How do you get your horse in an outline ?

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emma001

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My horse i a showjumping so never really is in an outline/on the bit. I have tried all the time but trying to just makes him raise his head higher. Does anyone have excercises or tips for getting a horse in an outline who has never been in one ? Would draw reins be a possability ?
 
you need an instructor to help you and give you tips whilst watching you ride.

you need balance, rythmn and suppleness from side to side to then allow the horse to be supple through his back. circles, serpentines, demivolts, figures of eights help balance and if you are asking for the horse to bend it will help his suppleness a little.

half halts and transitions will also help with this and get the horse using his hind quarters.

a horse will not automatically work in an outline, it takes alot of time and patience. if you try to force it, you may injure your horse or cause behavioural problems.

find a trainer, get advice and work on it one step at a time.
 
Hes a showjumper so you need to cover him in any piece of leather you can find. A massive bit with lots of poll pressure and some extra tight draw reins. That should do the trick
 
I think you need to find yourself a good dressage instructor its much more complex than 'pull or strap its head in' please do not touch a pair of draw reins they just teach the horse to come into a false outline, come behind the bridle and the impulsion will not come from behind unless used correctly. Horses are rear wheel drive, your engine needs to be revved for a correct outline to happen.
 
Please dont go straight for the draw reins - your horse will look the part but will not be in a proper outline. Your horse needs to round his back and engage his hind quarters and to be moving forward with impulsion in order to collect himself correctly. Draw reins will create a false outline and he wont be working the correct muscles. I find lots of transitions work wonders with my horse :)
 
I agree with others, you really need a good instructor or trainer to watch you ride & show you. Please don't use draw reins to do so, an outline comes through working correctly from behind, not holding the head in.
 
Agree with those who have said about an instructor.

It took me a few months to get my mare going in an outline. By going in an outline - it was just that. She was still very tense and the outline was intermittent. She was more behind the bit, so although she looked pretty she wasn't truly round and supple.

I've only now (after a year) actually started to get her going the way she should be. So not only does she look pretty (if I do say so myself :p) she is actually using her body as one and coming round on to the bit rather than being disjointed, inconsistent and behind the bit.

Each horse is individual - it will have its own strengths and weaknesses. There is no generic exercise that will make them go round. That's why it is best to get lessons with a good instructor that can see your horses weaknesses. They can then give you specific exercises to work on.
 
thanks guys. not too sure about the gag bit, i prefer using a kinder bit ! So basically dressage lessonss and lots of transitioons and serpentines ?xx
 
Emma, I had a show jumper to train for dressage. It is hard work but entirely possible.

Relax. Relax. Relax. Then, relax some more. Definitely get a good intstructor. Despite horrid comments, I had to ride in side reins. On hacks, and in the school. The result was a happy relaxed horse in a snaffle and sensitive to my seat too. Only ever used the reins for soft aids for our lateral work. It's a mental paradigm shift for an ex-sj'er... I does not take long... Took us about three weeks to change his mind about contact and seat aids. Improved my jumping no end too.
 
Interesting question from a show jumper. The good s-j riders work their horses from behind anyway. Think about it. A horse cannot jump effectively unless he is using his hindquarters. If you get an instructor to help you improve hind engagement, his s-j performance should improve also. It is done with the seat and the legs, but you need someone on the ground to assist.
 
Sounds like he might not understand how to soften, you can teach this from the ground by just asking with the reins then as soon as he gives, release the reins and pat, do this a few times until he gets the idea that you can ask him to soften in his mouth with the reins, then when you're on board, you can work on engaging the back end into a softer contact rather than having ears in your face

An instructor will be able to give you exercises that suit you both and tell you what is working and what isn't
 
Erm my horse and I probably belong in the SJ bracket and yes I have all manner of leather equipment at my disposal! He is a fairly typical SJ from day 1 horse that naturally throws his head up and hollows. How do I get him into an outline? - happy mouth straight bar, plain bridle with no gimmicks a set of reins and most importantly "ask nicely". TBH I got him like this with hours and hours of really long and low work to build the muscle, then when I gradually bought him up a little from this and he naturally started to round with it. He also now does a cracking walk on a long rein which I am super proud of.

Problem I get though if I am jumping and have been doing a lot of flatwork (and he is not on a silly day), I forget what I am supposed to be doing soften my hands and play very gently left right he then drops into a beautiful outline and I start panicking "fence!, get your head up bl**dy fence, Oi we are going to die..." so you can aim for too much of a good thing.

Totally agree with jaquelin with SJers the engine is at the back and you want them to be able to sit on those hocks, so they already should be uphill.
 
As already posted lots and lots of patience and consistent work. I believe draw reins are a "quick fix" when what you want to do is help the horse work out what it is being asked to do which is work it's hind quarters, relax and stretch across its back and work into a soft contact. When I started with my girl 6 months ago we used lots and lots and lots of transitions, many schooling sessions just in walk and halt, even going back to long rein work on the ground to get her working her behind without the added rider weight. My instructor also used a large elasticated bandage on her tied in a figure of eight so that it hung below her bum and came over the saddle and tied across her chest, sounds weird but it helps the horse become aware that they need to move the back end forward and it is much gentler than using a pessoa lunging aid (and much cheaper!) although my girl is unflappable and doesn't mind anything wrapped/hanging on her but this may be more challenging with some horses so seek advise first. Anyway after months of seemingly small steps I now have a horse who is working in a lovely soft balanced outline and is strong and supple from nose to tail, so the work does pay off if you take your time. Good luck and patience really is the key.
 
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