HELP, how to get her to soften and round??

Perfect_Pirouette

Perfect_Pirouette

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I've agreed to school a lady down the roads horses for her as currently she has no rider.

One of them is fine, but the other,a 12 year old 15.1 cob X really needs some work.

When I first rode her it was immediately clear that she hadn't ever had much schooling. She is very unbalanced and unsupple. I ask her for some bend on a circle and she honestly doesn't know what I am asking her to do. She has only previously been driven, a broodmare and for the past couple of years a happy hacker. She actually does have very nice, floaty paces though so I really want to knuckle down and do some serious work with her as I think she could be lovely if schooled correctly.

As she's quite unbalanced,for the past couple of weeks I've mainly been lunging her in side reins to try and help her learn to balance on circles etc. She's been doing well with that and is looking better, still not really rounding though.

Today, I got on her for the first time again and although she seems a bit more balanced, she is INCREDIBLY tense in the neck and hollow. I started off doing lots of long and low work with her in walk, on both reins for about 20 minutes and really tried to encourage her to stretch down and over her back, which she did. I then took the contact up and she instantly resisted and went really tense in the neck. She also evades any which way she can and is so hard to keep straight, but eventually I had her straight, forward and my contact was consistent, everything was there, but she was still very tense, stiff and hollow in her neck.

Is there anything I can do to try and get her to relax and soften? She's actually not on her forehand at all really, she seems to work from behind fairly nicely, a lot easier than my boy and she's also VERY forward, I'm used to riding in spurs but actually don't need them with her, although I'll see how she is after being back in regular work.

I'd really appreciate any advice.
 
What bit is she in? I'm a big fan of Heather Moffetts recommendation to use a hard rubber pelham with an elastic curb chain with 2 reins to send gentle vibrations down the reins which helps to soften the jaw which will in turn soften the neck. Its worked on every horse I've ever tried it on.
 
She's currently in a snaffle. I'm considering trying her in something else to see if it helps and then swapping her back to the snaffle once she's softened!
 
Changing lateral bend often, helps with this (not changing the rein but bend to the outside then to the inside) when she's got the hang of this push her sideways one or two steps with your leg and then back the otherway. Really to start making her listen. As soon as she relaxes her jaw and drops her head (even slightly) Slacken the rein slightly and use voice 'good girl' or something similar.. and if she really relaxes pat her on the neck. Anything to praise her for doing what youwant. It sounds like she's never been asked before so she doesn't know what you mean so anything that is getting towards what you want you must praise... She obviously can work in a shape as she does in side reins but if she is truely coming from behind then she will drop her head when she stretches (which is what the lateral bending is all about)

BnB

PS I'm not a fan of chopping and changing bits from a snaffle... usually if they won't take a snaffle forward then , you may get poll flexion from another bit but all they do is sit behind it which is not what you want at all
 
My inital thoughts was back to be honest.

It's a bit awkward because she's not my horse but her owner's lovely and genuinely cares and does her best by her so I'm sure getting her back/teeth checked wouldn't be an issue.

I will continue working her slowly over the next couple of weeks and really concetrate on getting her going forward and losening/suppleing her up. If there' still not even a slight improvement over the next few weeks then I will say she needs to have her checked out.

Many thanks for all your help!
 
Just echo the above in getting basic physical checks ie teeth, back checked so you know everything is in order before you proceed further. Please don't put her in a pelham! She needs to learn to accept the contact and this may take some time, there's no hurry. Get the basics in place and progress will be made, often quite quickly once the horse understands what you are asking. Find a sympathetic effective instructor to get you on track - absolutely invaluable! And the best of luck!
 
I would also recommend staying with the snaffle at this stage - She just sounds as though she hasn't worked and schooled enough up to this point. It sounds like you're doing all the right things and more of the same will get her right. The lunging will do wonders and when you're on top working in 20m circles on both reins with a break out to the rest of the school to stretch her every 5 minutes.

It's always harder and more stressful working with other people's horses. I know because it's almost all I've done. But it does make you a better rider and teaches you so much more - the pressure to succeed etc etc
 
Don't worry, I would never stick her in a pelham, one of my pet hates. I know she needs to learn to balance, go forward into the contact etc for her to form any sort of outline. I'm not after a quick fix, I may just need to explain to the owner that she's not going to see results overnight with this mare and that it will take some time. There' just pressure when it's someone else's horse and I'm not exactly Zara Phillips lol :D

I have an absolutely amazing trainer who I'm sure could help me out a lot with her, but tbh I'm having lessons with mine every month and just cant afford to pay to have one on someone elses too atm, but yes it would defo help so will see!
 
When you've finished a lesson on yours, as soon as you can, make a note of what you did during the lesson. Ok, the instruction that you had regarding your horse's performance may not be relevant but a note of the exercises will help you plan sessions with this other horse. Having it written down (including what happened when did that particular exercise) will give you lots to use for this horse and many others.

*a pardalis top tip*
 
What type of snaffle is she in. As neither of mine like the nut cracker action of the eggbut snaffle. I put one on a rubber snaffle and the other goes well in a french link. I know quite a few other horses who also don't like the eggbut action.
 
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