getting a horse off the fore hand?

[asbo]

friends gelding is really really heavy on the forehand, hardly uses his hind end at all & after 10 mins of riding your arms hurt

anyone have some good ideas on how to lighten him up & engage his hind end?

 

[RachelB]

Transitions and circles are your best friend! Lots and lots and lots and lots of them!
Get her to try an exercise where (say you start on the left rein) you get to the corner after the short side, then circle left 10m. Then carry on towards X as if you were about to change the rein, and on reaching X circle right 10m. Then carry on again back towards the original long side (so still on left rein) and on reaching the corner, circle left again 10m. Repeat on other long side, change the rein, and repeat on the other rein. Adding transitions in the middle of each straight line you do will also help, and even on the circles if you can keep him balanced, either trot-walk-trot transitions or trot-halt-trot. Keep a steady, consistent contact and aim for correct bend on the circles and straightness on the straight lines and in transitions. Keep your leg on in transitions, don't let him fall down into them as he'll fall straight back onto the forehand. Instead keep him working forwards into the new pace.

 

[asbo]

thank you, will print that off for her

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

In addition to what has been said already about transitions & more transition & yet more transitions you need to do alot of leg yielding & shoulder fore. By doing this it will encourage the horse to get it's rear legs under himself, swing the leg through underneath himself & he will start using himself properly from behind. Once he starts doing this he will lighten on the front end & your friend won't have aching arms for days after she rides....It doesn't happen overnight, persevere with it and it will come good.