Interesting schooling ideas?

Captain Bridget

Captain Bridget

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I've recently started sharing a new horse, he's a 13 year old ex racer, he was in racing for 9 years and then professionally reschooled.

I've ridden him about 5 times now, only once on a hack though. I was planning on hacking with someone on the yard he's at but she hacks in the morning and my work shift has now been changed from the afternoon to the morning so that's not possible.

I have access to 3 schools, one with lovely footing which I try and get in, the others are not very good, a lovely round pen and a jumping paddock, but I'm not brave enough to jump him yet!

I'm looking for ways of making our schooling more interesting and helpful, but preferably in walk and trot at the moment. He has a tendency to buck/fling himself about a bit when asked to canter/cantering so as my confidence isn't the best I'm working on walk and trot and getting them good before progressing.

Ideas including the round pen are welcome too, I lunge him before I ride as he gets silly and I want to minimise it whilst I'm on him!

So ideas for what we can do please!

Paprika or Texas BBQ Pringles available, or Sour Skittles or cold and flu medicine!
 
Depends what you want to achieve really. I would go and ride in the jump paddock, just for variety, school round them etc. Polework adds a bit of variety - trot poles / in patterns / on circles etc, or poles placed x number of strides apart and work on getting more / fewer strides in - in walk or trot. Or if it's just for amusement rather than pure schooling, set them out into corridors to trot through / rein back in / halt in front of / sidestep along / s-bends etc TREC-style for something different to do. Likewise use jump stands / cones to weave in and out of in trot or to give you markers to leg yield between etc.

Alternatively, lateral work is your friend :p
 
The usual stuff really, figure of eights, serpentines are very good for flexing and bending. Row of trotting poles - makes both horse and rider think.
 
I would suggest using the round pen to lunge in before you get on, getting rid of any hoolies, then pick something you want to work on that day, control, accuracy, way of going etc. I find even a one off lesson fuels ideas.
 
SaffronWelshCob said:
Can't offer any actual advice, but i recommend buying 101 schooling exercises, its a fab book. I always found schooling boring, but love working through that book :-)
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101 Jumping Exercises from the same series is also great; the first section is all ground poles which help you work on precision, setting up your approach and working on suppleness. Lots to keep your interest and sharpen your skills while you get to know each other. Amazon have both books for a good price.
 
I was going to say what JFTD said, we put out jump wings to weave in and out of, also puting poles in odd posistions and walking and troting round them, one of my faves is making a.square but open the corners wide so you can go in and out and over them then as the.horse gets more suple move them closer together then change to a triangle.

Xx
 
JFTD said:
Depends what you want to achieve really. I would go and ride in the jump paddock, just for variety, school round them etc. Polework adds a bit of variety - trot poles / in patterns / on circles etc, or poles placed x number of strides apart and work on getting more / fewer strides in - in walk or trot. Or if it's just for amusement rather than pure schooling, set them out into corridors to trot through / rein back in / halt in front of / sidestep along / s-bends etc TREC-style for something different to do. Likewise use jump stands / cones to weave in and out of in trot or to give you markers to leg yield between etc.

Alternatively, lateral work is your friend :p
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Thanks everyone, some great ideas! In the big school it's separated into two with some cones and I decided to weave through them, first in walk then trot, turning back the second time this all became too exciting and we shot off across the school!

I'd really like to do some TREC style things, a few issues I found though, he either is very stubborn or simply doesn't know how leg yield or rein back! I think some in hand work is needed!

The 101 schooling exercises has been in my basket on Amazon for a while, I shall finally invest in it!
 
Things I do with mine are.....

Pole work

Cones to weave in/out of

Lots of lateral work, really is your best friend especially to stop them thinking of being naughty!!

We can't put you could lunge him over poles on ground and also jump him on the lunge so you can get an idea of what he's like.

I also find lessons really beneficial as it keeps me focused and gives me things to work on. Otherwise schooling is very dull xx
 
Captain Bridget said:
Do enlighten me! Do I need to have someone on the ground too?
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I never have anyone on the ground.

Both should be completely intuitive from weight aids and positioning. Lateral steps (as opposed to actually lateral schooling work) - e.g. side passing is easy to teach, shove them them up against the fence and guide them sideways - should step under your weight and move away from your outside leg. Rein back, just halt, slip your legs back (bringing weight slightly forward), and guide into a couple of steps backwards - not by pulling him back, but don't allow him forwards either. course it's easier if they're supple, willing and obedient in the first place.

Makes gates much easier! ;)
 
JFTD said:
I never have anyone on the ground.

Both should be completely intuitive from weight aids and positioning. Lateral steps (as opposed to actually lateral schooling work) - e.g. side passing is easy to teach, shove them them up against the fence and guide them sideways - should step under your weight and move away from your outside leg. Rein back, just halt, slip your legs back (bringing weight slightly forward), and guide into a couple of steps backwards - not by pulling him back, but don't allow him forwards either. course it's easier if they're supple, willing and obedient in the first place.

Makes gates much easier! ;)
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Thank you! I'll give that a go when I ride tomorrow. May have a potter round the jump paddock too if my mother is willing to move poles for me!
 
Also ask the other rider (you said share so I am presuming someone else is also riding him?) what they are doing/working on. There's no point you both working on entirely different things, or going about the same thing in a different way...
 
JFTD said:
Ahh you need a pole slave :D Mothers don't normally cut it. You ask for a spread and they lay out a picnic ;)
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Ha and thats why you have me :D

Sorry off topic but any chance I can swap this bottle of whiskey I have here for you for my coat tomorrow?
 
SaffronWelshCob said:
Can't offer any actual advice, but i recommend buying 101 schooling exercises, its a fab book. I always found schooling boring, but love working through that book :-)
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This ^^ it is a great book, I have found so many interesting things to try and certainly some exercises to help you with his balance which may well help with the canter.

Good luck
 
JFTD said:
Ahh you need a pole slave :D Mothers don't normally cut it. You ask for a spread and they lay out a picnic ;)
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Hahaha, oh that made me laugh! Everyone in the room is giving me odd looks now!

I don't think she'll be very keen, maybe I'll have to postpone the poles until I can persuade my OH to come with me.

The only other person riding him is his owner who just rides at weekends when home from uni, I think he mainly hacks him but I shall ask him.

I shall definitely get that book then, two recommendations is enough for me!
 
dafthoss said:
Ha and thats why you have me :D

Sorry off topic but any chance I can swap this bottle of whiskey I have here for you for my coat tomorrow?
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I was just going to ask if you were still around tomorrow... And indeed if you fancied either being a pole slave or hacking out? :D

CB, I have much experience of asking for simple things done with poles / jumps and getting very odd things offered instead :cool: Bless them for trying, but really :D
 
Yeah I'm at college untill lunch time then I'm free :D so what ever you fancy doing I can do pole bitch with the clicky camera :p.

Sorry total thread hijakc :o

At least your mum will try to do poles mine claims they are to heavy and she cant pick them up so its quicker to get off and do them my self if shes arround :cool: so I tend to use dad for poles.
 
awesome, I have land rover stuff to do in the morning and a bit of work :mad: so that would be great :D

my mum only does plastic poles - she complains if I use proper ones :p She does have a bad back though so it's a bit much to expect her to lug them around tbf...

Yep, total thread hijack, sorry :o
 
Ok I will text you when I'm free and then we can sort out a time :)

Sorry more total thread hijack :o but if I get photos I will make JFTD post them this time :p
 
He is fab is J but I'm slightly worried about being his passenger :o his if in doubt take one out isnt a strong point of mine :eek: and I'm going to need several twists in my stirups as I'm not lankey like you :p its going to be pure class.
 
It will make for amusing photos anyway :p nah he's easy as anything all you have to do is point and hang on :D
 
What in a have you seen how shocking this rider is? I bet no riding school would admit to having taught her kinda way?
 
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