On the forehand?

[Cob Life]

The cob is now listening to my leg, doing shoulder in and leg yield, and we can collect and extend in walk and trot, so we have come a long way but I now notice he falls on the forehand and gets very heavy when he starts to get a little tired.

When he falls on the forehand I pick him back up, make him work from behind for a few strides then give him a break. Am I doing the right thing?
It isn't all the time it is only when he's starting to get tired about 3/4 of the way through a hard session.

 

[Leandy]

I'd say you are doing exactly the right thing!

 

[Fanatical]

Most horses will lose their balance onto their forehand as they get tired. The trick is to work through it long enough to build muscle and strength without over doing it and making them sore. Lots of transitions are key and ensuring that as a rider you aren't carrying him. Lots of breaks during one schooling session are also helpful to help prevent the horse becoming muscle tired.

 

[Cob Life]

Thanks, he can nap a bit, we've worked through most of it but I just have to be careful that he doesn't start using something like this to nap if he works out I give him a break if he falls onto the forehand but I also don't want to overwork him and make him sore. I make sure he has frequent breaks so he has a break before he gets too tired and falls onto the forehand.

 

[oldie48]

It's a very tricky balance, isn't it? A bit like us doing exercise, we'd probably stop as soon as we got a bit tired but we know if we push on we'll get stronger. Horses are designed to conserve energy so without a bit of encouragement they won't necessarily push themselves that little bit more. Horses generally only work for about an hour a day and most much less than that, I don't think it's a problem to let them know they need to try a bit harder and when they do, they get rewarded with relaxation.

 

[Cob Life]

It's a very tricky balance, isn't it? A bit like us doing exercise, we'd probably stop as soon as we got a bit tired but we know if we push on we'll get stronger. Horses are designed to conserve energy so without a bit of encouragement they won't necessarily push themselves that little bit more. Horses generally only work for about an hour a day and most much less than that, I don't think it's a problem to let them know they need to try a bit harder and when they do, they get rewarded with relaxation.

The working properly is all very new to him and it's taken a long time to build his fitness, he was used to teenagers riding him, running around over some jumps and didn't have much flatwork schooling. It used to be if you asked for trot he trotted and that was it. There was no extension or collection at all

 

[oldie48]

The working properly is all very new to him and it's taken a long time to build his fitness, he was used to teenagers riding him, running around over some jumps and didn't have much flatwork schooling. It used to be if you asked for trot he trotted and that was it. There was no extension or collection at all

When I bought Rose she'd stood in a field for 3 years and had lost all the muscle needed to support correct work. She got tired quite quickly but I found lots of transitions in walk trot walk, asking her to use herself correctly, really helped. Over a year in, she still lacks some topline but is getting stronger behind. It is a slow process although she's nicely built. The stronger she gets the more willing she is to work but then she's asked to work a little bit harder. Tough being a horse and she does get a bit grumpy at times. Do check the saddle regularly, I've got into problems with her because she's put on muscle and her saddle is starting to pinch .

 

[Cob Life]

When I bought Rose she'd stood in a field for 3 years and had lost all the muscle needed to support correct work. She got tired quite quickly but I found lots of transitions in walk trot walk, asking her to use herself correctly, really helped. Over a year in, she still lacks some topline but is getting stronger behind. It is a slow process although she's nicely built. The stronger she gets the more willing she is to work but then she's asked to work a little bit harder. Tough being a horse and she does get a bit grumpy at times. Do check the saddle regularly, I've got into problems with her because she's put on muscle and her saddle is starting to pinch .

I've been quite lucky with that he is quite willing to work until he gets tired, he really wants to please and if he does do anything like trot when we are doing lateral work in walk its because he's confused with what I'm asking so I need to take it back a step, he picks stuff up so quickly though.