Loose Schooling

[Solar]

Hi All,

We started dabbling with loose schooling just over a week ago having summoned up the courage as we hadn't tried it before!

I love it as my boy lives out so in these darker evenings, its great to be able to bring him in, quick groom then out to the school before the light fades. No faffing with equipment, just me, him, boots and a headcollar!

So, we started off with me leading him around the school, followed by uncliping the leadrope, then i dropped away from him, walking the centre line to keep him on the outside track. We're just about at the stage now that i can remain the middle of the school and he will stay on the outside track the entire way around the school. All this has been in walk and i am finding that the moment i ask him for trot he falls in, ending up on a tiny circle around me which obviously i want to avoid. If i put pressure on to move him back out he just trots faster and stays on the circle.

What am i doing wrong and how can i teach him to stay on the outside?
I though I could try using a lunge whip and pointing to his shoulder but i have a feeling it will result in the same speeding up that he is doing now? We have a lesson every week and he is well balanced ridden so i feel it is an understanding thing more than anything else?

Thanks in advance for any help or advice

 

[Lippyx]

Have you thought about taking a lunge whip in with you. I sometime find that if you point it to his shoulder, whilst he is going round, he will move away from it.
It will take time, as this is all new to him, and remember at some point he wouldn't walk around the school whilst you stood in the middle... now he does.
Try the above and see how it goes!

 

[Solar]

Thanks Lippyx, I will try a lunge whip and see what we get.

You are quite right, he has made alot of progress already so I need to keep that in mind!
We will get there I am sure, the tiny trot circles are a bit hairy sometimes thats all as he is a big boy! Not sure of exact breeding but the people on here have suggested Shire\ID\TB cross so you can imagine having that trotting in ever-decreasing circles with you in the middle lol

 

[LazyS]

Thanks Lippyx, I will try a lunge whip and see what we get.

You are quite right, he has made alot of progress already so I need to keep that in mind!
We will get there I am sure, the tiny trot circles are a bit hairy sometimes thats all as he is a big boy! Not sure of exact breeding but the people on here have suggested Shire\ID\TB cross so you can imagine having that trotting in ever-decreasing circles with you in the middle lol

Have you gone through the steps of join-up? - I have only read the books but it seems to work with mine. Think he wants to be near you because he is asking you to show him what to do. I send mine away with a lead rope (as I trip over a lunge line!).

 

[Zabby]

Stepping towards him and/or pointing at his shoulder/side when he falls in should tell him to move out.