First time out at straight novice

[dianchi]

Well took the plunge and did two novice tests instead of having a prelim as a warm up.
Novice 26 went well with 8's for my medium! and even a 6 for my rein back-only learnt that two weeks ago!
Got a disastorous 3 for free walk grrrr

but finished on 63.8% would have won it with a 6!!
So then did novice 21 and got 62.1% this time with a 4 for my free walk-only blessing was the free walk isnt a double mark!

But eneded up 3rd in the 26 and 4th in 28.

Free walk is a pain now. Been trying everything for a year to improve it but she knows she hasnt finished and tenses up and jogs! The judges comment was 'relaxation proving elsuvie today!"

Please help!!!! will attempt to post videos in pic gallery when i get the chance.

 

[Ferdinase514]

Do you practice the FWLR?

I am prob a bit controversial and i really practice it, so that as soon as i slip the reins and squeeze with legs, head goes down and off we march.

ETS: Well done for marks

 

[dianchi]

Practice practice practice- annoying thing is she doesnt do it so much at home!
Any tips to how to do it?
I think tho that the school at our old yard had a small hill/lump inthe middle as you crossed the centre line and this is where this has stemmed from.
Hoping that within a month i can solve this! Would love to qualify for trailblazers this summer!

 

[ccooxxyy]

does she jog at the end of a test when you walk out of the arena?
I had the same problem as you and trainer advised me to pretend it was the end of a test in the FWLR. then gradually gather up reins the other end without taking a contact coz its better to get a good make for the FWLR (double mark) than the med walk the other end. then quickly into trot and gather up knitting in the process! it has helped my horse as he used to jog before and after FWLR which used to really P me off!!
have practised lots tho too!

 

[happy_talk]

I'm not sure the best way to learn or practise FWLR is but when I'm schooling I will come back to walk after trot or canter and just drop the reins and wander about for a bit (she must still walk forward), and then after a few minutes I'll start again. She's always been good at this and when given the rein will always stretch down. I guess it's being able to just suddenly switch off and relax- both you and the horse. Not sure if this really helps but I can easily repeat this "switch off" on demand ie in a test as FWLR. Roll on the double walk mark tests! (Incidently- we can't stand still!)

 

[dianchi]

Nope not at the end of the test.
And it isnt even when i gather up the reins that she jogs! Its dead when she crosses the centre line which makes me thik it was the old school that started this problem (how long does two years of habit take to break?)