How can I slow her down in prep for dressage clinic on Wed

[Ravenwood]

I feel that our flatwork has come on in leaps and bounds with huge thanks to my instructor friend ( a Swiss lady v into dressage and just brilliant with training) however my horse is so fast and just to touch her with your leg she nearly leaps out of her skin (bit of an exaggeration!) it takes her a long time to settle and relax anyway in any pace, even walk! but to do a shoulder in for example I really struggle to keep her straight and stop her from shooting sideways as soon as my leg goes on!

However my biggest problem is canter. We have a big build up with poles, shoulder in, leg yields etc but whatever I try as soon as I ask for canter her head shoots up and she charges off, during my last lesson I went large at a canter and then slowly brought her back to a smaller circle to collect her and eventually I could do a circle in collected canter but my god it was hard work! I can ask for canter just with a click of my tounge rather than using my legs but again she is always so fast.

On Wednesday I have a lesson with Peter Cook and really would appreciate some tips on slowing her down.

Typically today out hunting we did a lovely hand canter for a good long stretch and it was lovely - if only I could get her to do that in the school!

 

[ladylisa]

I cant wait to see the replys for this one as i am having the same problem with my mare, i am going to change her bit as she is only in a french link snaffle and my instructor is booked for 8 days time.
Isnt it so annoying when they won't listen and just want to do it their way.

 

[Judie]

Carl Hester uses the saying that 'you keep your leg on a sharpe horse and take it off a lazy horse'.

Basically your mare isn't accepting your leg, therefore she isn't working from behind in to your contact, and so she isn't using her back which means she looses her balance, hence the head shooting up and the running off in an attempt to gain some balance.

You need to work on - and you won't acheive it by the time you go to your clinic - getting her to accept your leg, don't back off her when you use it and she rushes off, she needs to learn that it isn't a) going to hurt her & b) a go faster request. Do lots of leg yeilding with her, this can all be done in walk as it's harder to rush off in the walk, loads and loads of turn on the forehand, quarters in both down the long side and on a circle. Half halt will be your best friend so make sure you apply the leg, she'll attempt to rush off, half halt with the outside rein, sponge the inside rein to keep the softness but keep your leg on, you don't have to be firm with your leg but you need to build up her confidence and education as to what it's for. Ensure everything you do is from the leg and don't forget the half halt, you will feel like you are half halting all the time, doesn't matter, she will soon get the picture and then you can build in some trot work. With the trot so the same exercises, with the turn on the forehand trot, transition to walk - turn, come out of it and trot on again for five or six strides, do it again, all the time half halting. Rise very slowly in your trot work, then a bit bigger and then slowly again so she starts to listen to your seat aswell.

I haven't said but I'm sure you know - REWARD every effort she makes with a good girl a little rub of the neck but don't back off - it's not a battle just calm systematic training.

Hope you enjoy your clinic.

 

[Ravenwood]

Superb reply thanks - I confess to already doing lots of turn on the forehand and it took ages for her to realise she had to go one step at a time when I asked and not just race round from facing one way to the other! When relaxed and settled her trot can be v good. I probably don't do enough half halts and as you say I must keep my leg on and see out the problem and I am verv concerned at the moment of hanging onto her mouth which is the last thing I want. Quite often I will ride with the inside hand very open to relieve any pressure from the bit and this does help to relax her.

So lots of transitions and half halts it is!