getting horsey(s) to work in an outline

[wench]

not very up on this kinda stuff...

One in question should be very easy to get in an outline, ie has done dreasge, but everything I try doesnt seem to work? any ideas, tried wriggling bit, pushing him forwards from leg into bridle, doesnt seem to work.

Other not used to that kinda stuff at all, have seen him do it once, with v experienced rider on him, any tips on how to get him a little more rounded rather than poking nose out all the time would be great!

 

[sloulou]

You know what everyone's going to say tho... is not about putting the head in the right place - is about getting him to work correctly throughout his whole body.

You should maybe have some lessons? Your instructor can then see what you are doing and explain how you can improve his way of going

 

[Folara]

Firstly get yourself a good instructor as although it MAY look easy to get them working properly it really isnt.

Secondly there are no quick fixes so basically until you can ride and understand how to get a horse soft and working over its back there is no point in strapping it down or using gadgets.

Sorry, I dont mean to sound harsh but there really isnt any substitute for a good instructor and learning to do it properly.


Good Luck.

 

[wench]

I was never intending to use any kind of gadgets to give them a bent head. I dont have access to any kind of instructor, neither can I afford it atm, so I was just after some tips

 

[Folara]

Im sorry I really didnt mean to sound harsh.

If I were you I would work on getting long low and relaxed. Forget what the front end is doing for a while and concentrate on the back end.

Ask your horses to move forward off the leg by doing lots and lots of transitions from walk to trot and trot to walk. This will help to get them working from behind and stepping under themselves more. The power must come from the hind end and up into the bridle but until your horses have learnt to work through and balance they will still find it difficult to come onto a contact. Patience is the clue.

Try not to 'wiggle' or 'nag' with your hands as you may end up with your horses either tilting their heads or moving them from side to side and ultimately coming back at you and not allowing them to soften over their backs. Sometimes a 'wiggle' can turn into a 'sawing' action which is not good.

HTH and as I said before - good luck.

 

[mickey]

You need to think of making a connection between the back end and the front end.
It is no use roping the horse's head in at the front as you are effectively creating a 'backwards situation' where the energy is NOT coming through from the horse's back end through it's body.
I would start by getting horse really going forward. Off the leg. Work on controlling speed and rhythm using half-halts and your body. Try to make sure you have a good even contact on both reins and think about whether your horse is travelling STRAIGHT - Ie back feet directly following front feet, even on a circle. You need to generate energy from using your leg. This energy should move through the horse into your hands which should provide an elastic contact.
Try NOT to wiggle your hands (you may get your horse's head in a false outline by doing this but you are blocking the forward energy). Also try to keep your body square, seatbones even and no collapsed hips. Think about your own position.
You could try lunging with side reins on in order to get horse moving off the aids (in this case the lunge whip/your body) into an elastic contact.
I have to say though, without lessons this process is going to be very very difficult. Try to save for some if you can.
All the best.

 

[Tierra]

Without lessons, you'll find learning to work your horse correctly extremely difficult as you dont know what you're aiming to feel.

I'd try your best to scrape enough money just to have a couple of lessons with a good trainer and get the basics and the theory down. Perhaps even on an equi-sim as this takes your own horses' problems out of the equation.

Usually the first stage is establishing a good, independent seat and learning how this influences your horses balance. The best way to "learn" that is through lunge lessons. Again, without someone on the ground correcting you, its near impossible to learn a skill like this.

From there you'd be wanting to get the horse working truely from back to front. You have to ignore the head, its not about that. Its about working them enough from behind into a light, elastic contact and allowing the back to raise up with your seat. But again... thats all very head (if not impossible) to learn without someone correcting and guiding you

 

[PapaFrita]

PF always starts work with her nose in the air and generally stays that way until I've warmed her up through walk and trot on a loose rein. FINALLY in canter she drops her nose and then we can go back to trot. Basically, I don't worry about what her head is doing as long as she's moving in a good rhythmn (she likes to tear around a bit) When she starts taking contact with the bit I know she's ready to do some serious work.
I don't know if that helps, but hey; my little grain of sand