in an outline? Please help.

[FrankieBoy]

I'm aware that for a horse to be working in the correct outline, it must be stepping underneath itself and using its backend properly, however I'm having a few problems with my mare. She tends to fix her head in what I can only imagine to be quite an uncomfortable position, arching her neck in a sort of U shape. What can I do to engage her backend properly, and encourage her to soften? Its as though someone has been riding her and just yanked her head about until she was 'on the bit' and this has lead to her riding in a completely un natural and fixed outline. Are there any schooling exersises I can do to help encourage her to work longer and lower?

Thanks in advance

 

[kerilli]

it sounds to me as if she might have been worked in draw reins, they can make horses go in a fixed, false outline.
if you have already had teeth, back and neck, and saddle checked, to make sure there is no discomfort there, then softening when she tucks her head in should work, and giving tiny alternate squeezes on the reins on a circle in trot, while engaging forward with legs, can show them that you want them to go long and low. (hard to explain, a bit of v gentle trial and error should help!)
lunging in a chambon is a good idea, it will reward her if she stretches downwards.
hope that helps a bit.

 

[FrankieBoy]

Thank you, i guess most of it is trial and error, but at least you've pointed me in the right dirrection.

Cheers

 

[Roody2]

I've just got one who is exactly like this!!
I think I'm going to have to undo what he has been taught before I can start from scratch teaching him the right way to engage.
Basically as kerilli has said, that involves lots of long and low work and encouraging them not to overbend and take the nose into the chest.
It is also trial and error with the bit you use - if you have her in a hanging cheek I would stop using that and try an eggbut or loose ring bit.
Lungeing in a chambon or pessoa (with the clips going down between the front legs) will also help to teach her the right way of going.

 

[oldvic]

Riding smaller circles in walk just keeping a contact, not really worrying about the outline but really concentrating on keeping the shoulders infront of the hind legs and holding her with your leg - not as easy as it sounds! If done right, she will start to soften her outline, even if it takes a bit of time. Leg yielding in walk also helps to get hold of the hind legs and make them react to your leg. Be very sure that your contact stays elastic wherever she goes. If she takes the rein forward and down, follow but try not to lose the contact and if she drops the contact try to keep it so that she can't evade by coming behind you. She can't take the rein forward if there isn't a contact to take so dropping the bit is not an option. The neck coming longer because you let go is cosmetic and not going to help in the long run - she must take the neck longer by taking the contact. Walking and trotting around and over poles also helps. As her rhythm and balance improve, so will the outline.

 

[puddleshark]

With my mare, this helps - Working on a circle in slow, rhythmic sitting trot, concentrating on getting the horse's frame more uphill, the pace more elevated, keeping a featherlight but slightly blocking contact until she stops resisting, then if she softens even slightly, moving the hands forward to allow her to lengthen her paces (slightly!) and lengthen through the neck.