horse needs to be more forward and in to a contact

[samp]

I did Prelim 7 and every comment on y test was basically this, other than that the test was foot perfect, so how can I get my horse to liven up in the arena? I got 62% so had she have been forward I would have done a lot better. I was quite disappointed as I have been working so hard to get her more forward going. We are planning in huntin gto help her

 

[dianchi]

Just need to build it up gradually, if u try too much you would lose the paces and rythm which is also marked.
TRy doing some forward work in the school, ushing on down the long sides and shortening along the short sides.

 

[kick_On]

it's all about hind engagement

, not going FASTER. So you need to be able to feel more spring/power without covering ground. Sound daft but i had lesson at weekend and this it what i was working on.
I would suggest that you have a lesson and get your instructor to show you different between engaging hock and not and then you sit back on board and see if you can feel different, cos there is a marked differnce, then you have to be able to control power

 

[samp]

I have dressge lessons and we eventually get her more forward and springy and it feels good, I just can't get that feeling in my test

 

[kick_On]

you going to hate me, it just prastice prastice and more prastice

it will come but muscle does needs time to built up

 

[Orangehorse]

You are probably tense in the test if you can do it OK at home.

Try breathing in and out slowly, really filling your lungs, say breathe in 4 strides, out 6 strides. At canter in for 4 strides, out for 4 strides. If you hold your breath, which is surprisingly easy to do and not realise, you go 'dead' on the horse and he is wondering what is going to happen next, it also makes you a dead weight for him to carry!

 

[kerilli]

is she obviously varying in outline because the contact isn't constant enough? sending her on until she is actively seeking the contact forward and down, and then working on keeping that feeling throughout the work, as you bring her back and get her dancing under you a bit more, really helps.
my instructor always says "the inside hand acts like a handbrake on the inside hind leg"... this always encourages me to keep my inside hand still and constant, which the horses really like.
hope that helps a bit.

 

[samp]

I do try and breath but I guess sometimes it is not always possible when you are trying to keep your horse going forward. I will try all exercises thanks

 

[happihorse]

Obviously this is something that you need to work on at home and by getting the right feeling in the lesson is the first step. Getting it consistently at home will take a lot of practice and in test a lot more still! However, ask your trainer what exercises you can do at home and in the warm up to improve this so that you have specific things to work on, rather than just going round and round trying to get the right feel. I would suggest lots of transitions, both within the pace, between paces and to and from halt. The tranisitions need to be very correct to get the maimum benefit, so you need to make sure you keep your horse active behind and ask him to slow with your seat rather than reins. Getting the horse of a lighter leg aid in upward transitions will also help.

Good luck.