Exercises to establish balance and more uphill paces

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Sunny08

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My girl is 4 1/2 and working really well. However she has a tendancy (unsurprisingly being 4 1/2!) to not be very good at sorting her own balance out, falling onto the forehand and ends up relying on me, which I correct each time. I can get her moving from behind well through transitions and varying extension within paces but wondered if anyone had any further ideas to help us move along with this.
 
Its all about transitions and more transitions. working on a 20m circle 8 strides of trot 8 of canter and reducing the number of steps is one of my favourited. Also spirralling in and out of the circle.
 
Sunny, I'm afraid I'm going to give my stock answer here - use hacking!! As well as the transitions in the school, which are very valuable, do lots and lots of hillwork with her. Up and down hill, at walk and trot, really getting her working forward and in a good rythmn. Make sure you don't push her out of her own natural, rythmn and try and keep the rythmn constant on the flat, uphill and downhill. Lots of work in a good trot, working from behind on rougher ground, such as grass, will help her develop the muscles she needs and help her to use herself properly, Whether in the school or out hacking, make sure you give her plenty of chances to stretch too!
 
Same here...lots of off-road hacking up and down hills if poss.....and walk-trot-walk transistions whilst out hacking and in the school.

I do very little formal schooling with my young lad...he gets bored VV easily....but he is coming along nicely without it.
 
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