Dressage Report - Any Hellp ideas?

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Shipley

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Well I set off on Saturday to Bluegates. He was all platted and a gem to do - a good sign. Got there and a tractor was moving hay bales about mine did not bat an eye lid till next doors went mad.

Tacked up and started warming up. Very Busy should have warmed up on the grass (realise that now!) Nearly bumped into some one (really embarised).

My horse has started bending on the right rein the wrong way and tilting his head this seems to be a new trick as all the obvious have been done,

started test gonig down centre line decided to tilt his head! and did the test OK I was pleased with him he was very acurate. I got 58% bit disapointed as wanted a sheet for areas and got 7th .

the judge commented
"very willing and onward horse needed to sho greated inside bends on circles and equal secure contact to gain higher marks well done" ok I understand the contact he can be a little varied but how can I improve the inside bends I seem to be getting worse at it rather than better.

Any suggestions please?
 
This prob sounds a little odd but what reins do u ride in? I found that my mare was tilting and my instructor made me ride in continental reins, this way i knew if my hands move and now i hold a perfect even contact through out.
As for improving bend, i ride lots of 10m circles, shallow loops, loops on and off the centre line and lots of straight lines this way u can control and improve bend.
Hope it helps
 
Head tilting is a 'fault' and the comment by the judge was correct and nicely put. Its done its job in making you aware and you are doing the right thing by trying to work outhow to improve!!!
The tilting is a symptom of a lack of engagement and connection. It is commonly seen on the right rein as most horses do not connect forward from the inside hind leg, the right to the outside rein , the left they tend to 'grip' the rein to avoid using the inside leg, the right leg being weaker.
So understanding this you need to work on gaing more control in the outside shoulder so that turns and circles you turn your body , shoulders and hips to the right, making sure your inside leg is at the girth activating the right inside hindleg whilst 'holding' the outside hind with the outside leg behind the girth onto the bend. Always have the feeling that you are turning the horse on a circle in front of you, when you take this 'flextion' the horse will try and fall in due to this lack of engagement so this is the point to activate with the inside leg in a series of nudges , timing them with the inside hind being on the floor [when your bottom is in the saddle when on the correct diagonal, and why diagonals DO matter!]The amount and strength of these nudges is enough to get the desired result i.e he does not fall in. Infact on the right rein you need to feel that the ribs of the horse move or yeild outwards to the outside rein. You must remember when taking bend you have to take it with the body not just pullthe inside rein. I always think of the bit like the handle bars of a bike, think how you would turn the handle bars and this is the same 'feel' that you need to have on the bit; you have to give a side if you take a side. This way you stay in contact with the bridle on both sides but you dont allow him to grip the left which is where he is looking for support and then give him the alternative, his inside hindleg to give him the balance he is seeking.
It is not easy to train your reactions to help him with his so be patient as you are having to develope body and mind. Bear in mind a horse does not stand in his box thinking of new and interesting ways to avoid work. they avoid work as a result of how we presented a problem their reactions are the result of our ask.
Goodluck.
 
Thanks I will certainly look at this I am glad someone has put the uses of the diagonals in, I have always just ridden on whatever one. This is why I decided to reab about Ride With your mind but might have got me and my pony a little confused.

thanks
 
is he bending through the ribs... i.e. can you feel him give to your inside leg with his ribs as you turn him that way? if not, he needs to be shown how.
as far as bend is concerned, you should only ever "be able to see the inside eye shining" according to my superdooper trainer. that is enough bend.
if he's bending the wrong way on the right rein, he's possibly trying to get you to hold him up and out with your left rein. make sure you're schooling him and not the other way... they can be very good as getting the rider to make it easier for them!
get a good trainer for a session maybe, to iron out potential problems now. good luck.
 
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