next move for schooling?

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hannah87

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hi guys. My geldings schooling has really started to come together. He is working in a soft (novicey) outline, mkouthing the bit etc ,tracking up nicely in walk and trot, his canter is getting there as well - on his good rein is working in an outline nicely but on bad rein still not quite there, but almost.
In an average schooling session i do millions of transtions of halt to walk, walk to trot, walk to canter, trot to canter and obv these as downwards ones as well. i am in the process of teaching him flying changes - cantering a circle, walking a few steps over a diagnanol and then cantering off on other leg and this is progressing well. we do leg yeilding in walk and have started in in trot as well. he reins back keeping a soft contact.
have started to intoduce taking a few medium steps in trot and he is beginning to understand this.
Not sure what i should be doing next realy and looking for some ideas (and instructions!!- this is about as far as ive ever schooled a horse b4 really and so not overly sure how to proceed!)
any ideas greatly recieved thankyou! by the way he is not a drssage horse by any means and im not a dressage rider *laughs at the thought* lol. Just trying to improve us both really for abit of eventing!!
 
I'd get some lessons. An instructor will be able to assess you and you horses weaknesses and strengths and decide what would be the next natural progression for you both. Just one session can put you on track and I bet you'll find it really useful.
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Serpentines, figures of 8's, shallow loops, some simple changes, turns on the forehand, shoulder in, travers, 10m circles etc etc
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umm, why not try... rein back to canter, if the rein back is soft and correct. if not, wait until an instructor's there to help with it.
start lateral work, beginning with leg yielding to the track, then when horse gets the hang of that on both reins, zig-zagging in and out, to and from track, changing bend etc.
shoulder-fore, working towards shoulder-in, then quarters in etc.
spiralling in and out on a circle.
contrabending.
that should keep you going for a bit! best of luck.
 
sounds great..... no idea how to do it....but sounds great!!!
lol
think will wait for instructer for rein back to canter as think he go ARRRGGHH!!
am doing leg yielding at the mo and hes got the hang of it very quickly , and do lots of zig zagging etc
shoulder - fore no idea what it is!lol
shoulder in - i know what it is but no idea how to ask/ teach it! (should have mentioned that i am crap lol)
do lots of spiralling on circles already
contrabending - by this do you mean asking for the wrong bend?
thanks very much for the replies by the way much appreciate it!
 
shoulder-fore is like baby-shoulder-in, just a suggestion of angle etc. ride the corner before the long side, keep inside leg on to keep horse going straight down the side, but turn your shoulders and head a little to the inside and bring inside hand in to show the horse to bring front end in a teensy bit, not as much as shoulder-in. if it goes wrong, don't worry, just do a circle, and ask again.
contrabending is going around with the wrong bend, yes, but it's very good for getting the front end of the horse mobile and teaching him to listen. don't do too much though as it can put a horse on its forehand if used too much.
ride squares not circles, this makes you accurate!
umm, turn on the forehand and then on the haunches, working towards walk pirouette. again, stuff that might be better taught by an examiner, but very easy really!
enjoy!
 
thanks - already do lots of serpintines, loops etc
Travers?not entirely sure i have any idea what this is?!
shoulder in - again , altho have heard of this, not idea how to teach it/ask for it
.......
think lessons are very much in order to move us up again another gear
tbh i didnt think id ever get this horse going as well to be at the end of my limited experience, so hadnt really bargained on this!pleasant suprise at the end of alot of sweat blood and tears!!!
 
yep definately going to get more lessons - need to learn alot more myself before i can try and explain it to my horse!!
someone told me the other day to ride squares and it bloomin works, so going to keep on with that!
have u any good exersises in canter - to really encourage that bend and stretch for the bit?i genearlly do millions of transitions into and out of canter and this is helping alot but on his bad rein he is still resistant - altho can do it walk and trot pretty much as good as good rein...
 
umm, sending on and bringing back in canter; on a figure of 8, trot a circle, change bend, canter circle on other rein, trot, change bend, trot circle etc is quite a good one. leg yield across and then canter when you reach the track, having really engaged the hindleg.
is he resisting your dominant hand? just be aware that most people are stronger and also tighter on their dominant side, and that esp. in canter most people's instinct is to use their dominant hand more strongly...
 
no actually hes worse on the left rein - always has been and leans slightly on my left hand (im right handed) which ever diection we are going. - ob this makes for more of a problem on the right rein as this becomes my inside hand and hes using it for support.. he getting better but is worse in canter as this is the pace weve worked on the least i guess...
 
make sure his teeth are okay, ideally have someone who lets you have a good look in the mouth when the gag is on, as lots of dentists don't seem to do the rear molars properly, and this can make horses hang on one rein.
keep lightening the hand he tries to lean on, so that you are always in control of how much contact there is.
 
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