Getting horse of their forehand

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dappyness

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Looking for a bit of advice - have lessons booked but not for another two weeks.

I have a 14 yr old mare who spent most of her life in a field with her previous owner. When I got her last year it was the first time she had been hacked out and I have only done a little bit of schooling with her - I am a happy hacker and proud of it:) I have 2 problems that are kinda related

1.I need to help her get off her forehand and use her backend a bit more, At the moment i do lots of hill work, alternating slow trotting and walking letting her have a long rein so she can work long and low. I try to do lots of transitions evey time we hack out. Is there more that I can do? I dont have regular access to a school so it needs to be road based.

2. The other problem is regarding going down hills. We started of with having lots of problems going down hills as she kept slipping, I had road nails fitted and she is much better. but now that i go up on the moors we have gone backwards. If the ground is slightly boggy its like we are constantly gonna roll forwards down slight inclines. She tends to throw herelf down hills with no regard to whats ahead (she will fall one of these days!). It can also be difficult to hold her in as she throws her head around when she finds things difficult (teeth, back and saddle all checked and all great). Basically its blooming uncomfortable riding down hills as she is very much on her forehand....

I know both problems relate to her using her backend so I am really looking for advice on how I can help her. I would like to start cantering her in a school but untill this is sorted she wont find it easy.

Thanks for getting this far with my rambleing.
 
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My horse has a real problem with this where he wasnt used much before we got him he doesnt have a huge amount of muscle on his back end so doesnt seem to use it much. I bought him a passoa to use once or twice aweek and its literally amazing! I have it so that it goes from his bum, through a loop on the side of the roller, then to his bit, then goes under his front legs and connects to a ring on the bottom of the roller. When I first put it on him when he is stood still he is literally staring at the floor, but as soon as i ask him to walk he is forced to use his back end to work through and go against the passoa slightly so he lifts his head. As soon as he is in trot he is working in the most beautiful shape and you can really see what few muscles he has in his back end working! If he didnt come off the forehand, he wouldnt be able to lift his head and see...simple as.

I know you said you dont have a school but if you can just find a small open space which is flat then thats perfect! Hope this ramble made sense :)
 
You are right to do transitions as this will encourage her to work through from behind and to lighten her forehand. One of my horses' is naturally very heavy in the hand and on his forehand. However, after schooling him for the last six years he is a lot better and has learnt to carry himself correctly. You need to make sure you are keeping her together but make sure you use your legs to channel the energy forwards to bring her hind legs under her. A few steps of rein back every now and then will help to instantly lighten the forehand. You should also include lots of half halts to keep her listening and to help to transfer her weight to her hind legs. If she is heavy in the hand or sets her jaw against you, make sure you give and take the rein often to make her realise that she has to carry herself and that you are not going to hold her up! Also, giving her a tap on the shoulder will remind her to lift her shoulders up and automatically get her off her forehand. What bit do you ride her in?

As for your other problem, lifting her off her forehand will help her when she is going down hills as she won't be running downhill and will be more balanced. If you are worried about her slipping you could put knee boots on her.

Hope this helps. :)
 
Thank you. for your replies. I will hopefully get some access to a small sand school for a small fee and should be able to lunge her in there so will look to buy a pessoa (spelling) and i didnt think of half halts. That got me thinking as i do tend to hold her in whilst trotting as she just wants to go she can be quite strong at times..
Will start on that tomorrow.
:)
I ride in a single jointed eggbutt snaffle
 
I presume you are happy that her back and hocks are ok. Are you sitting upright and keeping your "building blocks" in balance ?

You are already doing transitions but try to make them very crisp and use twice as many as you are doing now.

A good exercise is to trot a serpentine and transition to walk for four or five steps on the centre line. She will start to anticipate the transition which is quite useful as she will probably shift her weight back as she comes up to the centre line.
Try lots of half halts using your seat and weight but just keeping the contact , not pulling back.

Coming down the hill make the half halt slightly more of a halt so shes never going headlong and gathering momentum.

When you say you are giving her a long rein could you be giving her a loose rein and sort of throwing her on her forehand .

She will obviously be slow in her progress following her layoff and given she is a lot older , so little and often .

I find the tungsten pins give my chap great security on the slippy tarmac

Sorry just reread your post and realise everything has to be on the road instead of the serpentine make the transition to walk at every lamppost/electricity pole instead its just the discipline of having it exact.
 
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Rambleing
Back is definatly ok as i have had a vet and physio visit recently. She hasnt done much in her 14 years as she wasnt backed properly till she was 11 and then they didnt do anything with her. Its not that she had any phisical problems, it was that she was very cheeky as a youngster and she was just a glorified lawnmower. She has now turned into a very loving mare who is eager to please and learn new things. I know as she is older that it wont be an easy/quick thing to help her put right - we're not in any rush to compete or go x country, we're just enjoying seeing new things out on hacks - like sheep.....

When i say long and low i mean going up hills, i try to keep her a fair bit of contact going downhills to stop her running away with herself. I know its easier for her to go faster (answered my own question there! - must go slower!)
 
Great that she is so eager to please you are sure to succeed.
One thing I forgot to add is teach her to half halt to your voice. Say steady or easy or if you can that funny "phirrup" the continentals use to such good effect when training dresssage horses, it may well be quicker and easier than the onboard aids.
best of luck.
 
Mine also is inclined to go on his forehand. Is she a cob? I'd say they are a little more on the forehand.

I do lots and lots of transitions and lateral work too xx
 
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