Downwards transitions

[FestiveFuzz]

Hi there,

I have now had my new mare a month and have found that when I am schooling her she is fine in upwards transitions but when I am asking her to go from canter to trot or trot to walk she is really jerky and I find myself getting a little unbalanced. Can anyone suggest some exercises to stop this happening? My instructor suggested thinking 1,2,3 in my head before asking for a transition but I find my mare tends to second guess what I'm going to ask her to do and slows up too fast anyway.

Please help

 

[muddy_grey]

This may not make any sense at all but: Try tansitions within the pace so she gets used to slowing not just breaking. Also my old horses didn't need any leg to go up a gear, but used loads of leg going down. Body, seat and hands say slow, while legs stay on to get a better transition. Sorry if that sounds really useless

 

[bugsysmum]

I'm no expert, but are you giving her a "warning" that a transition is coming - i.e. a half halt? When you've done this, try keeping your leg on through the transition - it sounds like she is losing a bit of balance and your leg will help her to keep from falling onto her forehand.
Also, make sure you are asking for the downward by lots of half halts instead of a single aid, so she can't set against you.
Then have fun finding the buttons for all of the above - leg on and lots of half halts may confuse her to start, but increase both / each until she gets it! Try and make sure you don't tighten yourself anywhere at the same time...
Lastly, sometimes the feeling of taking a deep breath to lift your ribcage helps - lightens your seat a little to encourage her to keep underneath you.
Good luck!

 

[FestiveFuzz]

No thats great thanks

at the moment she tends to go from a nice canter to a really jolty trot (almost as if she's pausing before she starts trotting). I spoke to our YO and she said she's sticking her front legs out when going into a downward transition, if that helps anyone to give advice?! Will definately give your suggestions a try when I next school though

 

[Cop-Pop]

My mare used to do very sudden downward transitions because she was unfit and we were both unbalanced.

 

[JenHunt]

without seeing you ride it's hard to say... it sounds like she isn't quite balanced or moving through from behind in the transition....but try these suggestions.

before a transition (without changing anything hands/legs/seatwise) THINK slow... don't ask my why it works, but it does. almost like a half halt but with less interference from the rider.

keep your legs on so she doesn't just fall into trot/walk.

sit up tall and light so that you don't fall onto her forehand and make the transition more difficult for both of you.

keep your legs on all the way through the transition and ask for a good forward walk/trot right from the penultimate stride of the pace before. this helps keep her quarters engaged so that she doesn't fall onto her forehand.

As she comes down into trot/walk loosen your grip on the reins fractionally, literally just loosen your fingers. This allows her forward into the new pace without just dropping her in it or letting her drop onto her forehand.

make sure your elbows are tucked into your sides and there is a clear bend in your elbow, and that your reins are short enough. This way you can give the reins easily without losing control or letting her run through the bridle.

let us know how you get on.

 

[FestiveFuzz]

[ QUOTE ]
My mare used to do very sudden downward transitions because she was unfit and we were both unbalanced.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well she is definately unfit at the moment as up until I got her she was ridden every couple of weeks if that!

However I have been gradually building up her work and we have also done quite a bit of lunge work, so I can see what she is doing.

How did you conquer the downward transistions? Was it just a case of it all falling into place once your horse was fitter? Or did you use various exercises like the ones that have already been suggested?

Thanks all

 

[Cop-Pop]

We just worked at it - put lots of transitions in and built her up slowly. She still sometimes does it if she has had some time off - she's still young so it doesn't take much for her to go backwards. I also lunge her a lot and do a lot of transitions on the lunge so she can learn to balance herself without my lump on her back!!