Loose schooling, good or bad?

Vikki89

Vikki89

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 September 2008
Messages
2,693
Location
Wiltshire
Visit site
I have loose schooled both my boys and the older one goes very well, he is better loose schooling then lunging he will stay on a 20m circle without me asking and does good work. The youngster has also been ok loose schooling but he has also been allowed to let off energy in there before being turned out (cantering round bucking, leaping etc.) We have been told we are not allowed to loose school anymore but now when i take youngster in there to lead round or longrein he thinks its time to have fun and run around so im thinking loose schooling wasn't such a good idea. Need to make him realise the school is for work again.
Just wondered what others thoughts are on loose scholing?
 
One of mine is a joy to loose school, he does what I ask and is very sensibel, he may have a bit of a whoop but on the whole I find it is very beneficial for him. My mare on the other hand turns into a complete loony, gallops round bucking and squealing and the last time I tried it she fell over being so stupid so I don't do it with her any more. She is a bit silly on the lunge as well and I suspect she has learnt to do this with her previous owner and has been allowed to get away with it. I think it all depends on the horse and what they have been taught - a friend of mine has done it with all her youngsters from day one and they are all brilliantly behaved and sensible.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Its ok if your horse doesn't jump out over the 4ft fence from a standstill and bugger off back to his stable!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Haha that made me smile..... was about to say exactly the same thing
tongue.gif
! My old 14'3 coblet used to do that and the fences were clloser 5ft than 4!! He went to the haybarn the fatti!!
shocked.gif
 
mine is awful at it... in the arena... he doesn't understand what i want him to do so just stands at looks at me!
In his HUGE field- which has 4 other horses in, he will loose school around me on a 20m circle perfectly...
grin.gif
bad ponyy!
tongue.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Its ok if your horse doesn't jump out over the 4ft fence from a standstill and bugger off back to his stable!!

[/ QUOTE ]

was a little worried the older boy would do this as he loves to jump and could jump school fence if he wanted to.
 
QR we are very lucky in that OH has a fantasic schoolmaster, who is also hed leader. He is excellent at loose schooling, just works on voice command. He has taught our others by example, so all 6 loose school well.
Have never had any problems with doing it or working in the school afterwards, although having said that no doubt at least one of them will prove me wrong very soon!
 
Good if done properly, bad if not!

I have several people on my yard who seem to think it is ok to put horses in school and make them gallop as soon as they let them go, chasing them if they drop to a walk....all this and they have been standing in their stables for the last 10 hours. They call this freeschooling - I'm of the opinion this is not good for horses having no warm up etc!!
 
Mmmm thats not what id call free schooling either, my boy is brilliant he ocasionally kicks his heels up, but after about 5 minutes he settles down he turns on comand he stands, walks, extended trot, medium trot canters hes fantastic
grin.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top