Going Forward

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Parkranger

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The boy is being schooled once a week by our yard owner who said that his major problem is not going forward.

He has a habit of yanking the reins when he gets excited or decides that work is boring.

Took him in the jumping field and he got himself into a right state and was jogging on the spot when frustrated.

Took him on a hack yesterday and he was jogging quite a bit and pulling so I change tactics, kept my leg on and gave him his head and he moved forward much better - problem is this goes against everything your mind tells you to do when your horse feels like a coiled spring!

Anyone experienced this? and how did you get them moving forward more?

Weirdest thing was, when we got to canter, I really thought he was going to tank off but he was perfectly in control, which doesn't really add up with the jogging!
 
Yes, I always ride my ex-racer with long reins they are taught that tighter reins means go faster I believe (if I am wrong dont shoot me please!!!!) Also my IDxTB mare is the same, will happily ride along on the buckle but knows as soon as I shorten the reins it means we will be doing faster work, It certainly does take a bit of confidence to try it but it works......Good luck with him.
 
Agree with all of the above and would also say that when you get your horse working properly in an outline that is the point when they can become a bit 'backward thinking' and when you need to remind them to move forward off your leg. This is quite normal.
 
Yes, I would send the horse forwards for a bit, then ask them to WALK. As soon as they start jogging, send forwards again & try again. Works for some horses, but would make others horses worse - worth a go though!
 
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Yes, I would send the horse forwards for a bit, then ask them to WALK. As soon as they start jogging, send forwards again & try again. Works for some horses, but would make others horses worse - worth a go though!

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That's what I was doing yesterday on the hack - keeping legs on but giving with my hands so that he wouldn't jog.

Oh well, we'll get there! I think he's been taught to pull into an outline from the front so we're not even asking that of him until we can get him moving forward.
 
try in your training sessions to teach him that closing your thighs only whilst sitting means to change 'down' to a slower pace

close thighs first, rein 2nd

eventually you'll be able to close thighs only to get say trot to walk or walk to halt

once that is established then when horse wants to get gee'd up - you don't need to touch the reins - you merely lightly close the thighs to get a 'half halt' effect

it also means that you as a rider are sitting deeper and 'heavy' to act as a quiet calming effect and not 'moving your hands' and therefore imparting 'we're up to something' down the reins
 
[ QUOTE ]
try in your training sessions to teach him that closing your thighs only whilst sitting means to change 'down' to a slower pace

close thighs first, rein 2nd

eventually you'll be able to close thighs only to get say trot to walk or walk to halt

once that is established then when horse wants to get gee'd up - you don't need to touch the reins - you merely lightly close the thighs to get a 'half halt' effect

it also means that you as a rider are sitting deeper and 'heavy' to act as a quiet calming effect and not 'moving your hands' and therefore imparting 'we're up to something' down the reins

[/ QUOTE ]

I already use my seat to slow him down by bearing down on him which stops him instantly. as an ex racer, tugging at the reins doesn't get you anywhere so I've learnt to use my seat. problem is I don't want to encourage him to stop - want to get him moving forward!
grin.gif
 
the half halt using the thighs is the 'rebalancing' aid to help to lighten the front end and engage the hind quarters

you follow this up with use of the lower leg to then push forward into your light rein contact having used the thigh 'half halt' to try and put the quarters underneath first to push off of into a more forward gait

the thigh use also helps when 'fizzing' without having to touch the reins.
 
[ QUOTE ]
the half halt using the thighs is the 'rebalancing' aid to help to lighten the front end and engage the hind quarters

you follow this up with use of the lower leg to then push forward into your light rein contact having used the thigh 'half halt' to try and put the quarters underneath first to push off of into a more forward gait

the thigh use also helps when 'fizzing' without having to touch the reins.

[/ QUOTE ]

mmm interesting!
grin.gif
 
I ride a 15/16th TB so I know the 'fizz' issue
he also looks like a piece of cake to ride (now he's 14 and schooled beyond elementary) - but if I put someone up on him they find that you need to use a lot of leg - but subtle use

the use of the top/lower half of the legs for leg aids is something that is taught more in Germany than in the UK for riding (not talking specialist dressage trainers here - just normal 'schooing' so that your horse becomes a pleasure to ride).

what you are wanting and will achieve is for a horse to be forward going but in 'rear wheel drive' not 'front wheel tow' ;-)
 
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what you are wanting and will achieve is for a horse to be forward going but in 'rear wheel drive' not 'front wheel tow' ;-)

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That's exactly how I explained it to someone at the yard yesterday !
grin.gif
 
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