Outline trouble

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Hannah1Pie

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Ive had my cob around 2 years now and in that time ive been working purely on his flatwork doing a bit of jumping on the odd occasion but focusing more on my dressage. I'm only on Prelims but still have a few things work on but as much as i want to move up i can't do any better until i get my boy into outline
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He's now working really good from his back end and is going nicely long and low, and have been working on bringing him into outline, a while ago i tried but the teacher i had didnt give me the best advice and he ended up grabbing the bit and bombing off round the school with me and rearing
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So after those few lessons i left it with her and started lessons with another teacher who is very good. So ive had lessons with someone else who a little while ago got me working my boy in an outline, not consistant but still it was something, i then went on and gradually hes become more reluctant to stay in outline and has got an annoying tendancy to grab the bit when he doesnt want to do it, i'm slowly coming to the end of my tether that at times he can go really nicely down on the bit but thats not very often and when he does it it isnt for very long, and when it comes to a show ive got no chance.

I had him in a waterford hanging cheek for a while coz of him grabbing the bit and leaning on it but have moved onto a french link where hes been listening to me alot more and thats what ive stuck with, My teacher did give me a lesson in a pelham which again he did go down for a matter of seconds then threw his head up and it just seemed useless.

I know i have got things to work in with getting him into outline myself but believe me i have one of the most stubbourn cobs, many have rode him and only one person has successful in getting him on the bit but shes like a top notch rider.

can anyone give me any ideas on maybe changing bits, trying some exercises or just anything to give me a hand with getting him to work on the bit?
 
If you find out let me know .... Cobs are not really designed for going in an outline so its always going to be a challenge, but have you tried things outside the menage such as trotting/cantering up hills or following another more forward going horse.

Even better, if you have a friend you could do pairs round a cross country course ... or even a days hunting. I know with my big girl that if she does one of the above, she is much happier to work in the school and becomes much ligher and more forward thinking.

In desparations I have even tried making up 'pony club' style games in school/paddock (but not when anyone is looking), just to encourage the horse to listen, enjoy the schooling and in the process engage the back quarters!

I know it can be so so frustrating, but a break a bit of fun for you both might be the way forward.
 
Have you had his teeth, back and saddle checked?

I would recommend a Myler bit , as my pony seems more comfy in his Myler and he works better in his hanging cheek barrel Myler
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Slowly his outline is starting to appear, it does take a lot of time though as their muscles have to alter and develop more.

How do you ask for him to go into an outline? And is it just his nose that pokes out or is his back hollow too?
 
His teeth, back and saddle are all checked regularly and nothing wrong there.
His back doesnt hollow he just doesnt move his head and on occasions holds his head up but he litually does just seem to hold his head in the normal position, hard to explain its as though when i go in the school and hes working with his head in the normal place, slightly low and i havnt asked him into outline yet and when i ask him into outline he tenses and holds his head in that place and refuses bring his head in, he just wont soften at all
 
I usually let him go long and low and gradually put slight pressure on the inside rein and do small half halts on the outside rein and my inside leg on, as well as obviously trying other methods of giving him the rein and doing inside and outside bend and bending, small circles and stuff like that but he takes so long to listen to that
 
i would a) do something different.. XC/hunting/showjumping.. take his mind of it a bit b)carry on with lessons... get a good instructor who can help you with bits....could you get her/him to ride your cob for you and so she can feel what hes doing and therefore direct you in the right direction? c) bring in poles and cones etc. into your flatwork- try and make it interesting. although this wont be a quick fix i really do thinkk you should vary what you do with him as he may be bored and therefore not bothering.
sqeeeeeeuzeeeeeeee with those legs! plenty of inside leg, tweak with the inside rein, steady with the outside rein.
 
Speaking on Hannah1Pie's behalf
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I'm sure she won't mind but I think she means that as far as competing goes - She's been doing dressage. But as for the coblet, he goes off doing xc, combined trainings , rallies, clinics etc
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So he's definitly having fun
 
Yeah ive always done carrot stretches with him and yeah at the moment ive been doing my bending and small circles and things in the school which is what my instructors been doing with me but ive been doing it for a while now and he does go down on his own to outline but for seconds and then it just doesnt lead to much
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What about trying market harborough.My mare came with upside down neck and looked like a giraffe she had developed all the wrong muscles plus she evaded the bit..I have been working her in loose market harborough with instructor and tuition and she worked in correct outline for about 20 mins of 40 min lesson today which was a huge break through.You dont have to tie him in knots with it but it might help his position .
She never evades anymore and has improved so much im considering our first dressage.
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I've recently had a bit of a breakthrough with my coblet - he will now go in a consistent outline in walk and trot when I ask him to - he used to manage a few seconds but fought me a lot.

It really was a lightbulb moment for him. I'd set up trotting poles in the school on a day when he was in a forward going mood, and I gradually moved them wider so he had to stretch over them, and when I took up a contact after that he suddenly got the idea and realised he could actually have fun powering himself round in cobby trot in an outline
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I also try to lower and widen my hands, take up a contact and really push him forwards, and this makes a massive difference.

Don't give up - it can be done and there's no reason why a cob can't do it
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