Maia
Well-Known Member
Posted in here as well as CR as I know there are some very knowledgeable riders/instructors in here who don't necessarily go in CR so apologies for double posting.
Have newish horse who is very green but older (rising 9) in the yard. Quick history: raced till 5 but too slow, left in field for 2 yrs, then very lightly hacked until he came to me Novemberish time. Very sweet horse, nice enough to do a bit of everything and *should* event (plan is to get him out second half of season). However, having never really been asked to do much in a school, despite being a lovely forwards hack, he has been the most backwards thinking horse to school! We are now at the point where he understands that go means go but he still has a few moments each session of trying to avoid work and he still lacks any sort of oomph, power and impulsion (out hacking this is not a problem!).
With trainer have been focusing on this - basically he just has to go and if its not good enough (any number of evasions or just ignoring the leg!) He is sent forwards backed up by lunge whip if needed.
However he lacks suppleness and balance still isn't great so while the ideal is to work on these in w&t we are having to do a lot in canter to get the idea of "go" and forwards. The problem is that he motorbikes terribly on his weaker rein (and isn't great on his better one).
Instructor has said to simply do nothing other than leg on and power forwards through it but it feels horrid! So while working at home I want to really focus on improving this. What exercises or tips could I be doing, especially in the canter when the motorbiking occurs, baring in mind that sideways results in curling and dropping behind the leg (or stopping altogether and trying to go in the opposite direction!!!) Which then in turn means he is sent forwards, in canter, on no uncertain terms because he is quite simply being a sod and evading the leg!
Or is it a case of ignore the lack of balance and just keep reinforcing staying infront of the leg at all times and doing millions of transitions?
Oh and all checks done - no physical reason for this other than lack of muscle development.
Have newish horse who is very green but older (rising 9) in the yard. Quick history: raced till 5 but too slow, left in field for 2 yrs, then very lightly hacked until he came to me Novemberish time. Very sweet horse, nice enough to do a bit of everything and *should* event (plan is to get him out second half of season). However, having never really been asked to do much in a school, despite being a lovely forwards hack, he has been the most backwards thinking horse to school! We are now at the point where he understands that go means go but he still has a few moments each session of trying to avoid work and he still lacks any sort of oomph, power and impulsion (out hacking this is not a problem!).
With trainer have been focusing on this - basically he just has to go and if its not good enough (any number of evasions or just ignoring the leg!) He is sent forwards backed up by lunge whip if needed.
However he lacks suppleness and balance still isn't great so while the ideal is to work on these in w&t we are having to do a lot in canter to get the idea of "go" and forwards. The problem is that he motorbikes terribly on his weaker rein (and isn't great on his better one).
Instructor has said to simply do nothing other than leg on and power forwards through it but it feels horrid! So while working at home I want to really focus on improving this. What exercises or tips could I be doing, especially in the canter when the motorbiking occurs, baring in mind that sideways results in curling and dropping behind the leg (or stopping altogether and trying to go in the opposite direction!!!) Which then in turn means he is sent forwards, in canter, on no uncertain terms because he is quite simply being a sod and evading the leg!
Or is it a case of ignore the lack of balance and just keep reinforcing staying infront of the leg at all times and doing millions of transitions?
Oh and all checks done - no physical reason for this other than lack of muscle development.