How to get a cob to extend?

MrsMozart

MrsMozart

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Okay, so Daughter was riding Little Cob today. He looked really rather nice, on the bit, powering through from behind
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Daughter is trying to teach him to collect and extend.

He's got the idea of the collection, but can't seem to get the extension. Poor Daughter's was kn*ckered!

I was trying to explain how to get the extension, but I can't remember
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I could have got on and given it a good go, but with hubby watching there was no chance of that (x weeks to go before I can get back on
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).

So, does anyone have any advice/exercises that will help?

Prety please and hot chocies with cream and sprinkles
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Trotting poles.... set up at the right distance for him then each time increase the distance between the poles, it encourages them to open the shoulder and stretch.
 
instructor running down long side behind you with a lunge whips (only took a couple of goes) they have to find it I think if that makes sense.

frank has cue word too
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hot choc please.

(am v accident prone just got back from a and e after getting harpic loo cleaner in my eye ow! so deserve extra sprinkles)
 
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instructor running down long side behind you with a lunge whips (only took a couple of goes) they have to find it I think if that makes sense.

[/ QUOTE ]

Worked for Shadow too, once he realised it wasn't a case of tanking off down the long side!
 
I know what you mean E!
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As I was trying to explain to Daughter, I was thinking that it's all in the 'feel', in the balance between seat, legs and hands. Different as well for different horses.

He's fairly immune to the whip, but will keep it as a fall back if the poles don't work
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. I think that once Daughter has felt it, she'll know and will get the feel
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I still remember an Arab stallion - the extension in trot was incredible - felt like flying and floating all at once
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Hot choccy to you, but not sure it's wise letting you loose with sprinkles...
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Hope it's better soon!
 
Frank is VERY immune to whip in general, like totally
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(and my legs oh dear!) but apparently instructor with whip was much more worrying apparently

I actually found it hard to ride to to start, kept leaning back and things as he would take me by surprise. I'll be careful with sprinkles. honest

*splutters and chokes as hot choc goes down wrong way*
 
Some years ago, we had a discussion at our yard and we worked out that THE way to get better elevated paces from pretty much any ned was to glue a polo to the front of each of ned's knees! I almost peed myself at the image this created. If you try it MrsM, PIX PLEASE!!!!
 
Try coming round collected off the corner, and then across the diagonal sit up and push him forwards with your pelvis and your legs, but ask gently- not all at once. A dressage judge appears to like graduated appearances, as it's what A does on her little poncey pony- asks for it to appear so they've picked up steam by X...
 
Scratches head and tries to remember through mists of time ...

... 10m circle in diagonal cornerss, three or four trotting poles on long side.
circle, on through poles, normal distance - repeat a few times, move poles out a bit.
circle, through poles at slightly extended distance - repeat a few times.
and so on.

Then as a development, when that's nailed, put the trotting poles on the diagonal, collect as if on your circle as you turn onto the diagonal, extend across the diagonal. At this stage, poles moved to a really good extension.

Final one I seem to recall was one pole on the diagonal, across x, just reminding the horse he was aiming for extension.

Now someone can tell me all of this went out with the ark!
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Edited to add 's' to 'pole' in middle section. 'trotting pole' being rather like 'one matching armchair'
 
I remember doing this when training, having drawn the least popular horse that day, a massive ungainly mare of dubious temperament, called Hoopoe (probably why she was bad tempered) and she actually did a really good extension.
We were honoured to be being (to hell with grammar) taught by the chief instructor that day, and as they hadn't yet invented self esteem, she said 'Good God, that was quite reasonable, I suppose you can't be completely bloody hopeless.'

Made my day!
 
I don't want to rain on your parade, but many cobs just aren't built for extension, depending on their shoulder conformation, so it is unreasonable to expect huge strides.
However, I would ask by collecting him on a circle in trot in the corner of the school before the long side. Count the rhythm out loud, then ride down the long side and think about rising with your pelvis going towards his ears, and allowing a little with the rein. Keep counting the same rhythm.
S
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SA - ta, Daughter is well used to such comments
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Shils - ta. I wondered how much he'd be able to stretch out given his cob confo
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My aim is to get Daughter to feel the differences, to work her way up through the speeds rather than just the gears
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. He's doing very well at the very basic stuff; it's interesting to see what else he can do
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Welcome to my world! Extended poles have hoped me a bit, however I have come to except we will never have a really true extension. However I still do well at Novice, so just try and pick up as many marks in other places as possible.

Now collection easy, you should see our canter pirouettes, he, he!
 
i was taught, to really shorten stride on short sides of school, sit to it and give lots of half halts, and then in the corners start rising and really pushing them forward, open your hands up slightly but dont throw the reins at them else they hollow and dont do it right
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It works on all the diff horses I school
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