how do i loose school? tips please!

Bowen4Horses

Bowen4Horses

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good morning all

hope the sun is shining where you are...

as i am too pregnant to ride anymore, i'm going to do some lunging/leading and loose schooling with my horse...

however, i've never loose schooled before... and wonder what exactly i should be doing? anyone have any good tips/exercises/etc? is it a case of letting him tear round madly?!? or trying to control his paces?!

by the way, it's be in a manege about 25 x 40m.

yours confusedly...
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I used to put a head collar on (in case she tried to roll!!) my pony, and "chased" her around at walk and trot, changing the rein every now and again - it was hilariously funny!!

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i have a feeling he's going to go 'whoopeee' and stick to canters and bucks... i can also imagine it's going to be hilarious...
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Don't know if I'm going to explain this very well, but I will try
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You don't want him running around like a fruit loop, you want him to be calm and listening to you. It's all about using your body language to move him around the arena (at this point I should say, be confident that your horse won't be able to jump out of the school!) You will find that you can stop, start, change horse's direction and pace all by how and where you position yourself, but it's very hard to explain how this is done without being able to physically show you, hopefully someone else on here can help you more than me!

I'm sure you have thought of this but I won't feel happy unless I say it also, be as sure as you can that your horse won't kick out at you before you attempt to loose school, if you have any doubts, don't try it until after baby has arrived
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I think it depends on your horse, to my boy (TBx) loose schooling is trotting and cantering around with some changes of rein (usually of his own choice). Is actualyl quite easy and relaxing for me plus I don't get dizzy like I sometimes do with lungeing!

For my kids pony (fat section A) its me running behind with lunge/ schooling whip trying to get him to move. Now that is hard work, and if you're pregnant I hope this won't be the case for your boy!

Both ways are really funny though, and when you put a jump into the equation is hilarious!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Don't know if I'm going to explain this very well, but I will try
smile.gif
You don't want him running around like a fruit loop, you want him to be calm and listening to you. It's all about using your body language to move him around the arena (at this point I should say, be confident that your horse won't be able to jump out of the school!) You will find that you can stop, start, change horse's direction and pace all by how and where you position yourself, but it's very hard to explain how this is done without being able to physically show you, hopefully someone else on here can help you more than me!

I'm sure you have thought of this but I won't feel happy unless I say it also, be as sure as you can that your horse won't kick out at you before you attempt to loose school, if you have any doubts, don't try it until after baby has arrived
smile.gif


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he defo won't kick out at me. defo. he might jump out though!
i'm getting better at lunging using just my body position/language. perhaps i should start him off on the lunge so he's listening to me. and keep it in walk/trot to start with. and wait until i start introducing jumps/canter!
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If you think he may go loopy, you may be better near the exit of the school rather than the middle as you won't be able to move fast enough to get out of the way. I sometimes lunge before I loose school to get the initial whizz out. It's hard as they are all different, but my mare will trot circles and school herself even if I'm standing in the corner - she's the sort of horse that probably knows most of the dressage tests off by heart! Good luck and keep safe.
 
I think that sounds like a good plan, have a go and see what happens, and if you are already aware of your body language when lungeing you should find it quite simple. Keep us updated
smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Don't know if I'm going to explain this very well, but I will try
smile.gif
You don't want him running around like a fruit loop, you want him to be calm and listening to you. It's all about using your body language to move him around the arena (at this point I should say, be confident that your horse won't be able to jump out of the school!) You will find that you can stop, start, change horse's direction and pace all by how and where you position yourself, but it's very hard to explain how this is done without being able to physically show you, hopefully someone else on here can help you more than me!

I'm sure you have thought of this but I won't feel happy unless I say it also, be as sure as you can that your horse won't kick out at you before you attempt to loose school, if you have any doubts, don't try it until after baby has arrived
smile.gif


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What she said lol

Seriously I loose school my youngster (in Holland it is a system called Freestyle) you use the arm nearest his head to indicate direction and the arm nearest his backend is the engine.

It is complicated to explain and has a lot to do with being in the corrct position, using small movements to indicate direction, turn and speed (too big and mine takes off like pooh off a spade and you have to get him back down again....and being told cut in front of him when he is going full pelt round a round pen is a bit of a 'I should coco moment'.

But in 2 months we can walk trot and canter change direction, transition up and down the paces calmly. Halt to walk halt to trot and trot to halt can do a passable 20 metre circle coming in off the large circle and am working on the serpentine (he is great an really tries but I get confused easily !) and changes in direction by crossing the school and taking the alternative track.

I was a total cynic before I tried this but the communication you get and the buzz at standing totally silent controlling your horse with only the mildest body language is wonderful. I love the way my boy locks an ear onto me and just concentrates 100%.......I was trained BHS lunging with cavesson, lunge reins, lunge whip but will admit I am a convert

Try the freestyle website of Emiel Voest its in dutch but babel fish works there is also some You Tube footage of him working some horses.
 
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