lucky7
Well-Known Member
I have a welsh D who is 6 yrs old. He is green but he is getting better but we have yet to really crack our canter in the school, he generally finds it difficult on the right rein in general. He can leg yield one side perfectly but struggles with the going right, he also finds it hard to strike off on the correct leg on this rein (but will do it correct after a couple of tries). We have a lesson every few weeks which helps and sometimes my instructor will get on, he listens to her and she can have him doing everything (i get on afterward and hes like a different horse, really light and forwards) but still says hes stiff on one side but it will come in the end and gives me exercises to try. I had her take him on for a week just to correct him and help iron out a few problems which helped loads and felt a real difference so was pleased. However sometimes if i am on my own schooling i find he can be so hard to bring him together and have him working nicely over his back, some days he will be lovely and so forward thinking and be like a feather and glide, other times hes stiff, ridged, wont bend, crab and braces against the hand and is lazy and behind the leg and hollow (if hes like this on the lesson sometimes the instructor will pop on him and after a few mins he lovely and elastic and soft and forward. So we had a bit of a frustrating lesson a few weeks back and he wouldn't soften and was constantly behind the leg and felt awful Since then i have not been in the school, been hacking mainly and doing a bit of fast work and different routes which has really perked him up and gets him forward thinking and off the leg. Lots of cantering to help him find his balance without circles and corners, its less stressful for me too as actually enjoying a blast and not worrying what hes doing beneath me too much.
I have booked out an excellent physio who is coming this week to give him a really good look over to rule anything physical out on his part.
So thats a bit of background. Now i have been riding for a long time (over 20 years)and rode lots of horses and had lots of lessons with various instructors/trainers, always really enjoyed flatwork and dressage . I was always taught to ride the horse up into the contact/bridle by keeping them forward with the leg and seat and *catching* the front end through elasticated bungee elbows allowing him to stretch down and seek the contact but gently squeezing the reins (not see sawing) - i am still taught that to this day. However i have seen various things on social media regarding this as being incorrect and there is no need to have a contact on the horses mouth as its all to do with seat and position? i think its called ride with your mind, its always on FB.
Have i been doing it wrong all these years? are people teaching this incorrectly? i for one find it difficult and tiring using my method i have been show, this other lady who i have seen says it should not be like that? or is it a marketing gimmick? she sells the information and videos online for £80 plus - i admit i am tempted?
OR is it me or the horse?!! would he benefit from a few weeks again with the instructor?
I have booked out an excellent physio who is coming this week to give him a really good look over to rule anything physical out on his part.
So thats a bit of background. Now i have been riding for a long time (over 20 years)and rode lots of horses and had lots of lessons with various instructors/trainers, always really enjoyed flatwork and dressage . I was always taught to ride the horse up into the contact/bridle by keeping them forward with the leg and seat and *catching* the front end through elasticated bungee elbows allowing him to stretch down and seek the contact but gently squeezing the reins (not see sawing) - i am still taught that to this day. However i have seen various things on social media regarding this as being incorrect and there is no need to have a contact on the horses mouth as its all to do with seat and position? i think its called ride with your mind, its always on FB.
Have i been doing it wrong all these years? are people teaching this incorrectly? i for one find it difficult and tiring using my method i have been show, this other lady who i have seen says it should not be like that? or is it a marketing gimmick? she sells the information and videos online for £80 plus - i admit i am tempted?
OR is it me or the horse?!! would he benefit from a few weeks again with the instructor?
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