Free Walk on Long Rein

[dwi]

With only a week to practice Prelim 4 I decided that we had better start tonight. Daisy did some lovely work once she had got over being excited and bucking on the canter transition.

Two issues did arise that I wondered if you could help me with...

She is slipping alot as we try and circle in canter. Will this come as she learns to bring her back end underneath herself more? The test will be done on grass so it needs adressing to stop her injuring herself

How do you stop free walk on a long rein becoming "graze on a long rein"? its going to spoil the effect if I have to give her a smack for eating

How little rein can I give her for it to be still classed as a long rein

 

[merlinsquest]

At least she will be encouraged to stretch down and look good.... a sharp kick at the appropriate moment will stop her grazing!!!!

At least she will look down... Merlin takes the opportunity to have a good gander about when loose... to see what he has missed while concentrating!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Folara]

Yes you are right. Once she learns to sit on her hocks a little more and balance herself better she shouldnt have as many issues with slipping (obviously dependent on the surface). This is something that cannot be fixed quickly, nor with gadgets. You need to do lots and lots of transitions and half halts to help her to use her back end more and then her balance will improve no end.

As for the free-walk. You dont need her head to be on the floor. She needs to stretch over her back and through her neck and jaw with a good swinging and over-tracking walk motion. The trick is to keep her moving forward. Dont just let go of the reins but allow her to take them down slowly through your fingers so in the middle she is really stretching before gradually gathering the reins back up.

Good Luck.

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Oh I just LOVE the image that conjures up! Free graze on a long rein...GREAT! I read once about a horse owner whose horses all did fabulous "turns on the feedbucket"! Maybe there's a whole new set of dressage movements here? An alternative dressage test??? My horse would be good at "enter at A, whinny loudly for pair bond, cart rider into shrubbery at B..." Gotta be a rosette in there somewhere! Good luck with your free walk xxx

 

[dwi]

PMSL at Sunnymum

we had forwards to canter at A and then proceed to charge bucking down the long side, leap sideways at the scary boards at B and then flatly refuse to walk past the caravan parked at K. I only wish it was dressage to music because I would do it to "What's that coming over the hill..." and at least it would be funny