getting an outline, bits?? pony refusing any contact on reins

I wouldn't bother trying to ask for anything when out hacking.

Schooling is just that, school for the horse and you. It is where we ask them to concentrate on us and work hard and learn new things.

Hacking is like break time, it is when they get to blow the cobwebs off, see new sights, not the same field/stable...smell new smells and get some variety and excitment. Don't take that away from your horse by asking it to work when out hacking.

Imagine as a kid how annoyed you would be if your teachers had given you a test in your break time? Pretty annoyed I'm sure.

Let school time be school time and play time be play time. :-)
 
_GG_ said:
I wouldn't bother trying to ask for anything when out hacking.

Schooling is just that, school for the horse and you. It is where we ask them to concentrate on us and work hard and learn new things.

Hacking is like break time, it is when they get to blow the cobwebs off, see new sights, not the same field/stable...smell new smells and get some variety and excitment. Don't take that away from your horse by asking it to work when out hacking.

Imagine as a kid how annoyed you would be if your teachers had given you a test in your break time? Pretty annoyed I'm sure.

Let school time be school time and play time be play time. :-)
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I don't entirely agree with this. I'm not one for insisting my horse does all his hacking in an advanced outline, but I do use the more natural forwardness generated by being out and about to reinforce the work I ask if him in the school - nothing too technical, but I expect him to move away from my leg when asked, work into a steady contact, make transitions within a pace, and do a few bits and bobs of lateral work when the fancy takes me. He has 23 hours a day to play, and 1 hour of doing what I ask of him. He enjoys his work, and is always happy to pull off a few of his party tricks when we're out enjoying some extra curricular activity. I don't like the thought that school equals work, and hacking equals play - it should all be enjoyable for the horse.
 
Auslander said:
I don't entirely agree with this. I'm not one for insisting my horse does all his hacking in an advanced outline, but I do use the more natural forwardness generated by being out and about to reinforce the work I ask if him in the school - nothing too technical, but I expect him to move away from my leg when asked, work into a steady contact, make transitions within a pace, and do a few bits and bobs of lateral work when the fancy takes me. He has 23 hours a day to play, and 1 hour of doing what I ask of him. He enjoys his work, and is always happy to pull off a few of his party tricks when we're out enjoying some extra curricular activity. I don't like the thought that school equals work, and hacking equals play - it should all be enjoyable for the horse.
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I have to agree with this. We don't have a school anyway but I expect my horses to respond to the aids when out hacking, which is 'schooling' in my book.
 
Auslander said:
I don't entirely agree with this. I'm not one for insisting my horse does all his hacking in an advanced outline, but I do use the more natural forwardness generated by being out and about to reinforce the work I ask if him in the school - nothing too technical, but I expect him to move away from my leg when asked, work into a steady contact, make transitions within a pace, and do a few bits and bobs of lateral work when the fancy takes me. He has 23 hours a day to play, and 1 hour of doing what I ask of him. He enjoys his work, and is always happy to pull off a few of his party tricks when we're out enjoying some extra curricular activity. I don't like the thought that school equals work, and hacking equals play - it should all be enjoyable for the horse.
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Pearlsasinger said:
I have to agree with this. We don't have a school anyway but I expect my horses to respond to the aids when out hacking, which is 'schooling' in my book.
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I get that...I actually think hacking is a really useful tool for teaching the beginnings of lateral work...my point was more a basic one aimed at not actively making your horse work hard when riding down the road.

I see so many people hack out with their horses heads pulled in for an hour and a half with no break it bugs the life out of me.

It is as with most things in life...there are always exceptions. I was just making a basic point :-)
 
_GG_ said:
I get that...I actually think hacking is a really useful tool for teaching the beginnings of lateral work...my point was more a basic one aimed at not actively making your horse work hard when riding down the road.

I see so many people hack out with their horses heads pulled in for an hour and a half with no break it bugs the life out of me.

It is as with most things in life...there are always exceptions. I was just making a basic point :-)
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That's fair enough. I like my lad long and low, but still round when out hacking.Most of our work in the school is quite 'up', so its nice for him to do some long slow stretchy stuff.
 
_GG_ said:
I get that...I actually think hacking is a really useful tool for teaching the beginnings of lateral work...
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My friend's horse clearly agrees with you. I was trotting along behind them the other day, trying to back traffic off them, while he produced some truly stunning collected canter half passes along the road, into oncoming traffic :eek:
 
_GG_ said:
I get that...I actually think hacking is a really useful tool for teaching the beginnings of lateral work...my point was more a basic one aimed at not actively making your horse work hard when riding down the road.

I see so many people hack out with their horses heads pulled in for an hour and a half with no break it bugs the life out of me.

It is as with most things in life...there are always exceptions. I was just making a basic point :-)
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In view of some of the obtuseness exhibited on this thread, actually I quite see your point. I like to leg-yield round parked cars.
 
Auslander said:
That's fair enough. I like my lad long and low, but still round when out hacking.Most of our work in the school is quite 'up', so its nice for him to do some long slow stretchy stuff.
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My mare used to be a proper gangly typical ex racer type....she's quite a big TB too....the more she comes round in the school, the more she just carries herself on a hack, even if I am holding the buckle.

Problem is, she goes from being super horse with the calmness of a sleeping cloud to the most ridiculously hyped up monster in a split second. Luckily...her monsterisms are more funny than serious!
 
I get that...I actually think hacking is a really useful tool for teaching the beginnings of lateral work...my point was more a basic one aimed at not actively making your horse work hard when riding down the road.

I see so many people hack out with their horses heads pulled in for an hour and a half with no break it bugs the life out of me.

It is as with most things in life...there are always exceptions. I was just making a basic point :-)

Ah but I don't equate schooling with pulling the horses head in, which is why I suggested that the OP should try and ride on her hacks as if she were schooling
 
Pearlsasinger said:
In view of some of the obtuseness exhibited on this thread, actually I quite see your point. I like to leg-yield round parked cars.
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This will soon turn into a, "how to you school when hacking thread" lol.

Every time a work with a horse on the beginnings of lateral work...I first ask in the school and then go for a hack...walk them to the middle of the road when empty and they always always want to go back to the kerb...so I use that to my advantage and give the aids. Next time I ask in the school, they just get it.

A lot of what I do is centred around finding a way to kind of get the horse to figure it out for itself if that makes sense. No need for force or sillyness or frustration that way.

I'm not the best, but at least posting videos on here reminds me of my bad habits enough to work on sorting them out, lol
 
YorksG said:
I get that...I actually think hacking is a really useful tool for teaching the beginnings of lateral work...my point was more a basic one aimed at not actively making your horse work hard when riding down the road.

I see so many people hack out with their horses heads pulled in for an hour and a half with no break it bugs the life out of me.

It is as with most things in life...there are always exceptions. I was just making a basic point :-)

Ah but I don't equate schooling with pulling the horses head in, which is why I suggested that the OP should try and ride on her hacks as if she were schooling
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Neither do I...as I went to great lengths to explain in my previous posts...not everyone shares our views...that's the only reason I piped up.
 
Sorry not read all the post and there is nothing wrong with teaching a horse about contact from the floor. It doesnt sound like your horse learnt about contact on the lunge. It wont mean that your horse is going correctly because that comes from an active hind leg and a softness over the back into an acceptable hand that the horse is confident to relax to and follow. Just one point there has been mention of opening the hand to reward but I believe you should give with the arm and keep the fingers softly closed.
Good luck with your new instructor. Work on core muscles by riding without stirrups then your seat will improve and it really helps.
 
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JustFindingTheDecorations said:
Have I told you about my many schooling issues? :p lol
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dafthoss said:
and mine :D



I can cope I promise :p we need some bullying in to shape I'm picking so many bad habbits up from riding some intresting little things :eek:
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We've had this conversation before! You both have an open invite to come down and have a go on the Alf-meister...just not on the common eh JFTD!!
 
Auslander said:
We've had this conversation before! You both have an open invite to come down and have a go on the Alf-meister...just not on the common eh JFTD!!
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Alf wouldnt notice me :o and apart from my friends tb the other day I havnt sat on any thing above 15.2 for ages, my current rides include an 11.1, 12.2 and 12hh. Must dig out an old photo for you.

And you must promise not to laugh!!
 
dafthoss said:
Alf wouldnt notice me :o and apart from my friends tb the other day I havnt sat on any thing above 15.2 for ages, my current rides include an 11.1, 12.2 and 12hh. Must dig out an old photo for you.

And you must promise not to laugh!!
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If you Youtube "Haysden Sparks" - there's a lovely vid of Alf with a teeny lightweight kid on him, doing his very best to do poncing with her. It's all a bit wobbly as her aids are somewhat random, but it's cute! No excuses!!
 
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