How do you get a new horse going well in a short time?

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skye123

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Couldn't really think of a better way to word the title sorry!

I have a uni riding comp on wednesday which involves getting on an unknown horse, warming up for 7 mins before having to do a dressage test. We then later have a showjumping round.

So what are your best tips to riding a new horse? I`ve ridden at the place where its being held a couple of times before and the horses need at least 20 mins to warm up/get them going properly so this may be interesting! :o :D
 
Begin with rhythm - assess and try to improve. Is he straight - assess and try to improve. Does he have any lateral flexibility, can he bend - assess and try to improve. Big ask in such a short period of time but running through these will give you a speed date (!) and an idea of how receptive the horse is to a new rider and small changes to his way of going on the flat and all will help over fences.

Good luck!
 
I hope for the horses sake that they are at least walked round for some time before the first rider gets on, I would then do a quick walk, trot and canter on each rein to get the feel of it.
Then pick up the contact and get on with some simple trot work, you need to get the best out of the horse in a very short time so are not going to be able to either sort out any issues or give the horse much opportunity to improve its way of going.
So concentrate on the basics, good forward paces, clear transitions and accurate movements, if you start with a clear plan you will not waste time that you do not have.
For the jumping, again a quick assessment through the paces but this time dont worry about the trot, get a good canter going before you jump the practise fence, aim for the horse to be really in front of your leg, this is assuming it will be fairly quiet, jump a couple of fences and go into your round thinking forward and positively.
 
A bit of a silly idea IMO. Getting on new horses and getting them going well is a fantastic skill, but why 7 minutes warm up??? I couldn't get my horses to go well in 7 minutes!! They should give you as long as you like to warm up, then you have a hope in hell of doing something with the poor horse.
 
They should have been warmed up and demonstrated before you get on. They were when I did the comps. It was then very feasible to get a good tune in 7 mins!

Dependant on horse used lots of transitions to have it thinking forward then lots of circles and change of bend and basic lateral work to get it to soften. You can do slot in 7 minutes if you utilize it well!
 
Ditto Santa - the horse will be thoroughly warmed up and demonstrated in all 3 paces before any riders get on! :)

I'd also say what you do depends on when you draw the horse - I had situations where I've been first on a really spooky horse and spent the whole time trying to get him listening to me rather than looking over the hedge, and also been the last on a sluggish cob so getting him forward was the main aim.

Good luck :) Which uni do you ride for?
 
also, given the time frame, i'd go more for 'how do you like to go?' rather than 'i want it like THIS'... sweetly happily forward is a really good start. if the horse is a mickey-taker let it know you're not a muppet early on, then reassure it as you ride forward! good luck!
 
Horses have always been warmed up/demoed first when Ive done it (from 1st rounds to nationals).

Best tip is to get the horse in front of your leg. Lots of transitions and into a steady contact whilst you work out how schooled it is. Practice centre lines too.
 
Booboos said:
A bit of a silly idea IMO. Getting on new horses and getting them going well is a fantastic skill, but why 7 minutes warm up??? I couldn't get my horses to go well in 7 minutes!! They should give you as long as you like to warm up, then you have a hope in hell of doing something with the poor horse.
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You get less time than that when you do your Stage IV ! A competent rider can assess a horse in that sort of time with no problem.
 
It's great fun and a bit of a skill. I agree that you mustn't rock the apple cart- plenty of people try to do too much and pay the price as the horse objects and then won't perform.
Get it forward, straight and balanced
 
Watch the demo very very carefully.

Do not assume that they way the horse goes in the demo is the way it will go for you. If you can watch riders from other teams on the horse too.

I know often the people riding in the demo will ride the horse in a certain way for tactical reasons, so watch what they are doing as well as how the horse is going.
 
kerilli said:
also, given the time frame, i'd go more for 'how do you like to go?' rather than 'i want it like THIS'... sweetly happily forward is a really good start. if the horse is a mickey-taker let it know you're not a muppet early on, then reassure it as you ride forward! good luck!
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Spot on! You adapt to it don't try to get it to adapt to you; think about jockeys that have never ridden the horse before and are expected to go out and win! Also remember it'll have had other riders on it either before or after you so you can't expect to much of it, it has enough to handle without trying new ideas.

Will do wonders for your experience in the future, hope you have a good time.
 
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