head carriage, to encourage roundness you may need to get a rider who is used to schooling in an outline to start her off. Once she has got a bit of an idea of working in a rounder outline you can then take over. (I'm assuming you're not so familiar with this, if you are just ignore me - no offence intended!).

There are a whole host of gadgets designed to help with a rounder head carriage, one I would recommend is the lungie-bungie as it allows the horse to move their head and neck (as opposed to side reins or draw reins which are more fixed and IMO should be avoided), you can use it lungeing or riding.
What bit do you have her in?
 
[QUOTEWhat bit do you have her in? ][/QUOTE]
Shes in a french link snaffle at the moment. Shes quite sensitive to aids also.
 
HI
sweet little horse, in reality you have no real chance of getting medium or even longer strides until she is working from behind, from your pics it looks like she is pulling herself forward from her shoulder. Lots of transitions will help, teaching her to rein back also is good for getting them to take the weight behind, and as you mentioned she doesnt take the contact in a light and forward way, she seems to be setting her jaw and running with you (I am not criticising, just looking at the pictures you have given)
If she was mine, I would spend some time getting her truely off the leg and responsive to a light aid, then when she is working forward you can think about the outline and getting her to use her back a little more, stretching down between periods of work is good. Practice collecting within a pace, start with walk, move to trot, only need to be a few strides at a time till she is fitter and stronger. If she knows what half halts are, think about introducing them everytime you attempt a corner, collect, balance and then ask for a couple of longer strides (not faster) You probably really need to think about sitting up and off her shoulder a bit more when you ask and think about swinging your hips forward more than up and down if that makes sense...she looks like she has a nice active hind leg, its probably just getting her to collect her energy together.
have fun
 
Don't worry about getting her "round" - this will come with training and if you work on head carriage first, you'll only make it more difficult for her to work properly over her back, from behind. It's more important that she works into a consistent contact than that she holds her nose "on the vertical". You'll find the contact comes better and is easier to keep soft if you keep a bend in your elbows, and try to maintain that straight line through elbow, hand and rein to her mouth (eta, looked back the the last photo, which is a lot better for this!).

Lateral work will help her step through and underneath herself. You don't need medium at this stage (prelim), but working through lateral movements etc will help prepare her for when she's ready. Poles can help to give the idea, but I prefer to work without them for pure schooling myself - it depends on preference and training scheme there. Personally I work through basic lateral work, lots of transitions so they're off the leg and forward, lots of circles and rein changes to get them working well, then start by asking for some basic extension coming off a circle onto a long side or diagonal, and focussing on rhythm and forward momentum (i.e. not about head carriage or anything like that).

Or at least, I try to achieve that. Doesn't always happen. In fact, with me riding, it doesn't often happen ;)

I'd encourage avoiding unnecessary gadgets for now, if you can - you can at least try to get her working properly first...

She's a pretty little cob. I'm sure she'll do well at dressage. Especially losing more weight - the more she loses, the easier it will be for her to work actively and forwards. :)
 
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I've just started writting alot for dressage (SUPER to pick up tips) and Medium Walk is a MASSIVE tripping point for unaffiliated and afilliated alike - the amount of "modest" or "steps not show" comments I have to write is staggering - but if its prelim i would mainly concentrate on going forward, with rythm and make sure your test is accurate. You'll do well if you have mastered the basics :)
 
Tifferss said:
I've just started writting alot for dressage (SUPER to pick up tips) and Medium Walk is a MASSIVE tripping point for unaffiliated and afilliated alike - the amount of "modest" or "steps not show" comments I have to write is staggering - but if its prelim i would mainly concentrate on going forward, with rythm and make sure your test is accurate. You'll do well if you have mastered the basics :)
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but lovely little thing!
 
I wouldn't worry about medium trot right now - that will come when she builds up the strength to push herself through from behind.

She reminds me a lot of our fell, who is very very difficult to work into an outline. It's partially their build, so you need to spend time being patient. It's much more difficult for them to round up than a warmblood or thoroughbred. Not impossible though.

Have you ever had some lessons on a schoolmaster who works into an outline nicely? It can be difficult to ask for outline if you don't know what it should feel like. A couple of lessons on a schoolmaster would really help with this if you're new to the idea.

The next thing to do is investigate the german scales of training, which are really helpful with these little coblets. Unlike some other types, you can rarely pull these guys in by their head (which is incorrect anyway). You need to get it from behind first, and allow the head to come last. Using the scales is a great way of helping to achieve this. A good dressage instructor will be able to talk through these with you.

I'd also recommend lunging in a pessoa to help her understand what is required of her.

Good luck with her! She's a pretty little mare :)
 
What I would say is you tip forward, Stick your boobs out!! :D Sit up straight, I'd probibily be tempted to put your stirrups down a hole or two and relax alot more into your leg and heel.

I wouldn't worry about her mouth or anything just yet. At prelim if you focus on being accurate and forwards you should get a pretty decent mark e.gcanter where you are supposed to, trot where you are supposed to, keeping your circles the right size and circular :D
 
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