on the forehand - advise please !!

[dane07]

my boy has just started showing and full time schooling again after 12 months of corrective shoeing. We went out to a show on sunday and the judge commented that the picture was right but he needs lifting off the forehand and going forward more - does anyone have any exercise tips that will help with this ???

 

[Janah]

Lots of changes of transitions up and down and within paces as well.

Jane

 

[Shazzababs]

Agree with above, also lateral work, leg yield, shoulder in.

Trotting and especially Canter poles can also help with this as they help to build rhythum and introduce 'bounce' back into the stride, remember to sit up though or he will just run through them on his forehand..

 

[angela_l_b]

Reining back and lateral work help to lighten them in front. Try either in walk, get a few good steps, then a few good positive steps forwards before a transition up to trot. Then again from trot to canter (obv the lateral work, not the rein back!).

 

[silverbreeze]

Raised pole work as well is great, I use seven in a row but if you had more things to prop them up on they don't necessarily need to be in a row. I prop one side up on the edge of the arena and leave the other side flat so that I can gradually work up to the higher side and like whyworry said, transitions within the pace as well.
I have a youngster who is very on the forehand and she skuttles along, both methods have been invaluable to me and worked wonders very quickly!

 

[TGM]

Have you got any photos of him ridden so we can see more precisely what the problem is? Some horses have a tendency to go on the forehand because of their conformation, some because they just need more schooling and a chance to muscle up more, and some because the rider's position actually encourages them to work this way (I'm thinking the leaning forward, looking down, straight arms scenario)!