how to get smooth transitions?

only_me

only_me

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when working my horse, i am getting a nice supple movement and a good step in trot and canter. however, when i go into a downwards transition he resists me, and comes up off the bit. how do i prevent this from happening? i am soft with my hands but when he fights i hold him more and then release when he relaxes...

need training tips please
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as this resistance is ruining the dressage as everything else is good and becoming more consistant
 
If you do a transition coming into a corner or at the end of a diagonal does that make any difference. Our grey mare is v bad at downward transitions, so I try to do them coming up to the fence in the school so that I can use less hand and more leg.
Our other mare likes to drop on her forehand in downwards trans, so need to give the bit a tiny wiggle before or during trans just to stop her leaning.
Fiona
 
maybe try doing a 10 metre circle in trot so he slows and its his idea to walk, joey occasionaly decides trotting is much more fun and fights me so i circle him and he decides its easier to walk, eventually he gives in and listens!
 
Agree with Boss, you need to make sure you are preparing your horse properly for the transition. Keep your upper body and arms relaxed and keep your fingers squeezing on the reins so your horse dosent get hold of the bit and hollow.
 
A bit unorthodox but my horse can get hollow from canter to trot so I find as I bring him back I relax my fingers on the reins as he goes to take his first trot step and he keeps a nice outline and does not resist the contact.
 
Make sure you're alowing him forwards in the downwards tranition and that you're not blocking him anywhere, when you feel that first hint of the slowe pace just try pushing your hands forwards fractionally. Also make sure your not blocking him with your body or your legs.
Really think forwards as you go and also make sure you're sitting still and smoothly through the change of pace.
It's almost hold for a fraction of the second with your whoel body then breath out and relax and thing forwards straight after as you go forwards into your new pace.

Ack transistions a darn site harder than you first think
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i agree about the preparation. also, from canter to trot, try keeping everything else constant and relaxed and just stop moving your pelvis, breathe calmly, stay light as you do it, and just stop it for a second. works with most horses, and because you haven't used the reins, the horses stay soft in the contact without hollowing.
taught to me by Christie Lomax, who'd just been taught it by Chris Bartle, many years ago...
works from walk to halt too, like a charm. and canter to halt.
 
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