He expects me to carry his head!

[CobsGalore]

My just turned 6 year old is starting to work in a consistent 'outline' - I use this term lightly as he is a long way off self-carriage and still has a lot of correct muscle to build.

My problem is, that when he drops into the contact, I feel like I'm carrying his whole head with my hands! My instructor says I do too much for him and when he does this, to play with the bit a little to stop him leaning on me.

This works well and he carries himself for all of about 5 strides and then decides he wants me to do all the work again.

Is there anything else I can do to encourage him to carry his own bloomin head, or is it just a case of being patient and waiting for him to build up the correct muscles?

ETA I give him lots of breaks and a long rein to stretch in between actual work

 

[xloopylozzax]

Half halt but keep your legs on.

Lots of transitions so he doesn't drop onto the forehand. Leg yielding and spiral circles.

 

[Mongoose11]

Short sessions as he does need to build up the strength, lots of transistions. I'd be using a well timed schooling whip too!

 

[DabDab]

You can try some lateral work with him to get his back legs working underneath him, but it will generally improve as he gets stronger and the periods of sustained lightness will get longer. Lots of half halts and transitions within the pace should help too.

 

[welshied]

If he is carrying himself for 5 strides then thats a good hes trying and knows what you expect untill they build the correct muscles it is very hard work for them its lack of balance aswell mine was exactly the same and hes now starting to carry himself its just a long slow process so just carry on doing what your doing

 

[CobsGalore]

Thank you, will try doing more transitions and half halts. Hopefully in a few weeks it will be 6 strides, and then 7 and so on as he gets stronger.

 

[little_critter]

Don't give him anything to lean on. If you 'drop' him every time he leans on you he will soon stop leaning. I used to go round chanting to myself 'half halt, get off my hands' the Get off my hands was accompanied by me doing tiny choo-choo train actions with my arms which softens the contact and gives him nothing to lean on.
Also agree that short sessions are needed to begin with to allow him to develop the muscles he needs.

 

[CobsGalore]

Ok so I need to be 'dropping' him instantly every time he leans? I'm not one to usually play with the bit at all but if I didn't with him I think he would try pull my arms out their sockets!

What are choo-choo train actions with your arms!?? Can you explain please?!

 

[little_critter]

Pretend you are a toddler pretending to be a choo-choo train (arms bent at the elbow and going forwards in circles). Now scale that right down so they are very small movements that someone on the ground could hardly see.
The point to remember is that the movement comes from your elbow, not your hand or wrist. It is also a tiny little 'give' not a sawing or pulling.
I know I said drop him but that sounds a bit harsh. Think of it as not giving him a stable platform to lean on.
My girl used to lean so much she made my fingers numb. Now she holds her own head up.

 

[CobsGalore]

That's really helpful, I will try that thank you. I know you you mean by 'dropping', I sort of give him a slight give with one rein so he stops hanging off my arm.

I'm pleased to hear your girl used to be like this but now carries herself, how long did it take for you to notice a difference?

 

[deicinmerlyn]

Use left then right flexion and then straight, including half halts and changing the tempo in the pace until he is stronger. Ride with a distinct inside bend down the long sides and straighten on the short sides. Changed the rein and do the same and then use some outside flexion on the long sides and on a circle etc.

 

[little_critter]

It was a while ago now. I would say it took approx 3 months ish? To go from making my fingers numb to totally holding her own head up. But she was 11 so not young, although probably needed to still develop the correct muscles.
There's also the useful trick of 'stirring a cup of tea' if they grab the bit and dictate the pace. Don't grab the reins and argue, instead do an action a bit like stirring a cup if tea (wrist action only) it means you can't be tense and solid at the end if the rein and they have nothing to fight.
I love the way my instructor describes things!

 

[CobsGalore]

Thanks deicinmerlyn, will try the flexions with him.

Little_critter, next time I school him I'm going to be thinking of choo-choo trains and cups of tea now! Lol