Had a bad ride in the school this morning- advice needed please

[SAL66]

As the title says really, took my horse in the school which I don't think he really enjoys and have been concentrating trying to accept the bit and soften, incidentally I have changed the bit from a "Magic Bit " to a frenck link snaffle and he doesn't seem to be pulling down and snatching much at all.
His head carriage has improved from nose poking to bringing his head in just by keeping a better contact with my reins.

The problems that I have had today is 1) impulsion from the hind legs, we do plenty of transistions and he is very receptive to the leg and will easily go from walk to canter with a squeeze , but it feels like its all coming from the front end.

2) Trying to get him to walk in a straight line down the side of the school, he wants to leg yield all the time, in walk or trot and I have to keep putting my inside leg behind the girth to keep his hind quarters swinging out, his neck bend in to the inside of the school also.
I have found that keeping a tighter contact with my reins has worsened this problem as soon as i get a contact he leg yields for england, he does it on a hack as well!!.

i am going to have some lessons very shortly but in the mean time I'm not enjoying using the school and didn't buy him just to hack.Any help would be great, Thanks in advance.

 

[jennyb]

Patience and practise I'm afraid...
With your impulsion from the hind legs, why not try getting him to do a "big" trot, really feel like your trying to squeeeze every ounce of trot out of him for a long side, then fetch him back to a "little" trot where your keeping him in trot but its as slow as can be, then push him out again for a "big" trot, and try that until he gets the message that when you put the leg on his power comes from his bum and pushes himself forward into it...
as for walking in a straight line...
try setting up some poles to both walk alongside of to keep him straight, or to walk between like train tracks. Some horses can be very quick to find if you've got uneven weight on the saddle so spend a few minutes having a wiggle around and making sure your sitting dead centre with even weight down each leg, try the straight lines with no stirrups and just concentrate on a pair of legs and a pair of hands looking ahead and head for a point at the other end of the school...
just some ideas.....hope any of it may help

xx

 

[SAL66]

Thanks Ponystuff, I'm grateful for any advice, I will try all you suggested tomorrow.

 

[not_with_it]

This is going to be quick as I have to bath the dog.

Putting your leg back doesnt keep the horse straight. Riding him into the outside rein will. If he is also bending his neck it sounds like there is an uneven contact in your rein. Make sure you have the same in each rein and your legs are wrapped around the horse. Lots of work riding 5metre and 10 metre loops will straighten the horse and changing the bend, making you you keep an even contact. As for him not going forward, if he doesnt listen to your leg use the stick. Dont keep nagging with your leg. Ask once and if he doesnt listen tap him with the stick. Ride loads of transitions, these will also help to get his hind legs under.

 

[mickey]

I may be grasping at straws here - But, I am wondering WRT your transitions being off the leg but feeling as thow it is all coming from the front - Perhaps you need to have a more elastic contact on the rein, so that as you make your transition you allow the energy to go forward from hind legs to the front. (BY giving a tocuh with your hand). It could be you are restricting the energy flow with your hands, hence it all feels like the energy is coming from the front.
WRT straighness if you are finding that he tries to leg yield from the outside of the school inwards maybe try some shoulder in so you really have control of the outside shoulder and ride into the outside rein. Practicing riding down the centre line trying to keep dead straight may help. You caould also ask for bend in the neck to each direction as you are doing this, but only the neck, keep the body dead straight. I would avoid riding leg yield at all at the mo until he gets used to going forward again.

 

[SAL66]

Thanks for your comments-

Nat1003- I take on board your comments about rein length and will mark them so I know where my hands should be.I will include more circles/loops and perhaps not be so soft and letting him dictate his pace rather than me.

Mickey-I do give and take with the reins but I will check that I do this when asking for the transition, I do know that he is a lazy horse and an unfit one at that.
I will certainly give leg yielding a wide berth for now certainly until my problems are solved.

Again thanks , its nice to see answers to your problems .