Flatwork Help Please - Youngster

[Eccles]

Hi, I've had my 4 year old around 5 weeks I suppose now, he is a 16.2HH ISH (He was backed about 10 weeks ago). We have mainly just been hacking around the farm, popping the odd cross pole and, riding in the fields, the school (a couple of times) and down the lane. I think now is the time for him to start a bit of schooling, but I don't want to bore him. He has typically a very short attention span (which is why we have been doing a lot of pole work). But he needs to do some work on the flat now to learn some manners before he gets bigger and stronger! He is naturally very forward, and quite uphill so what work should I be doing? I want to event him and maybe a bit of BD as well but I am worried at this stage of putting to much pressure on him, so what can I expect out of him? Really don't want to get this wrong as he is a lovely horse..... so far!

 

[CAZ123]

When i got my horse as a 4 year old she was backed for about 4 weeks, I worked her on the flat not for to long though to start with as they do find it quite tiring, so would build on the time, they say quality not quantiy,really just focusing on staightness,rhythm, and forwardness ( not pushing her out of her natural rhythm though) doing school movements,different shapes,just keeping it varied, you could have the odd pole around the arena,and just progressing from there really getting the basic's right first,
when we have some sun schooling in the field is a change, and whilst out hacking experimenting with maybe a bit of side ways movements.
hope this helps.

 

[Eccles]

I've been experimenting with moving him away from my leg whilst hacking around the farm and have been doing just what you suggest really. I am just wondering really how much to expect out of him - he is starting to work in an outline naturally but really needs to learn to move away from my leg i.e. leg yield as well and I am wondering whether to school him more along those lines now, i.e. expecting a little more to build on the rhythm and straightness.... I think maybe I am worrying too much as I don't want to get it wrong! He needs to be slightly challenged but not pressurised and I spose I am not sure where the balance lies..... hmmmm. Thanks for your help caz x

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

Forget any ideas you have about jumping him at the moment....work on his flat work & establish his paces. Lots of transitions, leg yielding, shoulder fore, shoulder in & only when your groundwork is established & he has a nice rythmical balanced canter start with the jumping. When all said & done in a course of jumping you are on the floor for 95% of the time & only 5% in the air so ground work is essential. Good Luck

 

[Eccles]

So you think its okay to crack on with the leg yielding and shoulder fore, etc then?

 

[Daisychain]

Yes i should, i school my 4yo about 3 times a week and hack for 2, basically establishing all the above mentioned, i have just started doing little jumping grids to, and she is popping them quite happily, lots of poles to establish rythm for canter especially, she is just ready for her first prelim now. she has been broken in scince march approx, did tons of ground work with her b4 longreining etc, this really helped her on her circles etc to find her balance. Still do it now from time to time.