***creating a false outline??**

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el_Snowflakes

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Hi all,

not long ago, i changed my bit from a french link to a nue schule tranz lozenge elevator bit. The reason i changes was that my horse gets quite heavy in front and i was actually getting a sore shoulder/arms from her leaning. In canter her head was going so far down i was being pulled out my seat and i felt i was having to use my hands all the time (which i dont like, i prefer to ride from my seat) anyway....when i showed the bit to my instructor she wasnt too keen and thought that it may cause my horse to work in a false outline. She said it would be ok short term to overcome the problem but not a long term solution. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? and also, how long do you thing i should use this bit for? Since iv been using it i feel that i can ride better from my seat and im not in so much pain! actually enjoying riding my horse again
 
I don't have any experience with Neue Schule bits, however, I have heard that this elevator one is supposed to help with ' lifting the shoulders'. The way you say you go down in canter sounds like she's extremely on her forehand. I'd do lots of transitions and maybe a bit of rein back(if possible) to sit her on her hocks a bit. Lunging may help aswell, you can see what it is she's doing to make her go down so much. I'd maybe try a waterford snaffle for a little bit, they discourage leaning.
 
I am not too sure about the action of this bit, but I would hazard a guess that your long term solution will be found through more schooling. As kirsty17 says you want to be doing loads of transitions. Pop her on a 20m circle, count how many transitions you can fit in one circle, then try to fit in one more in the next one. If you manage to do 4 walk/trot transitions in a 20m circle you may find she will start to carry her own weight more. Then try halt to trot transitions, rein-back to trot, trot to canter, etc. Also, try mini give-and-retakes all the time so that she doesn't have the chance to lean on you, when she leans push your hands forward and let her drop on her nose so that she can't rely on you to prop her up.
 
Hi, just had a look at the elevator bit as I'm not familiar with it. I take it you have had all the usual teeth, back checks done so make sure there isn't a problem elsewhere? If everything is fine, I might be tempted to use that bit whilst schooling every so often just to get a quicker more obedient reaction from your horse. I have my horse in the NS Team Up bit which he goes extremely well in but he can occasionally get a bit heavy in my right hand and my instructor had advised me to try a stronger bit occasionally for the reason I mentioned above. Several friends have also swapped from traditional french links to the Team Up and are finding their horses are going much better with the warm metal and smaller round lozenge
 
i personally would try the neue schule verbindend, it is very good for horses that are heavy on the forehand and it helps promote self carriage and frees the shoulder. Also the design of the bit is alot kinder than a french link, alot less metal in the mouth, i loove the neue schule bits and swear by them!
 
I agree with the above suggestions of transition work. A bit of lateral work would also help teach her to use her hocks more. Leg yielding on straight lines, leg yield in then out on a 20m circle, a little shoulder in, turns on the forehand and haunches, travers, renvers etc.
Do you hack her out ? You can incorporate the transitions and lateral work into a hack. Just make sure you do it in a safe place away from traffic.
Riding over "less than perfect" ground, ie. not smooth and flat like a road or school but undulating fields and tracks can also help with balance as the horse learns to use its legs and balance properly.
"Creating a false outline" generally means that the horse is not working through from behind but just tucking its nose in in response to the type of bit you are using. These horses often work below or behind the bit, rather than coming through from behind and working into a soft, light contact.
If you can work on improving her balance by using transitions etc as above, she should come off her forehand and a "true" outline will follow on.
It takes a bit of work but you will get there in the end :)
 
When I started having dressage lessons with my horse, it was an uphill struggle, mainly as I was useless :D and coupled with a horse that didnt make life easy, I felt we were getting no where. My instructor isnt one for gadgets or bits but good old fashioned 'get him off your leg' came one day with a de gogue and I used it for a few weeks to school him in. This helped me so much, by being able to concentrate on me instead of riding a headless chicken that seemed to make me tilt and wiggle everywhere. It was not a fix though as when it came off we were pretty much back to where we started apart from the fact that my seat and legs were much better so I was a more effective rider.
I wouldnt learn to rely on this bit, my instructor says a horse cant lean if theres nothing to lean against. So as already said, lots of transitions, dont ride a circle without doing one, two three transitions, changes within the pace and get him off your leg. If he leans, shake him off, quick give and retake your reins, throw the reins at him (in a safe place of course) and he will get a shock. If he uses his back end he shouldnt be heavy in front.
All easy said of course, Im still struggling :D
 
I'm not sure why your instructor thinks it would create a false outline by getting her off her forehand. TBH most false outlines I see are with horses who are heavily on the forehand, not working behind and just tucking their noses in.

I agree with what the others have said - lots and lots of transitions!
 
Apercrumbie said:
I'm not sure why your instructor thinks it would create a false outline by getting her off her forehand. TBH most false outlines I see are with horses who are heavily on the forehand, not working behind and just tucking their noses in.

I agree with what the others have said - lots and lots of transitions!
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I 100% agree with this also echo the waterford snaffle it worked great on my old boy. Along with lots of transitions and lots of different exercises
 
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