How important is riding in an outline?

Nickles1973

Nickles1973

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 April 2009
Messages
540
Visit site
As title really. I have had my ex racer for just over a year now. To begin with I did much more hacking than schooling as I was advised to build his fitness gradually and it gave me a chance to really get to know him and his silly tb ways. I have had a flat work lesson virtually once a fortnight (his self harming issues allowing) since last May and in some ways we've made lots of progress. I couldn't even get him to canter a circle he was so unbalanced in the beginning and motorcycle on the wall of death comes to mind when we cantered large around the school lol! Now he is much more balanced, he is much more responsive off my leg. I have started adding some lateral movements and I have always done lots of circles and pole work to increase his suppleness. But, I cannot ride him into an outline for toffee! I can just about manage on the left rein to get him to come round for short periods although imo I think he's a little too round at times. On the right rein he is virtually impossible. He will just get slower and slower and more and more stubborn the more I ask. I had his teeth done last Thurs, he's seen a Mctimmony lady and had his saddle checked. All checked out ok so I'm pretty sure it's not physical other than he finds it difficult. So how important is it? Should I just be content with him as he is and hope that over time with more regular schooling he will eventually get better or is there anything else I can try that will help us both? Any advice from you lovely people is much appreciated, thanks.
 
How do you ask for a contact?
For a horse to go on the bit properly, the hindquarters need to be really working. If your horse isnt fully working from the back and you are asking with your reins (for a false outline)it may be he is fighting.
Otherwise it could be that he needs to build up a bit more muscle to be able to keep his head there. (As you said he can for short periods)
With my horse I tend to just ask for flexion to each side for a few strides each, to get her neck supple enough and then ask for flexion on corners, and Roo puts her own head where it should be

Sorry for waffling, hope that helps
 
I prefer to see horses working correctly over their backs, as we as riders sit on a nice, weak, unsupported bit. By helping the horse to use its back and stomach muscles we create a firmer 'bridge' to carry us.

Just think, how many U shaped bridges do you see? You can also feel it yourself if you were to go on hands and knees, and hollow your back - can you move around easily? Then engage tummy muscles, and 'lift' your back. It becomes much easier.

So in answer - yes, IMO it is very important, not nessacarily an outline, but at least working forwards, soft and stretching, with the tummy muscles engaged.
 
I do get where you're coming from CrazyMare as it has been stressed to me by the Mctimmony lady that to improve George's topline and strengthen his back he should be working long and low whilst going forwards. Trouble is he's got so used to working forwards on a nice long rein that he now finds it really difficult to work into a contact. He seems to naturally want to want to work with his neck out in front of him and like I said he is much more balanced than he was. I have thought of getting someone else to ride him to see how he goes for them, but tbh I think this will only serve to stress me more!
 
I have just come across this thread. I agree with previous responses, but would like to add the goal should not be to get your horse to work in an outline, but to get it to work with impulsion (i.e. go forward properly), in a rhythm, and stay straight (which means it is not leaning in, falling out, putting more weight on one side, etc). If the horse is doing all that, it will naturally work in an outline.

The reason this is desirable is to balance the horse, make it easier for the horse to carry you, develop the horse's muscles, improve suppleness, and also make it easier to control: if it is truly in front of the leg and working in a rhythm, etc etc, is is more responsive to the aids and is less likely to tank, spook, or whatever (not impossible, just less likely). Balance is very important, for lots of reasons, not least being, I believe, that it can help prevent unsoundness. A horse that uses itself correctly is less likely to put pressure on the wrong places, carry weight in the wrong place, and therefore go lame. Think about how you walk, or even sit: if you slouch around, you are not helping your back any; if you shuffle along and not pick up your feet, not only are you more likely to trip, but you aren't using your leg/ankle muscles correctly and might develop a weakness there.

The difference in riding a horse that is working correctly and one that is behind the leg, strung out, etc, is enormous. Once you've sat on a horse that has been trained correctly you will never want to ride one that isn't.
 
My ex racehorse is much worse on the right rein too. Is this perhaps because they race the other way, and their training has been done on the left rein?

Mine definately prefers working in giraffe, compared to working in an outline. I've had mine for 18 months and I found draw reins helped massively to introduce him to what is required. I only use drawreins in the school for short periods of time and I don't use them every time I school.

My horse will now use himself properly and work in a nice outline in trot without the use of gadgets, but he still won't do it in walk or canter without an argument unless he's in draw reins.

I do a lot of work in the pessoa which has helped him too.

I think it takes a long time, especially if you have an older ex-racehorse. My one is 9 and I seem to having more trouble compared to people who have bought 4/5 yr old ex racers.
 
I've got two ex-racers. One works well in an outline as he has been worked on for years and does a bit of dressage. My new one is giving me the odd few seconds of nice work, but it's really important that the back end is working well. It's not the same as rushing though. A horse can use it's back end without actually going fast, so it's not the same as speed. Think more power....the back end should be propelling the front end forward. With my new one, I am doing lots of transitions from walk to halt, trot to walk. She is also far worse on the right rein. Don't make an issue out of the right rein. As soon as it turns into an issue, just quietly take it back onto the left rein and get it settled again and when settled, maybe just do a half circle on the right and then go straight back to the left rein again. Ride "up" in your downwards transitions, don't just collapse into them. When you do get a few seconds of nice work, allow the hand forward and give them a big pat and be happy with the bit you have got until next time.
x
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top