Dumb question number one!

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Hovis_and_SidsMum

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Morning!
Ok I'm sorry but I have waited 24 hours before asking dumb question 1!
When we first got Sidney he was a little underweight and lacking condition. His previous owner had bought him to SJ but then had a car accident so didn't ride Sid for 6 months. He then decided to sell as it didn't look like he would be riding for a long time.
Sid has put on a fair bit of weight with us but at the moment he really lacks top line. Any suggestions of how we can improve this? He's a little lazy out of his back end so someone suggested riding him "long and low" but I'm not sure I know what that is?
 
Ok.

Well it does take quite a while to build up muscle generally - and I think you're probably looking at around 6 months before you really see results (obviously depending on how lacking he is).

A good feeding and exercise regime will do the work for you.

Piccies??
 
I'll take some new photos this week I promise. The last ones make him look like a donkey - he's too close to the camera so all you can see is a nose that looks three foot long! David Bailey I ain't..
We've been doing loads of lunging with him and whilst we get to know him we've only focused on flat work, a lot of schooling and lessons every week. He's spooky so I need to get my nerve before taking him further. Kissing the floor from 17.2 on several occasions has knocked my confidence. You know it's a long way up when you have time to think "this will hurt" before you hit the ground!
Back to the orginal question is there any particular exercises you would recommend?
 
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Back to the orginal question is there any particular exercises you would recommend?

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Well the work that you're doing - but not too much lunging (only my opinion, but you can overdo it). And lots and lots of hacking.

Why are you comming off him so much??
 
Only came off twice but now have a bit of a mental hang up. My husband rides him really well.
First time was only a few days after we had got him - was in the school on my own pootling around when when one of the other liverys slammed the trailer door. He startled and shot forward a few paces, i tensed up and went forward over his shoulder.
Second time a bloke in the field next to the school opened up with a chain saw and he jumped sideways, cue me exiting sideways.
Both have been my fault for having a non stick bum. Hubby has no problems at all. Both times he has stood patiently waiting for me to peel myself off the deck with a slight "why are you down there"? expression on his face.
 
Yeah Hubby will take him out now the weather has calmed down a litlte.
He is hubbys horse but I'm starting to ride him also. I've got loads to learn but we've got a good livery yard and a patient instructor. He only gets miffed with me because half the problem is my head which then translates into me riding like a prune.
I ride a stallion in spain when we see my parents and have no problems despite no one else wanting to ride him as he's a little nutty. Have sat out bucks and rears on him with no problems - Sids feet never left the floor! I've just got to get over the "my lord this is high up" feeling with Sid and start riding like I can rather than like a slippy bummed idiot.
 
Hi there,

With regard to the exercises you need to do to help build up his top line muscle and the advise you've been given about low and low and to address his lazy back end. Working long and low is quite hard to discribe (well it is for me!) in text form without a pony to demonstrate on, but you need to think about stretching his muscles from his back end along under your seat and out into the front of the saddle and down his neck, his neck muscles infront of the saddle, therefore the base of his neck should bulge and be the widest part of his neck if he is stretching and work through properly. You don't have to have 'washing lines' as reins but you do need them slightly longer than for more 'up' work but you must still have a contact for him to work into otherwise he will just be hacking along and not working properly. Try not to send the trot too forward as it's quite hard for them and you could run him onto his forehand (lazy horses love that!), throw in lots of transitions, circles - although not too small - plenting of flexing and counter flexion, also put four trotting poles down and work over those and as you approach them just sponge the reins so he doesn't hollow and really lift your rise over them and feel him up underneath you, then try and simulate that without the poles, you won't actually be able to but the trying does improve the trot.

Once you've done your long and low work, don't over do this as it's quite hard, pick the outline up and try sending the trot forward for five strides and back again, repeat plenty of times, throw in lots of transitions and shapes.

Other than the poles you can then work on these exercises in canter.

It will take time to build him up but this will be a good start both in his education and general suppleness.
 
Long and low yes it is hard to desribe. Imagine Sid is like a rainbow shape (hang on with me, im not ver good at desribing lol) you want this shape to be a bit flatter and longer.. http://www.fidlerrunfarm.com/cara%20long%20and%20low1.jpg kinda like in this pic i found. See how the horse is really stretched through its top line . Rather than having a really bunched up rainbow shape, or unpside down rainbow shape where the horse is hollow....see this pic http://www.horsekeeping.com/images/Sherlock/longeing-hollow.jpg hope that kinda helps.
 
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