dressage lessons//routines etc with a youngster?

[lucky7]

For those with newly backed babies who want to keep ticking over throughout the winter what is your weekly routine?
Mare is just over 3 and half and broken very slowly and carefully prior to the initial riding stage with plenty of long reining, ground work and manners on the floor etc She has been riding away for 6 weeks.
She is a cobby native type, very laid back and steady, safe type but nice and forward thinking, not a plod - has a natural head carriage and moves nicely and quite balanced for one so young, and goes rather nicely.
I always exercise her in brushing boots all round, never trot on the road/hard surfaces, schooling is done in a menage with a surface.
I don't want to push her - would be easy to forget as shes so willing, so just want some advice.
She is living out 24/7 and is a good doer, she has 1/2 scoop of happy hoof and carrots in the evening and goes rugless, she was over weight but now looking trim.
At the moment we are hacking in walk only for about 40 mins 3 x per week - this involves a fair bit of hill work due to the area we live. We have managed to build this up from 10 mins, now she is much fitter than she was. We school for around 25 mins with alot of stretchy breaks inbetween 1 x per week, she has gotton so much better and noticeably improving every week, working on our canter transitions - much better balanced now and less *running* into canter.
Also i am wondering whether it would benefit us to have a weekly shared flat work lesson with a (highley acclaimed) dressage instructor/trainer (we will be going down the dressage route eventually) just to get started with the basics at this very early stage and also to make sure where heading in the right direction and to start off on a good note really.

Thoughts please

 

[Aces_High]

For those with newly backed babies who want to keep ticking over throughout the winter what is your weekly routine?
Mare is just over 3 and half and broken very slowly and carefully prior to the initial riding stage with plenty of long reining, ground work and manners on the floor etc She has been riding away for 6 weeks.
She is a cobby native type, very laid back and steady, safe type but nice and forward thinking, not a plod - has a natural head carriage and moves nicely and quite balanced for one so young, and goes rather nicely.
I always exercise her in brushing boots all round, never trot on the road/hard surfaces, schooling is done in a menage with a surface.
I don't want to push her - would be easy to forget as shes so willing, so just want some advice.
She is living out 24/7 and is a good doer, she has 1/2 scoop of happy hoof and carrots in the evening and goes rugless, she was over weight but now looking trim.
At the moment we are hacking in walk only for about 40 mins 3 x per week - this involves a fair bit of hill work due to the area we live. We have managed to build this up from 10 mins, now she is much fitter than she was. We school for around 25 mins with alot of stretchy breaks inbetween 1 x per week, she has gotton so much better and noticeably improving every week, working on our canter transitions - much better balanced now and less *running* into canter.
Also i am wondering whether it would benefit us to have a weekly shared flat work lesson with a (highley acclaimed) dressage instructor/trainer (we will be going down the dressage route eventually) just to get started with the basics at this very early stage and also to make sure where heading in the right direction and to start off on a good note really.

Thoughts please

If she was mine, I would continue with the walk and trot work out hacking and doing basic schooling work whilst out. I wouldn't be having shared flat work lessons. There would be nothing wrong with having a 1/2 hour private lesson with your trainer watching you and giving a bit of opinion but if the horse works well for 20 mins then call it a day. It would almost be easier if she can watch you whilst you are schooling her and give his/her opinion afterwards. Once a week in the school is fine, I have mine doing halt, walk, trot and canter transitions, 20M circles in trot, cantering large in the school, serpentines in walk and trot, trot poles for variation, moving off my leg and going forwards. With a 3 yr old I would probably throw out over the winter. Or if you want to keep her in work just do the bare minimum. A bit of hacking but nothing too intensive. You will find that most horses as soon as they start doing some work they tend to grow a little so once you are happy at where you are then give them a break.

 

[lucky7]

anyone else?