One big step backwards. Self-indulgent sulk.

E

EarlGrey

Well-Known Member
Joined
23 April 2008
Messages
420
Location
Newmarket, Suffolk
Visit site
So... I posted the other day about how I'm struggling to get Earl in an outline in trot. Canter he pretty much automatically carries himself in a lovely shape and if he does start to rush and fall on the forehand, with a bit deeper seat, squeeze of the leg and play with the reins, he will adopt the correct shape again, no problem. Walk he won't do it automatically but after a play with the reins and squeeze of the leg, again he drops nicely.
In trot, my instructor can get him to do it most of the time, although he will put up a bit of a fight at first, I on the other hand can rarely get him in a nice shape.
Some kind people responded to my post and gave me some sound advice. I was so excited about riding him yesterday evening.
Hired out the school (no instructor because I can't afford a lesson more than fortnightly).
Walk: Refused outright to adopt any kind of outline. Big step back as we have been able to do this for about a month now.
frown.gif
Towards the end of the schooling session, he gave in and brought his nose in which was good but we should have been able to do it straight away.
Trot: Refused outright to adopt any kind of outline. The more I played with reins the higher he held his head and the further his ears came back.
frown.gif
After about 25 mins we actually managed to do one full circuit of the school in an outline and it felt so good, I then changed the rein and promptly lost it again and wasn't able to get it back before finishing.
Canter: Perfect as usual.

On the plus side, our bending/corners have improved so, so much but I feel completely useless at not being able to get him in an outline in trot.
I watch other people at shows and they seem to do it so effortlessly, whereas I feel like I must look chaotic! I find my arms really ache afterwards too. Should it be this hard? Something is just not clicking and I'm getting it really wrong. My instructor does her best but she is only 21 (not that I suppose age has much to do with it) and isn't hugely assertive. I feel like I need some kind of intense masterclass with someone with a huge amount of experience in show horses who can see exactly what I'm doing wrong. Show me exactly how much contact I should have, where I should squeeze, how I should play etc. Is there such a thing? I want to do Search for a Star next year but have no chance the way things are going right now.

I feel so useless
frown.gif
 
Poor you! It sounds as if you are trying too hard, tbh. If your arms are aching and you are constantly moving your hands in an effort to work him, you're probably putting him off.

Have you tried forgetting about an outline, and trying to get him to relax in trot and flex either way/stretch down instead? I find that if I can get the horse to stretch, the outline comes really easily.
Think about giving with your hands rather than trying to bring the horse back - you want to encourage the horse to take the contact, rather than trying to get them to 'give in' to it.

Don't put so much pressure on yourself - the more stressed you are the harder it will be
smile.gif
Good luck!
 
Thanks. I'm just feeling useless because I know a better rider would be able to do it. I feel like I'm letting him down, although I don't suppose he particularly wants to do it anyway! So he's probably quite happy!
grin.gif


Is that your new horsey in your signature? We must arrange to go for a hack soon with the two coblets!
 
I am having a similar issue with my mare so I know exactly how you are feeling and the harder you try the worse it gets. I am going to try and book a lesson on a simulator to help improve my position
 
Perhaps you are trying too hard? My mare she was fighting the other night and at first I played fire with fire and it just wasn't working so I just sat and was very quiet and it worked! You tried lunging him loads in side reins etc so that he is used to working on an outline?
It can be fustrating but we all have to start somewhere. You will get there eventually.
Izzi xx
 
It does sound to me as if you are demanding perfection from yourself and your ned. Maybe you both need a break. Take him hacking and let both of you have some fun. Riding should be fun! x
 
I know exactly how you feel. Most of the time my horse goes around like a giraffe. Only way to over come it was to look at me and how I was riding. I came to conclusion I was concentrating so much on front end that I was not using my legs enough to bring his hind legs underneath him. I was almost just hanging on to his mouth - my arms would be burning and I would forget to use my legs and he would be fighting against me. It was even more frustating when my instructor would get on and yes, he would go in an outline immediately just to show me up even more....
shocked.gif
 
Same as Box of Frogs!
I don't know how old he is, but if you take him out hacking, he'll have something interesting to watch and will naturally carry himself much better. If you do have any hills around you, they are brilliant for long slow trotting and you should find he'll drop himself of his own accord to make it more comfortable for himself then bingo, you have your outline but whatever you do, don't go rigid on him and try to force it, that will make it worse; he needs to work up to it naturally.
Years ago, horses would be broken over a couple of months and then you would play about with them by working on the road, schools were virtually non existent then! They became much better naturally as their muscles became stronger, it just takes time and people don't seem to do the 'playing' around much any more; they seem to want the horse to go straight into what is for youngsters, very hard work; it's no wonder they rebel a bit and start locking up if a rider is being too rigid with them.

Bottom line is relax a bit, don't be in too much of a hurry to force the outline when it will come naturally if ridden sensitively.
 
[ QUOTE ]

Is that your new horsey in your signature? We must arrange to go for a hack soon with the two coblets!

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes we do!!!!!!!!! I have a week off from 9th til the 18th August, sometime then if you are free? Will come to you as your hacking is better
wink.gif
 
Everyone has crappy schooling sessions! It's very disheartening as you hope for improvement all the time, but unfortunately horses are like that and some days they are not in a helpful mood.

Why don't you start your schooling with canter? There is no rule that says you have to start with walk/trot. I would give him his head and just ride him forward in walk and trot to warm up and then start work immediately in canter. Work on collecting and lengthening the canter, work on circles (20m, 15m and if poss 10m) and if possible work on counter-canter which is great for loosening up. GIve him 30 minutes in canter (of course do give him breaks in walk on a long rein for both of your to recover) and then try trot, but keep your hands very still. If he is inconsistent in his outline, playing with the reins is likely to put him off more, so keep the hands as still as possible, work on impulsion and rhythm and add circles and figures (serpentines, figures of eight, etc) to see if you can get him to accept your outside rein.
 
Try lots of poles on the ground at random places, to keep him with his head down, ride from your legs and seat and do loads of transitions 5 strides walk, 5 trot walk etc.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top