Loads of schooling questions sorry!

asommerville

asommerville

Well-Known Member
Joined
13 May 2010
Messages
1,542
Visit site
I have some questions regarding schooling my 6 year old so sorry for the long post! Before anyone asks I have regular lessons with a brilliant instructor, unfortunately she is not due back now until mid August and I have been thinking and practicing what we have learnt and I have a number of questions – if anyone can help then I’d appreciate it!

Also in case anyone asks, horse is fairly green, only in proper ridden work this year and coming along nicely now – back, task, teeth all been checked within last few months and since then there has been a massive improvement in his attitude and way of going, in no way is the horse unwilling he is just green and I want to make sure I am not messing him up! He is working in a nice soft contact in walk and trot and the canter is coming very slowly but getting there!

Work is a mixture of schooling, hacking (wee bit doddering along on a loose rein and a bit of work) and trotting poles and small jumps. He understands the aids to go forwards and does so when asked.

• Circles – on the right rein I find that when turning (particularly in canter) in the part of the school where he is not against the fence his neck goes really short and he turns his head to the inside and takes really short choppy strides – I have been rectifying this so far by really giving with my inside rein to allow him to stretch and he does – but he really stretches down at the moment which makes me feel a wee bit worried (as I worry that if he gets his head too low and bucks I’ll be off!)

• Figures of eight – on both reins when we turn to go across the centre he really shortens neck and takes short choppy strides (not so much in walk mainly trot) as above I feel I over exaggerate and really give with my inside rein – is this the right way to go about it? I also have to be really quite strong with my outside leg as he falls out in the figure of eight exercises.

• Transitions – upwards and downwards he brings his head up, and then back down to work in a nice soft contact – does anyone have any tips on how I can encourage him to have a lower head carriage during his transitions?

• Last but not least he falls in in canter on one rein. I have been practicing leg yielding in walk, spiral circles riding squares, riding the ¾ line and a wee bit of turn on the forehand to encourage him to move away from my leg. Does anyone have any more suggestions?

I’m sorry if this sounds like an essay and I will ask my instructor when I see her, however I hoped for a few ideas before my lesson. I also have my 101 schooling exercises book which I probably don’t use as much as I should!
 
It sounds like you are doing a very good job , to try and and lengthen his strides put out cantering poles slightly over the designated length between.

Good luck,
 
I will have a think about all of the above and get back to you as hesitant to advise too much with a young horse that isn't in front of me but...

Have you tried trotting poles crossing the centre line on serpentine tracks?

Think of a three loop serpentine and... where you cross the centre line between loops, just place three trotting poles to start with. He's a young horse so would be good to make sure he is straight before asking him to go over the poles, but...they will have a two fold effect. 1/ They will get his focus in front of him and not back on the track that he has just left and 2/ They will encourage him to maintain his striding, not getting choppy.

Have a go, keep it low pressure and make it all fun.
 
_GG_ said:
I will have a think about all of the above and get back to you as hesitant to advise too much with a young horse that isn't in front of me but...

Have you tried trotting poles crossing the centre line on serpentine tracks?

Think of a three loop serpentine and... where you cross the centre line between loops, just place three trotting poles to start with. He's a young horse so would be good to make sure he is straight before asking him to go over the poles, but...they will have a two fold effect. 1/ They will get his focus in front of him and not back on the track that he has just left and 2/ They will encourage him to maintain his striding, not getting choppy.

Thank GG I will try this and look forward to any other
Click to expand...
 
It sounds to me as if the horse is not connected enough to the outside rein, he is relying on the inside rein too much for turning and the fence to feel secure, so having the effect of tightening up when he loses the fence or you change direction and also in the transitions and when cantering.
I would do most of your work on an inside track, also out hacking, this should encourage him to listen to the outside aids, circle at B/E rather than at A/ C so he has no fence to lean on, he may lean a little more on your hand until he feels confident but that will soon change as he finds his own balance, concentrate on straightness keeping him in front of your leg especially through the transitions, don't worry too much about him putting his head up a little, again this is a balance issue, he is finding it difficult to stay round as well as change gear, it takes time for everything to fall into place, once he is better connected it will all become easier.
 
be positive said:
It sounds to me as if the horse is not connected enough to the outside rein, he is relying on the inside rein too much for turning and the fence to feel secure, so having the effect of tightening up when he loses the fence or you change direction and also in the transitions and when cantering.
I would do most of your work on an inside track, also out hacking, this should encourage him to listen to the outside aids, circle at B/E rather than at A/ C so he has no fence to lean on, he may lean a little more on your hand until he feels confident but that will soon change as he finds his own balance, concentrate on straightness keeping him in front of your leg especially through the transitions, don't worry too much about him putting his head up a little, again this is a balance issue, he is finding it difficult to stay round as well as change gear, it takes time for everything to fall into place, once he is better connected it will all become easier.
Click to expand...

This. It sounds like he is always relying on one rein or another for balance and that will improve as he becomes better balanced and stronger. You could try giving him really definite and consistent contact with the outside rein. So as you come off the track you need to think that your outside rein is now doing the job that the fence was doing in terms of giving your horse guidance. Then you can practice changing the rein over the center line in walk and make the change from one outside rein to the other really clear, so hopefully he can stop fretting that he is going to lose the contact that he relies on. You can hold the outside rein against his neck gently as well, to give him a little extra support and feedback.
 
Hi,

I know you said he has had his back looked at but you didn't say by who?
Often this sort of thing can be to do with muscle control and timing.
Throwing head up on transitions tells me he is having problem slowing down with hind quarters. How is he at walking down steepish hills?
Also have a look at his standing balance, can he lift each foot in turn off the floor for approx 30 secs or does he lean on you, can you rock him gently in this position and feel like he won't fall over?

It does sound like you are doing all the right thing sin your schooling but remember to keep hind quarters engaged to imrpove transitions.
Make sure you hack out up/down hills (at walk) if possible.

Good luck.

Julia Gilbert Veterinary Physiotherapist
 
JGPhysio said:
Hi,

I know you said he has had his back looked at but you didn't say by who?
Often this sort of thing can be to do with muscle control and timing.
Throwing head up on transitions tells me he is having problem slowing down with hind quarters. How is he at walking down steepish hills?
Also have a look at his standing balance, can he lift each foot in turn off the floor for approx 30 secs or does he lean on you, can you rock him gently in this position and feel like he won't fall over?

It does sound like you are doing all the right thing sin your schooling but remember to keep hind quarters engaged to imrpove transitions.
Make sure you hack out up/down hills (at walk) if possible.

Good luck.

Julia Gilbert Veterinary Physiotherapist
Click to expand...

hi

he was checked by an equine physio as recommended by my vet, she found him to be pretty good apart from a wee bit of tightness down his ham strings and also suggested hill work (to be honest i could do more though i think)
he did used to want to trot up/down hills but has improved slightly and happier to walk now, i had gorgotton about thst so will make more effort now!

thank you
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top