Couple of Questions...

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Redsox

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How do I get my horse to work from behind better? (ridden work and ground work) and how can I teach him to pick his feet up or watch where he is putting his feet when working? - am gradually trying pole work, just not sure if there is anything else I can do?

Many thanks
 
On the ground then long lining is really good at making them work properly, or the pessoa is also good.
I would try long lining him over trot poles and raised trot poles to get him thinking about picking up his feet more.
Another good exercise for making them more aware of their feet on the ground, is to make an L shape on the ground with poles (two L's so it's like a bent passageway) then lead him through one step at a time. Ask him for one step, then stop...if he does another step when you haven't asked him to then ask him to go backwards for how many steps he took wrongly forward. Then ask for 3steps at a time, same process. Then finally ask him to do the same exercise but going backwards through the passageway. Really makes them think about where to put their feet.

Ridden, what level is he at and how old is he? Gridwork is great for awareness of feet and if not at that level then lots of poles and raised poles again.
To get him working better behind, again not sure of his level, but turns on the haunches are great and also lots of lateral work really helps to lift their whole frame up (or so i have found anyway!)
Hope that helps, im sure there are much more experienced people on here with better suggestions x
 
Long Lining is that following your horse with 2 long lunge lines? as i would imagine training up a horse to pull a cart or trap?
 
Thanks - have been longlining (although lacks impulsion, but getting better) he is only 3, so very inexperienced at the moment, just want to start how we mean to go on and not get into any bad habits!) - think I'll give the pole work a go for defs (raised) and the L shape - that'll keep him on his toes hopefully! He is being freezemarked at the weekend, so that'll give us some more ground work ideas to do

Thanks again!
 
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