Making school work interesting for a youngster

[Vikki89]

Monty had his first trot under saddle today, decided to do it in the school although he doesn't concentrate as well. My mum ran by me the first time as he was a bit slow and wasn't listening to my leg, he isn't as forward in the school as he is on a hack. Then mum went away from us and I came back to walk, I then tried a few more times and he did listen, he wasn't bothered about me rising in the trot at all. I just hope he continues to be good

How do you keep your youngsters interested in the school? He is fine lunging in the school and is more forward out on a hack just a bit lazy in the school.

 

[Spotsrock]

Pole work,
bending races in walk and trot,
lateral work in walk to keep her thinking.
Practice baton passing, not that I intend her to do games but it is something constructive to get her used to working with another horse.
Get off every so often to do some carrot stretches then get back on.
Lots of transitions and changes of direction.
Put things in the school like cones or pot plants also get it used to distractions.

 

[Polotash]

Lots of hacking! Keep schooling sessions really short to start with, i often take my babies on a short hack (30-40 mins) and then do 10 mins schooling when i get back.

Ditto poles and lateral work, leg yeilding/ shoulder in can be started very early.

 

[Vikki89]

I have been taking him out on short hacks and am planning to continue mainly hacking, he also sometimes goes out on hacks (not ridden) as I lead him off my other horse and have been all winter at weekends.
We haven't started any pole work yet, didn't want to introduce it too soon.

 

[kirstyhen]

Transitions! Mine started work on perfecting the transition into Canter in our lesson on Monday and now she thinks that any moment she could be asked to canter and it's the most exciting thing ever, so she better pay attention!
She's been broken in 7 weeks and was very reluctant to go forward at first, now I can't slow her down!

 

[LouS]

Just get them going forward off your leg. You want him going straight away not being sluggish, lots of transitions. Mine learn simple lateral work very early on so I do this in walk, gets them to think. Start doing circles and just riding different lines and shapes.

To be honest I don't care if they're bored, they have to accept work, that's that. Its not much to ask your horse for 20 minutes out of his day. People are too soft. By all means hack him out, but when he's in the school, you decide when he's had enough, not him.

 

[kirstyl]

The more you do with him the more interested he will become. But don't expect him to be leaping with joy with schoolwork. He may not like it because it may be hard work for him but as long as you are setting achievable goals for him, it's down to him to get on with it. Make sure you are being realistic by having a kind experienced instructor working alongside you.