Getting strong in Dressage

S

StaceyTanglewood

Well-Known Member
Joined
6 December 2006
Messages
4,904
Visit site
WE went to Oldencraig on SAturday and though did ok we always get let down as my horse gets so stong through the test !!

Now while we were there we spoke to a relatively well known Dressage Rider in the warm up - her comments were put him in a double bridle and move up to Elimentary he is more than capable - well he is but i really would like to be able to ride him in a snaffle to !!

I ride him in a pelham for jumping and he is so different - so what would you do keep working on it or move up to elimentary and put him in a double ??
 
shocked.gif
Easy cop out but you will probably be setting up problems that will hinder your further progression.
Sounds like you need help with getting him to accept the snaffle correctly and not 'water ski'. Does this only happen in tests? Could it possibly be tension in the rider?
Either way I would not go down the double route until you have had some serious discussion with a well respected trainer.
I'm not saying that it definately is not the answer but without seeing both horse and rider I would be very wary of just slapping a double in in order to stop him leaning/pulling.
 
I personally wouldn't use the shortcut route!
If it is only in a test situation then I'd go out as much as possible and if he starts being a real bugger then I'd make an example of it. Ok so it won't look pretty and you won't get a good score but it might just make him think twice in future. My horse used to get strong and I'd do my best to cover it up but it never solved the problem. So one day i grounded him mid test when he went to take hold and it really shocked him! Then I used the test more as a schooling situation, rather than worrying about marks.
He has been better since, I think he cottoned on to the fact that he could get away with things in a test!
 
[ QUOTE ]
shocked.gif
Easy cop out but you will probably be setting up problems that will hinder your further progression.
Sounds like you need help with getting him to accept the snaffle correctly and not 'water ski'. Does this only happen in tests? Could it possibly be tension in the rider?
Either way I would not go down the double route until you have had some serious discussion with a well respected trainer.
I'm not saying that it definately is not the answer but without seeing both horse and rider I would be very wary of just slapping a double in in order to stop him leaning/pulling.

[/ QUOTE ]

WEll this was my thinking - he does do it at home but not as bad we are changing the saddle as though great when we first had him it now holds the rider in to much of a position and she cant use her seat properly - he is worse in tests the trot work is great until after he has cantered - medium canter is hilarious !!

She is trained by a girl called louise who competes at Inter I and trained with the Assoulines and also once a month with Andrew Gould !!
 
Personally feel a double should be used as refinement rather than to overcome general schooling problems. Wife put her little mare in to a double when she moved up to medium. Horse was working OK in the snaffle. Initially horse seemed to go better but gradually over time has 'drawn back' so now we are back to snaffle and getting horse to take the contact forward.
Occasionally it is the answer but has to be considered carefully.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I personally wouldn't use the shortcut route!
If it is only in a test situation then I'd go out as much as possible and if he starts being a real bugger then I'd make an example of it. Ok so it won't look pretty and you won't get a good score but it might just make him think twice in future. My horse used to get strong and I'd do my best to cover it up but it never solved the problem. So one day i grounded him mid test when he went to take hold and it really shocked him! Then I used the test more as a schooling situation, rather than worrying about marks.
He has been better since, I think he cottoned on to the fact that he could get away with things in a test!

[/ QUOTE ]

Andrew had us doing this at home but not in a test - we may have to try it !!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Personally feel a double should be used as refinement rather than to overcome general schooling problems. Wife put her little mare in to a double when she moved up to medium. Horse was working OK in the snaffle. Initially horse seemed to go better but gradually over time has 'drawn back' so now we are back to snaffle and getting horse to take the contact forward.
Occasionally it is the answer but has to be considered carefully.

[/ QUOTE ]

I know its really hard !! as i say i ride him in a pelham for jumping and was schooling him yesterday and he was so light and easy and respected everything i asked of him - was even doing the movements from Saturdays test on him (half loop back to track and counter canter etc) and he did it perfectly x
 
Stacey, what snaffle do you ride him in and what Pelham?

Pelham's are not necessarily stronger than snaffles, it depends on the action - if you can find a snaffle with a similar action to your Pelham it may help?

Pash used to 'tank' me after medium canter and just didn't listen to my aids at all. I switched his double to a Pelham for showing and use the snaffle version of the Pelham (same mouth piece etc) for dressage and that seems to work for us
 
[ QUOTE ]
Stacey, what snaffle do you ride him in and what Pelham?

Pelham's are not necessarily stronger than snaffles, it depends on the action - if you can find a snaffle with a similar action to your Pelham it may help?

Pash used to 'tank' me after medium canter and just didn't listen to my aids at all. I switched his double to a Pelham for showing and use the snaffle version of the Pelham (same mouth piece etc) for dressage and that seems to work for us

[/ QUOTE ]

Well i got the pelham as its the same as the saffle - both are neue schuler - he is in a hanging cheek snaffle then the pelham is exactly the same apart from having the bottom shanks on it so both have the poll pressure - i only ride the pelham in roundings and with no curb chain either !!
 
i agree with lfield. you need to do a test which you are prepared to sacrifice (tell the judge beforehand if it makes you feel better), and ride in it as if you are at home, and call the horse's bluff. even do an extra circle or something if you need to at some point, stop him dead and pat him, whatever, and don't worry about what any of it looks like, just concentrate on teaching the horse that you don't turn into a different rider, who he can take the p out of, in there!
also, have you tried riding slower in the test to compensate for your own adrenalin, which makes you speed everything up? i can't remember who told me this, but it does work. riding slower, and doing a very definite half-halt before every single corner, transition, etc, can work wonders, i've found.
very best of luck.
 
[ QUOTE ]
i agree with lfield. you need to do a test which you are prepared to sacrifice (tell the judge beforehand if it makes you feel better), and ride in it as if you are at home, and call the horse's bluff. even do an extra circle or something if you need to at some point, stop him dead and pat him, whatever, and don't worry about what any of it looks like, just concentrate on teaching the horse that you don't turn into a different rider, who he can take the p out of, in there!
also, have you tried riding slower in the test to compensate for your own adrenalin, which makes you speed everything up? i can't remember who told me this, but it does work. riding slower, and doing a very definite half-halt before every single corner, transition, etc, can work wonders, i've found.
very best of luck.

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh ill ask her (sorry i dont do dressage my groom does) he is my horse - im just the one that plaits up and runs round and calls out tests !! ha ha i think thats a really good idea though and next time we go we are definately going to try that !!
 
[ QUOTE ]
sorry, i thought you were riding. how lucky your groom is!
wink.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

eeek no not dressage !!! i dont have the patience !! i think she is to soft on him sometimes though xx yea she is my best friend to x

Last time i rode this horse in a dressage saddle he bucked me off and broke my nose !!
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Stacey, what snaffle do you ride him in and what Pelham?

Pelham's are not necessarily stronger than snaffles, it depends on the action - if you can find a snaffle with a similar action to your Pelham it may help?

Pash used to 'tank' me after medium canter and just didn't listen to my aids at all. I switched his double to a Pelham for showing and use the snaffle version of the Pelham (same mouth piece etc) for dressage and that seems to work for us

[/ QUOTE ]

Well i got the pelham as its the same as the saffle - both are neue schuler - he is in a hanging cheek snaffle then the pelham is exactly the same apart from having the bottom shanks on it so both have the poll pressure - i only ride the pelham in roundings and with no curb chain either !!

[/ QUOTE ]

That's exactly what I use - the Neue Schule with the lozenge? Rules my theory out then!
confused.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top