Impulsion or lack of!

[Irishcob6]

Bit of background info - horse currently schooling up to elementary level but competing at novice with scores averaging 65-67% (low-mid 70% for prelim) and eventing low 30s. Horse is totally laid back in life, only really perks up on the XC course despite being reasonably fit and fed high energy food.

Now for the actual question- how do we create more impulsion, forward going, ground coverage etc? These are always the comments on the bottom of our test sheets and I’m determined to improve this to gain the higher marks but no idea how! Horse isn’t the most off the leg and doesn’t really push through his shoulders, does respond to small taps with a schooling whip but we can’t use this for eventing dressage and also wouldn’t want to rely on it.

 

[Birker2020]

Bit of background info - horse currently schooling up to elementary level but competing at novice with scores averaging 65-67% (low-mid 70% for prelim) and eventing low 30s. Horse is totally laid back in life, only really perks up on the XC course despite being reasonably fit and fed high energy food.

Now for the actual question- how do we create more impulsion, forward going, ground coverage etc? These are always the comments on the bottom of our test sheets and I’m determined to improve this to gain the higher marks but no idea how! Horse isn’t the most off the leg and doesn’t really push through his shoulders, does respond to small taps with a schooling whip but we can’t use this for eventing dressage and also wouldn’t want to rely on it.

Are you sure there are no physical issues that make the horse not want to go forwards?
I know some horses can be naturally lazy but they can also be lazy due to physical limitations which you may not be aware of.
I'm speaking of my own horse here who (on the odd few times I got to ride him) was very lazy and laid back and had to be tapped to move on a bit. He has SI and possible neck issues both of which result in lack of impulsion.

 

[Irishcob6]

Are you sure there are no physical issues that make the horse not want to go forwards?
I know some horses can be naturally lazy but they can also be lazy due to physical limitations which you may not be aware of.
I'm speaking of my own horse here who (on the odd few times I got to ride him) was very lazy and laid back and had to be tapped to move on a bit. He has SI and possible neck issues both of which result in lack of impulsion.

He has mild hock arthritis which has been treated and the Vet is very happy with him - also has regular physio so nothing that should be causing an issue although your post yesterday on neck issues did get me thinking but unsure whether I’m just becoming paranoid as I’ve owned him 10 years and he’s always been more of a plodder than a horse with lots of energy! He can warm up beautifully in the XC warmup as it gets his blood up but think normal dressage is a bit boring for him ?

 

[oldie48]

It's counter intuitive, I know, but I've always understood that it's better to ride a forward horse with your leg on and a backward thinking horse with your leg off. Current ride is not lazy but he would be quite happy to let me nag him along but if I keep my leg off and only use it when he loses impulsion, I actually find him a lot more responsive. If he doesn't immediately react to a light leg aid, I will tap him quickly and lightly and generally if I take this approach when warming up I find he is much more on the aids once we start getting into the "real" work. I also find that as soon as he is properly working through he suddenly becomes a lot more energetic and powerful. As you can carry a schooling whip in the warm up, this approach should work for you. Obviously you do need to be confident that there's no physical reason for the lack of forwardness.

 

[McGrools]

I had one like this and i really had to get her blood up for dressage. The last ode i did i literally took her for a couple of gallops before the dressage. Was lucky in that i had access to massive parkland at that event.
That mare was 14 at that point and i think mildly arthritic, i do think when they want to slow down its perhaps due to physical issues x

 

[maya2008]

If it helps… my husband’s cob is laid back by nature, but moves with the amount of impulsion his rider demands - slow and steady for my husband and son, faster for me, and fastest for my daughter (who loves to canter, loves his rocking horse comfy pace and wants to go faster faster faster!). It’s nothing to do with the size or power of the rider for him, and all to do with the amount of energy with which the rider approaches the situation!

 

[sbloom]

Make sure the brakes aren't on - this could be anything about the saddle fit (including how well it fits you), pad, numnah, but of course is often us, unwittingly - our position, seatbones, hands etc. In our effort to drive we often cause more problems than we solve.