On the forehand?...

[ginnyspinner]

Well, my so called rider has put my lovely mare completely on her forehand!! She is heavy in the reins and is banancing herself on my hands. The rider that has ridden her has been yawing on the reins, so Carly has her head going L to R like an idiot. I am trying to get her going forward with little contact - is this correct?

Don't worry, will be seeing trainer soon....need guidance.

 

[Tierra]

For me the forwardness has to come first yes but once you start to ask her to come round then she needs a reasonable contact to work into.

The most important thing for me though, from the rider, is that once the forwardness is established, that they learn to give BACK the rein when the horse starts to come round. Any give from the horse should result in the same from the rider. All to often you see horses hiked in at the neck and although they're trying to soften, the rider holds them on a death grip rein.

Get her going forward with lots of impulsion first and then take the outline work right back to basics. Ask a little, give lots on the rein for rewards and, providing the impulsion is there, she will start to become less dependent upon the hand and begin to balance herself more.

Ensure your seat is good and is helping her. You need to be thinking of yourself almost as the pole that runs through a carousel horse and allows her to balance herself around you. Many underestimate how much our position influences them but try to ensure you're sat centrally and carrying your own hands in a good position. If you tip or balance yourself on your hands at all, it will force her deeper onto her forehand. Try and feel mentally like you're tryng to hold a tea tray between your elbow and wrist when you ride. Not only will it help you to "carry" your own hands and not run them too low but also it will make sure that the elbow remains at a good angle to keep soft. The elbow should be the pulley within the arm and should be able to give and take smoothly. If the hands drop too low, it will be your wrists doing the work and they make for a much harsher hand.

A trainer will be invaluable to you. Eyes on the ground will pick up so much that you don't "see" or feel from where you are.

Good luck

 

[Partoow]

Oh dear,this is not correct but it is something 'so called riders' do in the false belief they are ;
1. putting it 'on the bit'.
2.working long and low,
All work reagdless of head and neck position should be 'carried' by the hind legs, this is seen by a connection but not what i refer to as a 'dead' contact.
Sometimes this head gets wiggled in but in actual fact the connection is being 'broken' in the neck and what 'riders' are really after is submission in the jaw and more 'carry' in the hindlegs so that he developes more of a balanced relationship between the leg and the hand. This much 'hackneyed' phrase means that his or her [horse] hindlegs carry the weight as well as generated forward movement. What happens when the steps from the hind legs are hurried, by not understanding the word 'forward'. Forward is not speed. Speed in the enemy of impulsion. Forward is about the forward step of the hindleg straight under the body to jump the movement up and forward. The hand in this circumstance is needed to provide the 'framework' for the application of the hindleg. Contact is necessary, just not where it is a walking stick being used like a 5th leg for balance. The hands provide dirrection and are used to guide and open doors for bend and balance.
I hope that goes a little way to explaining what is required and why what you have at the moment is not very desirable.
You will need help to sort this but it is possible to rectify. As riders we have all made mistakes its how open we keep our minds to information that is important. I hope you rider will listen and learn from any help you get.

 

[Partoow]

Tierra, i agree with what you say about how vital rider position is in all this especialythe ability of the rider to move around the hand so that the contact is still relative to the horse. Strength is used by the rider in the 'core muscles' to maintain this still connection. I do not agree with one point about the giving away of the rein. With a still and balanced connection the horse must learn that he gives. you the rider must learn to not keep taking to 'find' the connection. It is at the point of give that the leg is applied to squeeze like tooth paste out of a tube to the softness. to keep giving allows the hindleg energy out and provides no frame work this is like having the heating on in your house ,leaving the door open and then wondering why you are cold! By squeezing as he gives he will stay forward to the hand with the hind leg stretching at the base of the neck and taking the poll away from you.By doing this he will learn to 'take the hand forward' understand the hand and its application and not think as soon as he meets it it will be taken. This 'giving away' of the contact will make him run forward but not provide him with the frame work to carry on the hing leg only push from the hindleg. Contact is necessary not evil! if correct and that is the responsibility of the rider and her balanced co-ordinated position.