Dressage Help!!

[cassiejames600]

Well...

i am going to be doing a prelim dressage test on 28th march.
i will be riding one of my colleges horses that they have on loan.

The horse i picked is quite slow he dont have much impulsion, i no bad idea to pick this one lol but he lovely!
He does go on the bit and does move nicely once going but i need help on ways to make him more engaged etc?
Its the prelim 14 test
bare in mind he is a college horse is used some times 3-4 times a day 3-4 days a week. i only have one jump lesson and one flat lesson a week which are an hour long.

I do get a week in feb where i need to look after the college horses in half term so i could ride him then?
does anyone have any tips, exercises i can do on the lucky days i do get to ride him to make him more engaged and have impulsion.. and keeping him on the bit ?

Sorry for the essay!!

 

[nicolaread]

I would say if he comes down on the bit easily then get him moving forwards. When you go in the school or on a hack dont think about bringing his head down just get him moving forwards into the bit + when you feel you have sufficiant energy then ask him to come into an out line, but without comprimising the energy, this should result in him stepping under from behind + you should get more impulsion from him.

 

[Natalie_H]

Lots of transitions! Walk, then 4 or 5 strides of trot, back to walk again. Keep changing pace. It should get the horse listening more, and it certainly helps my boy who has the same problem with impulsion!

 

[cassiejames600]

thankyou guys

will try everything i can in the times i get to ride him!

 

[little_critter]

As others have said lots of transations. Keep it snappy and keep making him think 'what do I need to do next' - keep his brain engaged. And do not put up with any sloppy transitions, if he shuffles into trot make him do it again until he knows that when you ask for trot you mean NOW! and a forward going trot at that.
The best piece of advice I read was from Mark Todd who said he always asks for perfection from his horses - it's more fair on the horse. How does the horse know that today is a serious competition when accuracy matters and tomorrow is only bumbling arond and when it doesn't!
Good luck and enjoy it!