Just can't get it right (dressage tips please!)

S

Skhosu

Well-Known Member
Joined
12 May 2006
Messages
8,193
Visit site
Last week got 'lacking impulsion', this week went a bit more forward going, less inconsistant head carriage,but got hurried and tense!
So ended up with 53% and 55% repspecticively in the pre-nov and novice. Any tips on achieivng the 'right' pace??
 
think is, we've been doing competitions (and getting training in between) for about 4 weeks now, with ever decreasing scores!
 
Are his paces inconsistent at home, or just at shows?
I Used to have this problem with Sky, one week Id get "a little behind the leg to day" next week it would be "an active little pony, but needs to relax into the bridle." Sky is very much a nervous little soul, and with him it was just about getting him used to doing dressage; working in a strange arena, working with the boards, getting his concentration. As soon as he relaxed in the environment his movement became much more consistent, he usually gets 8's for his paces now, purely because he concentrates on the job in hand. Basically I think it is just mileage, and all the things that come as a consequence
 
no advice I'm afraid, but that is my problem in dressage too so will be interested in the answers to this. Is your horse normally keen?
 
Yes, he is a very onward bound horse, I think he sounds very similar to yours jemayni (he's called sky too!). He is normally relaxed a home, but maybe not then forward enough? He can make a nice shape, and does often, and ges regularyl 'nice correct paces' or 'nice horse' (hinting perhaps that the rider needs the work??!
 
Lol - the name sky should come with a warning! I wouldnt worry to much about those sort of comments, I think they are very general and generally hint at potential opposed to rider faults! (I always get worried when I get "a very pretty well turned out pony!")

Is there any possibility someone could video you at home, and then at a show? This really helped me because it showed me what a large difference there was in my horses performance between the two places.

My horses lack of forwardness/hurriedness stemmed from the fact, that when he was at a show he wasnt in such a deep outline, so lacked engagement. Therefore he was either lacking energy from behind; or rushing, because he couldnt lengthen his paces without a greater degree of outline and hence engagement.
 
When you say he is more forwards is he getting faster or taking a bigger stride? When you apply the leg the horse should take a bigger stride without getting quicker. Gradually build the trot instead of going from 0- 60 in a second and make him cover more ground without him speeding up and running away.
 
Hi hopefully this will help a bit. Impulsion relates to the need for 'jump' or 'energy' in each step. In the trot and canter it will be the moment of suspension. Forwardness relates to the connection of the hind leg through the back to the the hand. Speed is the enemy of imulsion and forwardness. This is because the faster the step the less time the hind leg has to finish the last step before the next one begins , therefore resulting in a loss of impulsion and forwardness and ending up hurried and tense. Quite often 'buzzy' horses are quite 'behind the leg' because they are held by the hand rather than going to it from the leg.
Once you are clear what it is these things actually are then you can look at how to achieve them. the first step is that your horse understand this leg / hand thing. Make sure you have an even cotact in both reins aiming to have him straight with his head and neck in the middle of his chest .Make sure you keep the elbows bent and that there is a staight line from them to the bit rings. remember the only reason you have reins is because your arms are'nt long enough to hold the bit rings so try and keep contact with the bit as if this was the case . the inside leg must be at the girth and it work with a light tapping action at the same time the inside rein stays a little up and the pol must be the highest point but going away from you , growing from the withers to the hand. Think of each step and the time it takes to complete it i.e walk is a 4x pace hind,fore ,hind fore . trot a 2x pace, right hind, left fore together , suspension left hind right fore toghther and canter [ right] a 3x pace, left hind - left fore and right hind together ,right fore,. this moment of suspension. Understanding these sequences will help you understand the rhythm and then the balance but also when and where the hind legs are so that you can apply your aids at the right moment i.e as the inside hind leg is on the floor, this will enable you to dirrectly activate that leg and encourage it to the outsige rein. On turns and circles try not to lean in but keep tall and relaxed reaching down into the ankle from the hip and growing tall and light through the spine.
All these things are vital in the development of connection and this in turn is important in developing rhythm through which you will then have impulsion and foward connection as by having balance he will have the time to finish the steps.
I work on a large square at home make him wait with a feel back in the outside rein then lift a little and open inwards on the inside rein tapping with the inside leg at the girth to activate the inside leg. Remembering same rhyhm in the corner same rhythm out. Ride the turn, Then straight . Have the feeling in the corner that the ribs move away from the tapping inside leg and contact to the outside rein.
By developing this base to your training you will be able to keep this in any situation at home and away in stress situations as this is the basis of the scales of training of which the tests you are doing is testing. Thats why the judge makes the comment so you can develope a better way of going. So dont be put off or frustrated by these comments, the mere fact that you are seeking advice is a good thing and a step in the right dirrection to developing active rhythmic paces. Good luck.
 
Thank you for that very informative post! I will try and put some of that in place, I see what you mean about the legs and stuff. More stuff to work on!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top