OTTB - Improving Impulsion

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DurhamGal

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I recent bought an OTTB and took him to his first dressage test this weekend, we had a great time and got some great comments. However lots of comments on improving his impulsion, which I had been expecting.

He is only 5mths out of racing and has already come on so much since I got him, I understand he needs re-educating, which takes time and patience. He has lovely showy paces but after about 10 mins he really loses energy and I really struggle to keep him going then he starts to drag his feet/starts tripping (not excessively but enough to irritate you when he starts off going so well) This article describes my problems perfectly (http://www.eurodressage.com/equestrian/2013/09/25/classical-training-impulsion) but doesn’t really help me. Speed isn’t an issue… his energy during flatwork is. Put a set of show/xc jumps in front him and he is a machine.

I’ve tried a schooling whip. I haven’t tried spurs, I don’t know, I guess I don’t think he should need them or learn to rely on them. I’m a very vocal rider, he gets lots of pats and encouragement.

I feel like once can get somewhere with this there will be no stopping him. Any exercise tips/advise much appreciated.
 
with mine i did tons of polework, and then tried to carry on the power from the trot after the poles.

with my lad though, it took absolutely ages to get a proper impulsive trot.. we worked on getting him balanced and stronger first, before we asked for impulsion. another thing that helped him was schooling in fields, as he was naturally more forword outside - he seemed to worry about his legs and balance more in arena with corners. he would shut down a bit more in the arena, so i would open him out and get a good trot in the field and then bring him in and do 15 mins good quality work in the arena.
 
He is not long out of training and presumably has not been turned away, my first thoughts are that he is not yet strong enough to actually work properly for more than the 10 mins he gives you, I would be hacking as much as possible to help him build up the different muscles that he requires to do school work, then when schooling allow plenty of time to warm up on a long rein before asking too much of him and give him a short break before he starts to struggle, then do a few more minutes, have a break, you should find his stamina improves so the breaks become more spaced out and the good work lengthens, make sure he is still actively walking when he has his breaks it is of no benefit if the just drops the bridle and shuffles along.

Using poles may help keep him interested as well as being good for developing the topline, all the normal transitions, basic lateral work anything to engage the back end and build him up in the correct way will be beneficial it will take time and I think 5 months is still early days.
 
Thanks for the replies!

Yes I agree it is still very early days, I tend to forget that a bit because he has come on so well in that time. He was race fit when I got him (he was due to race the day before I got him) so no topline to speak off, very lean, but is gradually putting on a bit beef and I can see the startings of said top line now.

So am I right in saying I shouldnt worry about impulsion for the time being, just concentrate on his aids/straightness and impulsion with come as he gets stronger?
 
yeah the impulsion will come. my one dragged himself along by his front legs for about a year!

polework and more polework got him going better. took ages to build the right muscle, and its better to do it in short burst of work and then give a good break. ten mins solid work would have been too much for my one after 5 months. i was happy if i got a decent half circle of proper work, and once i felt him flag at all i took the pressure off before he got tired and tried to make a nice transition downward and give him a break.

the impulsion will come but it definitely takes time.
 
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