Forward going, strong, not bendy, leany horse...HELP!!

H

hannah__

New User
Joined
21 June 2015
Messages
7
Visit site
Hi everyone. I've recently started to ride a horse as a project and for a bit off fun! She is very forward going and has lovely paces but can be very strong and leany. Also she isn't very bendy despite doing lots of exercises to encourage her to do so. She is an angel out to hack so I don't know whether it is something about schooling that she finds difficult. I currently have her in a KK bit and she has a flash on, but she doesn't seem very happy in it still. Please suggest any ways I can improve my situation! Thank you xx
 
If she is very forward going it is likely she is using her movement and strength to avoid working through her back properly so powering along on her forehand rather than using herself from behind, I find that these types benefit from being slowed right down, working in a slower rhythm than they are used to so the rider can regain the desired control and then have time to ask for some softness, flexion and get them using themselves more from behind, once they are better balanced and softer it is easy to put the power back in when required.
Riding forward is sometimes at the detriment of gaining a balanced, confident and happy horse, it can make life harder for the rider as you end up constantly half halting, try getting her really settled in trot on a 15m circle then spiral in and leg yield out, repeat until she is starting to really slow and wait for you and managing to hold herself without leaning on your hand, it is an exercise I use with anything onward bound and can be also done asking for counter flexion to really help encourage them to bend and work from behind without tanking off.
 
As 'be positive' says. Plus lots and lots of transitions (e.g. few strides walk, few strides trot, few strides walk - 10 min; then ditto for trot/canter trans; ditto for tempo changes).
Double check you are riding with a light contact too, as it takes two to pull.
 
Ditto be positive. A strong horse is usually one that is out of balance and falling onto the forehand. Transitions, transitions and more transitions once you can do the spiral as described by be positive. Just make sure that she isn't falling out through her shoulder during the spiral.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top