going behind leg once in arena

J

janet bradshaw

New User
Joined
27 May 2010
Messages
4
Visit site
Does anyone else have this problem and if so how have you dealt with it - my horse works at home very well and works in at shows very well, nicely forward etc - however once he goes in the arena he backs of completely goes very behind the leg to the point I have to almost dig spur in just to keep him going. He generally gets good marks but comments always say could gain higher marks if more in front of leg. He is starting his second season of work, could it possible be a lack of confidence, he is not spooky at all but very nosey.. this is now becomeing a real issue qualified for riding club champs worked in great died in ring came 7th but judge commented that if more in front of leg deserved higher marks... went about 70% below performance in arena...help please any ideas comments most welcome.
 
I have this exact same problem (we show) and have no idea how to fix it so will be interested in others replies.

Same as you, works nicely at home and in collecting ring but drops right off when in the show ring....:confused:
 
My boy can do this, I tend to really really kick on even if it gets messy for the first few movements. I'm happy to sacrifice those marks for higher ones later one when he settles.
I'm sure more experienced peeps will have much more constructive advice though! :0)
 
can you go HC for a few shows and carry a schooling whip if he responds to one?

that way you can school him in the arena and break the habit of him dropping behind you when you go down the centre line.

even if he doesn't respond to a schooling whip i would still look at going HC for a few classes so you can concentrate on really getting him forwards in the arena, even if you have to sacrifice accuracy etc for the first few classes until he gets the idea.
 
Mine does this as well. I know he can be behind the leg so I was asking for medium trots etc in the warm up. Had a bit of time before judge the bell so when going round arena pushed for some mediums, done some trans etc. Bell rang, went down centre line and then he went into slug mode. Ended up flapping like a demented chicken for a bit :o
 
This is exactly what mine does - if my lessons could be marked then we'd win the class each time!!!

one time when he was really off my leg was when I used the schooling whip to back up each of my aids - I used it alot throughout the test but it made such a difference - but can't offer any advice - will be interested to see the responses
 
you might have to have a few "sacrifice" tests to let your boy know you mean business in the arena. I'm sure that horses often know that once we get in the white boards we can often freeze and just try to pilot our way around the next 4 1/2 minutes! If he responds to the whip in a forward way, then back your leg up with this every time he starts to think backwards. It may not look pretty for a few times, but he will start to get the idea that he must remain infront of the leg in the arena. Another trick is to canter around the arena or short canter/trot/canter bursts before you go in to get him thinking forwards. Good luck - I know it's frustrating as one of mine used to do this! :)
 
Thank you all for reading and replying - I do usually try to canter around before the bell rings and get him really forward. He is particulary bad in canter. Did sacrifice a test last week but when I use the whip in the arena he often tightens even more or may give a little kick out buck. May try h/c and talk to judge before test to see if i can ride a few tests a bit more positively to break this pattern. Am concerned it could become a bad habit or will he grow out of it with more experience/confidence? Has anyone had a horse that has overcome this problem?
 
Are you sure you're not trying a bit too hard? I do & my horse sticks on the handbrake :o Someone I know calls this 'white jodphur syndrome' - we don't know we're doing it but the way we ride changes when we have a judge watching. I've been having centered riding lessons which have helped a lot - I am much more aware of what I'm doing & whether I'm moving with my horse, and I don't seem to be blocking her so much now. Things are nowhere near perfect but at least I feel like we are heading the right way now :)
 
A lady called Sally Swift came up with centered riding, you might have heard of her. It's a way of riding that involves finding your centre (or center if you are American like Sally), this gives you a balanced position where you can go with the horse and not block its movement. There is a lot of visualisation, breathing is important, using 'soft eyes' and ultimately trying to achieve a soft, quiet, 'less is more' way of riding which allows the horse to respond to light aids. I love it! My horse was not forward off the leg at all before, she is one of those who goes 'yeh whatever' if you use a crop so sometimes to get her forward in dressage tests I was thumping & booting like a Thelwell character :o but now we are really getting somewhere :) You won't get results overnight but I would definitely recommend it ;) The last dressage test I got a comment of 'canter rather fast' - you could have knocked me down with a feather :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top