Free walk on a long rein - any tips?

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thinkitwasjune

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Did my first dressage test with my new boy yesterday, was absolutely delighted with him as I've only had him a couple of weeks and we came third :) His trot work was good (got mostly 7s) and we also got a couple of 7s for canter, although I know I need to work more on it. But I really struggled with the free walk on a long rein. The test was Prelim 12 so it was a half 20 metre circle at E, we got a 6 for it but I really would like to improve on that. He rides in a lovely consistent contact in trot and usually in walk too, but so far I haven't really been able to get him to stretch down in free walk. Would be great if anyone could offer some advice :)
 
I think it's important to not just give the contact away and expect the horse to stretch. You need to ask the horse to stretch. The way I do it is to open my inside hand and wait for him to drop and then allow him to take the contact forward keeping the contact through the bit consistent.

I'm sure there's other methods but works for me :D

And very well done with your first test :)
 
When practising really get him working and to the contact so that he wants to stretch. I find it easier to teach them to stetch down to a contact initially in the trot. Do this little by little so at no point is the contact floppy - its free walk on a long rein not loose. Then I get them working fom behind up to the contact in the walk untill they want to stretch, then again offer little by little whilst still keeping a contact. Remeber to keep your horse forward and swinging across his back.
The free walk should be an active pace and at no point should it be a daudle across the diagonal/ around the circle. Also if the horse forges when given the contact to stretch then they still need to as forward but more balanced into the contact and up through the shoulder. Akso transition within the stretch at home I find help to keep then active and thinking (just so they don't switch off when given a longer rein)

Sorry that is abit long, hope some can be of help.

Eta. I also offer the stretch by ever so slightly widening and lowering my hand and then allowing the rein to become longer.
 
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I ask for flexion with a squeeze,massage, bend (whatever it takes!) on the inside rein and when the horse softens and accepts I give the hand forward. It does the trick for me!
 
abitodd said:
I ask for flexion with a squeeze,massage, bend (whatever it takes!) on the inside rein and when the horse softens and accepts I give the hand forward. It does the trick for me!
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Al great tips..also remember you need to stay in a rhythm and keep your horse marching on. I no longer let my horse use the walk as a stop and slouch as then find it hard to get a good free walk!
 
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