Outline aids

1

121272MDV

Well-Known Member
Joined
31 January 2007
Messages
821
Visit site
after having 5months off i have begun to reschool my mare (currently very unfit and chubby) but no matter how hard i try i cant get her to stop looking like a 'giraffe'
mad.gif
(used to hold her head perfectly)

friend suggested draw reins but from i was aware these cause the horse to unbalance
confused.gif


so any suggestion to help me in this area would be appreciated



thank you
shawny
 
You could try lunging her in a chambon or low side reins to encourage her to stretch down.

How long has she been back in work? She may just be excited to be being ridden again and will settle down in a few days and concentrate more.

As for draw reins they can be useful but you must make sure she is going forwards properly before using them, let her warm up for at least ten minutes without them then only use breifly as she won't be used to them/ will be unfit so it will be hard work for her to work properly. And only use them occassionally, gradually building up the ammount of time you ask her to work in them and focus on lots of transistions and school movements when not riding with them (and when you are), so she doesn't come to rely on them. I'm sure that if she used to go easily on the bit then she won't need much schooling to get her back that way.
 
i lunge in a de gouge roughly once a week, they are really helping with his topline and i do feel an improvement after when i'm riding he's rounder and working more from behind. you can also ride in a de gouge.
 
I'd say forget about the outline for now - you should be concentrating on fittening work only at this stage - plenty of hacking/road work. Once the horse is in better shape, the outline will come a lot easier for you - you can start to ask for better quality of work, working more actively & hopefully your horse will be happier to give it to you once it's easier for him...
 
[ QUOTE ]
I'd say forget about the outline for now - you should be concentrating on fittening work only at this stage - plenty of hacking/road work. Once the horse is in better shape, the outline will come a lot easier for you - you can start to ask for better quality of work, working more actively & hopefully your horse will be happier to give it to you once it's easier for him...

[/ QUOTE ]

Agreed, the outline will come gradually, trying to force it might make her more resistant to it.

If you do want to start encouraging her a bit, why not try a bungee, they are inexpensive and very effective at getting a horse to stretch ove rits back x good luck
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top