Outline help

[JackDaniels1]

My mare has done a bit of DR so knows how to work properly - think this is probably purely down to rider error!

When I ask for a outline from her, I was always taught to do little gentle 'tweets' on each rein (my ''old'' horse's head came straight down into a lovely outline). With my new girl her head tends to sway from side to side as i tweet on each rein (if that makes sense)

I know it's hard to advise without pics/vid but am i doing anything wrong?

I ride in a Happy mouth which her previous owner had her in, she seems v comfortable in it

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

Once my boy goes into an outline I just squeeze the reins rather then move them so you maintain the contact without moving the head - does that make sense?? It is probably what you are doing so if it is ignore me!!!

 

[Damnation]

I ride a stallion like this, like your mare he did a bit of DR too (Elementary). You have to remember that you are wanting the horse to work from behind into a contact, rather then reeling their head in. Transitions and lateral work I find really helps with getting them to "engage", then try picking up the contact. Canter to walk, then to canter again, I find really helps.
A good instructor will be able to help you more

 

[KatB]

Keep you hand still and use lots of leg

You can give and take with the rein a little bit, but thats not a back and forth action, its a release and hold action

and should never done alternatively from outside to inside, that would just = side to side head movement!

 

[JackDaniels1]

That's what is happening, side to side head movement!

 

[Damnation]

Too much hand and not enough leg.

 

[KatB]

Exactly, so do as above, with highlight on the still hand and lots of leg

 

[JackDaniels1]

Thank you. It's a little hard at times as sometimes she tends to switch off (from my leg) - is spurs cheating?

 

[Damnation]

She will just eventually become dead to spurs in that case. Lots of trannsitions will help. If she doesn't listen, back your leg up with a schooling whip.

 

[emmaln]

As the others have said really, The term Outline (which i so prefer to "on the Bit") Doesn't just refer to the head and neck position it is to do with the horses whole body! For a horse to be working correctly we want to see them powering from behind and for them to be in the correct outline they have to lift with their abdominal muscles to round off their back bring their quarters underneath them, then they can show flexion at the poll (You can sort of feel what i mean if you pull your tummy button in towards your back bone it sort of shows the same effect!). No horse can produce a correct outline unless they are truly supple and working from behind so we need to ride lots of transitions work on bending exercises and ride leg to hand, i always say to my girls (who are admittedly 12) they need to imagine their horse as a tube of toothpaste you need to squeeze the toothpaste out (with your legs) but you must catch it on the brush (your hands) You'll know when you've got it right because it won't be a fight and all of a sudden you'll feel like you're floating on air!

Sorry to go on but i am a bit obsessed with this subject and am fascinated with how a horse moves!

Good luck, find yourself a good instructor, you'll get there!