In need of some direction/motivation for schooling - pic

kyanya

kyanya

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I'm lacking motivation in my riding at the moment. As a bit of history, I've been sharing current boy since November. He's a 9yo cob, used mainly for jumping/hacking it seems, but as I ride in the evenings I have to ride in floodlit school without anyone on the ground, so I mainly school on the flat.

Recently I've been going up to the yard, tacking up whatever the weather, getting on and then after 15mins or so, I can't think of anything else to do. I know he could work better, but I've not been seeing any signs of improvement in him - he is quite inconsistent in his way of going, he'll work happily with no sort of outline, then if you ask him enough he'll go rounder, but mainly behind the bit or at least in a short outline with a tense neck.

I think I could do with some lessons on him to focus my mind on what we should be working on, and how we should be approaching it, but as he'll be leaving the yard in March and I'll begin sharing another horse, it's not really a long term investment.

I suppose I'm just not finding riding very fun at the moment, with no motivation or direction.

I do however have a recent pic of me riding him - pretty typical of his way of going if you're asking him to work, rather than just pootle along. Does anyone have any CC, and advice on what flatwork exercises you'd be doing with him.

Also, any CC on my position gladly received - lack of recent lessons and eyes on the ground aren't doing me any favours. I know my arms should have much more bend in them, and probably aren't helping towards the tenseness in his neck

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Even though you won't be riding this horse for much longer it is still worth investing in some lessons with a good instructor, as the techniques you learn can be carried over to the work you do with other horses. Plus, of course, any improvement in your position will also be of benefit when you ride other horses.

It is really difficult to advise over the internet from a single photo, plus to explain how to get him working better, and softer and more 'through' could take a long essay! He does look nice and active though! One obvious improvement would be to carry your hands more so there is a straight line from your elbow down your lower arm and the rein through to the bit. Avoid trying to pull his head down.
 
hi not easy when you know any work you do put into him will not be of any benefit too you personally (from this horse)

However it will help your overall riding and help you school the next horse, so it is really worth every minute of effort

Your right your arms are too straight and probably not helping at all. You need to relax your shoulders and bend your elbows, as they say think of the reins attached to your elbows not your hands. Try him with a slightly longer rein and encourage him to go into it with your leg

put him on a circle, ask for some inside flexion with your inside leg on the girth, outside slightly behind and open inside hand (do not move it back, just to the side)
Then give slightly with the inside rein when you can just see his eye. he should drop his head down and forward a little, reward! Then push him with your leg into outside hand.

To get him to 'give a little' flex outside hand twice and RELEASE! Repeat, the 'release' is his cue to drop a little, if he does reward him (it may take a while)

What is he like on a long rein? will he stretch down?

you can use poles especially on a circle to encourage him to stretch down (he will to look at them if he is relaxed and not held too tightly) Do it on a long rein too. Again it may take a while for him to stretch and look at them. some horses higher their head and rush over them to start with, but keep asking him to flex and drop and he will eventually. If he does go head high over the poles keep him in walk until he does drop
 
One more quick thought - have you tried working him over ground poles to get him to stretch through his neck and back? You can lay them out before you get on. There are lots of different exercises you can do with them as well and helps makes flatwork more interesting for you and the horse!
 
At least you are aware of the faults in his way of going which is more than many! Yes, you are right, he is tense in his neck, and as the previous poster suggested, you maybe need to carry your hands more. However, this would not improve his way of going as he needs to learn to stretch down more at the withers and not take such a strong hold on the reins. Lessons with most BHS instructors will not help this as they tend to encourage you to shorten your reins and push him into the contact. This is the last thing he needs right now. He needs to be worked on a much longer rein, ove his back in a long and low outline until he is totally relaxed through his wither. Only then should he be asked to come up and work in a 'correct' outline. It is impossible to explain how to do this in a post. It takes months of training. I think that the best thing for this horse is for him to have someone ride him who can actually do this, or find an instructor who is not obsessed with rider position and driving him into a contact, and who will work on improving the horses way of going before nagging about rider position. This horse would never come right by correcting your position alone.
 
Your comments on my position are quite enlightening - I've always been nagged by BHS instructors about having reins too long and hands too high! Rein length is something I've really struggled with though - I have quite short arms compared to the length of my back, so on reflection I think my reins do need to be a bit longer than the average person, which is possibly something instuctors have not considered.

When I've tried to get him long and low, I struggle to get him to work over his back and take the contact down, as he just puts his head up and becomes much less active than in the photo. Poles on a circle seem like a great idea. Do you put them at trotting pole distance apart for some of the circle, or at the 3, 6, 9 and 12 hour marks on the circle?
 
I think every body else had covered the bases- and i'm not a qualified instructor.

But for inspiration I've started reading Carl Hester- 'How to train you horse and enjoy it!' and its got lots of little exercises and tips and is an easy 'pick up put down' book with a good index. And but using the exercises in there and lots of hill work on a long rein (i know you said you could only ride in the evening though which makes this tricky) my horse has gone from the same as your picture to a natural outline in a couple of months. Always work him for 1st 10/15 minutes on a long rein to encourage him down before asking for an outline.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Down-Earth-Dressage-Train-Horse/dp/1872119204/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1296050160&sr=8-2
 
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