How long did it take have a consistent/correct outline in your horse (no gadgets)?

4 years on and I have it more or less in walk and trot - not at all in canter yet. Molly is being re-schooled, is 14 year old Welsh D.

But only been actively working on it for 3 years and for most of that time battling with bits/noseband to find a dressage legal combo she likes. We have that now and the last few months made much more progress.

My pony works very well from behind, 3 really naturally active and correct paces (unaff dresage judges really like her because of that) but she is yet to soften over the back consistently and relax into the contact - she is often against the hand especially in canter and hollows throwing her head up very high when excited.

When I got her she had developed an upside down neck and it has taken a long time to undo that so she physically can work properly.

I'm not using any gadgets - just a drop noseband and determination ;)
 
The replies here are good to read, and I'm feeling a little more reassured that I'm going down the right road with my 5yr old mare..... she was quite immature when I bought her last year, but had been given a good basic start. For various reasons, we didn't do much last year, and she was turned away for the winter as we don't have any facilities. The added problem we have is my lack of riding fitness, so we are both starting together this year. I'm approaching it quietly, she offers a nice outline/contact in self-carriage when we do circles etc, when her rear end is engaged, in between that she 'nose-pokes' to balance. So far, I'm letting her do that as I know I'm not helping her balance, and won't until I get fitter. She doesn't lean, I don't hold her, so I don't want to start down that track of forcing her into a contact. I'm fully expecting it to take a year or two, but hope to have a balanced horse that is a pleasure to ride at the end of it.
 
It seems to me that five is still very young - her skeleton and muscles are still developing, so patience, patience. I've had my IDx for three years, and have brought him back into work after him having a broken hip (wasn't mine at the time, took him on loan to see if I could bring him back into useful work as he was going to waste in a pasture and he's fab.). He's gotten stronger, more supple and more balanced over time, and we're only now starting to really work up from behind and getting the power in his hind activated. We'll see how far we can go....still working on consistency, but he's far more engaged and forward, and is feeling much better in himself. Sympathetic and steady work over as long as it takes is beneficial over the long term.
 
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