Getting the horse on the bit

C

Clever pony

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 August 2014
Messages
112
Location
Cumbria
Visit site
I am taught by two instructors about one or twice a week. Now that me and my 14 hand pony are starting to work on going correctly I have started asking her to come down. One instructor tells me to get a bend and then keep your hands soft and flexible. The other tells me to just get a contact and hold it until she softens but if feels liKe she is just leaning against me when I do that. I think asking for the bend more helps but I dont know if that is wrong. Which instructors advice should I follow? I feel very confused. Thank you in advance xxxxx
 
Ummm.... you don't mention anything about leg there. So maybe sack both of them.

Ask horse to go foward from the inside leg, bend to the inside, capture the energy with the outside rein. SOFTLY.

It all starts from the leg. Everything and always. If the horse isn't going forward, then you have nothing.
 
Pony should be going forwards and working from behind. If you grab a contact and hold, your pony will just lean against you and then you're in a battle of wills.

Forget the term 'on the bit' - just erase it from your memory. Don't actually worry about where the pony's head is. Just make sure she is working forwards and is accepting of your contact, which should be soft and forgiving. It's about harmony and partnership - not forcing the head into a certain position without worrying what the rest of her is doing.

I find lots of transitions and changes of rein will loosen the horse up and get them thinking forwards. Once that hind leg is engaged and the horse is loose, the rest will follow.
 
NZJenny said:
Ummm.... you don't mention anything about leg there. So maybe sack both of them.
Click to expand...

Yep.

Clare85 said:
Forget the term 'on the bit' - just erase it from your memory. Don't actually worry about where the pony's head is. Just make sure she is working forwards and is accepting of your contact, which should be soft and forgiving. It's about harmony and partnership - not forcing the head into a certain position without worrying what the rest of her is doing.
Click to expand...

This ^ with bells on.
 
Thank you all for helpful replies I am working on getting the pony really off my leg and for the next few we will just have fun playing around. I think if I giveing it a break and then comeing back to it is the best idea. Thanks again for the replies. Xxx
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top