Getting him off the forehand?

[TheEquineOak]

Numpty question alert!!

I have always been a happy hacker but (after purchasing something quite exciting) I want to do more.

I'm slowly learning that I don't know a great deal where 'proper' riding is concerned but I'm gradually getting there.

Now, my TB had/has an SI problem. It has been dealt with and the vet is now happy for us to progress with his fitness. I have only really been hacking him out to build his strength (he was VERY weak when he arrived) and done some minor work in the school (leg yielding/shoulder in etc)

He puts all of his weight (especially in canter) on his forehand. He has evented in the past so he knows how to use himself correctly and always strikes off on the right leg however, now, the front powers off leaving the back tailing behind.

Any help pweese?

 

[lexiedhb]

Get a good instructor.
Give your horse time to build himself up again
18 billion transitions, esp walk to canter when he is strong enough.

 

[Nocturnal]

Get a good instructor.
Give your horse time to build himself up again
18 billion transitions, esp walk to canter when he is strong enough.

Ditto this. Also, transitions within a pace will help. Give and retake the reins to test whether he's in self carriage. Hills and raised poles will help build up the muscles in his quarters, which will enable him to transfer more weight off his forehand.

 

[ossy]

Ditto the transitions, my instructor calls them the push ups of the horse world. They don't need to be full gait transitions but try slowing right down the gait then moving forward again, easier to practice in trot first. Try not to think of it as your horse being on the forehand but rather that your horse is not engaging the hind legs and carrying his weight on the hind, as a by product of working with the weight in the hind legs the horse will become lighter at the front end and "off the forehand". The horse cannot carry himself on the hind legs untill they have the muscle development to do so. I spent a year ridign my 4yr old long and low to get the back strentched before I started working on taking the weight back onto the hind legs and now as a 6 year old she works well and as a result she now has a more up and round, high poll, self carriage shape.

Hope that helps didn't realise I rambled for quite so long.

 

[Empy&Treacle]

If he has had a problem in the SI joint he'll more than likely be weak in the area whether it's physically or mentally (just in his head - remembering the pain).

To get him off his forehand though he needs to be going freely (and steadily)forwards, once he is going forwards he will begin to work in to the contact - so long as the contact is constant and not strong - and in turn he'll then become more round and start to work in an outline on the on the bit. Once the horse is here he will begin to work through - so use his back end better - and up the forehand will come. Taa Daa!!

I am not suggesting you would, but holding him in an outline will sadly not have the same affect!

A good instructor is your best bet!! So long as the horse is completely pain free it should come naturally - once they have grasped it that is!!

...Once the horse has the hang of this then start the transitions and leg yields - add the two together and you'll get a much better result than just using one or other to get to the same place!!

 

[TheEquineOak]

Thanks for your replies.


He was taken from the field, given 7 weeks training and evented, then had 3 months off because of his SI injury (was supposed to have been worked but previous owner had no time for him ) and then came to us.

I wanted my instructor to put a plan together for me but as of yet I've heard nothing...possibly time to find a new one...

He uses his back and pushes from behind on the lunge, it's when I'm on top, I can't 'feel' the difference!

Here's a pic!

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[lexiedhb]

He was evented after only 7 weeks on training, after coming off 24/7 turnout??? Jeez no wonder he got hurt.....

Nice looking chappie- I would suggest then that you get his back, and saddle checked if the problem is only when ridden!

 

[TheEquineOak]

Saddle, back. teeth etc etc has all recently been done...and the new saddle cost me a bloody fortune

His injury is from some time ago, it only became apparent when he was evented (I'm guessing the extra strain sprained it). He was going to end up with the knacker man had a not bought him - owner was a trainer and if the horse cannot be sold as an eventer, he was no good to her whatsoever.

I just know I'm the problem, when I'm on top I'm not telling him how to use his body properly.

I like the sounds of slowing down and speeding up the gaits and transisitions...I'm pretty annoyed that my instructor hasn't been telling me these things!!!!

Winter doesn't help either

 

[ladyt25]

Is that how he looks now or is that what he was like when you got him? He certainly looks weak all over to me in that pic and needs a heck of a lot of feeding and building up. As far as helping him to work from behind then all the above comments are correct. Get yourself a DECENT instructor but, by this I do not mean one who just works on getting the right 'picture'. You don't want to concentrate on getting him to work in an outline or anything, you want to concentrate on getting him to use himself and power off his back end instead of pulling from him front. The outline will come in time once he's learnt how to carry himself properly.

An instructor i know would say it's all about balance, he hasn't found how to balance yet. Therefore, although helooks ok on the lunge he may still be a little unbalance and when you then get onhim - whoa! He doesn't know how to sort that one so just goes in a fashion that he can cope with. This lady who has advised ne with my youngster and also has taught my sister some things to help would have you working with him on the ground as well as ridden. I have practised her techniques with my baby horse and he learnt quicly.

briefly, it's about encouraging them to hold themselves with their weight more on their hind quarters and, when they do walk to step off from behind first. Stand infront of him and, using a schooling whip, tap him on his side (where your leg aid would be), start with a light tap and increase the pressure of this until he steps forward, then praise and lead him for a few strides/in a circle but make sure he does this slowly. Do this several times on each rein but do NOT hit him with the whip. The idea is he learns to step forward when asked and to do it correctly (watch what leg he steps off with first, you are aiming for it to be a hind leg eventually).

You can then ask him to stand and back up. Again, using the whip tap the front leg you want to move back, above the knee, use firmer taps untile he moves that leg back and steps back maybe 2 or 3 steps, then stand. You can do this for 10/15 mins a day just practising getting him to get his weight on to his hind quarters. They learn pretty quickly and, you can use voice commands (ie "walk on", "back", "stand" etc) but make sure you're consistent with them. You have to remember with this though is never to use the whip as a punishment, it is merely an aid to ask the horse to move where/how you ask them to. If they for any reason get flinchy or anything with the whip then just stroke it over them quietly so they realise it is not 'scary'!

Sorry, that sounds really long-winded and rambling! It's much easier to show in person i think!!! It certainly has helped my youngster, he is not so bitey when walking as he can balance himself better.