Practicing in the school without instructor, whats your routine?

[Ellietotz]

Hi!
So basically, I just wanted to know what people's routines are when they ride in the school without an instructor. As I know without someone telling you what to do, you may lose track of what you're doing.
For example, when I'm warming up, I know exactly what my plan is, once warmed up and you do a few jumps, what does everyone personally do? As obviously you can't just keep going in circles doing the same jump. So just wondering what everyone's routine normally is? I just want more structure as I don't want to over do it and bore my poor boy!

Say for example, I ride for 30 minutes...

1. Walk around twice in one direction
2. Change rein and walk around again twice
3. Change rein and trot from K to K for example
4. Change rein again and trot from a letter to the same point
5. Cross over the middle over some trotting poles and walk round full circuit once more.
5. Canter on the corner down the long side and walk
6. Change rein and canter down the long side
7. Pop over a jump and trot half way and walk round again
8. Then I get stuck... I don't want to keep going round in circles jumping so how can I mix it up a bit?

Then once we are fully warmed up, then what? Obviously I don't do exactly the same routine every time, but I like to have a plan. What do you do? What is everyone else's plan when they school?

 

[alainax]

Lots of transitions, changes within the pace, bring it forward and back. Lateral work, moving quarters and shoulders independently etc. I find I spend 30 mins just working on these things and I am sure anyone watching would think I just trot around the whole time

 

[be positive]

Even your warm up sounds tedious and as if you have no idea of what you want to achieve by warming up, also jumping is pointless if you only use 1 fence and should not really be part of the warm up, or included every time you school, without wanting to spend the next hour typing I would suggest you get 101 training exercises to give you more structure and ask your instructor for more help with planning and the purpose of the warm up, it should be more than simply "warming" the horse but should be aiming to get them mentally and physically ready to work more intensely, so should include circles, transitions and exercises that are targeted at you and your own horse to help improve how he is going so he is switched on and listening to you.
My warm up varies from horse to horse and to an extent from day to day depending on many things, it is so important to be prepared to change if something does not go as planned, some benefit from a long stretchy walk, others are better if they canter for a while and everything in between, if your instructor does not inspire you or stretch the boundaries then try someone else as a new approach may be really useful.

 

[shadeofshyness]

I start off by walking round the whole school once, then change the rein and do it the other way. It's mostly to check there's nothing lurking in the bushes and to make sure everything feels comfy and right.

After that, I vary it every time but usually start by going through a dressage test or part of a test, because it means plenty of changing the rein, circles and pace. Lots of transitions because my pony is a lazy little... Often I do four steps of walk, four of trot, back to halt, four steps trot, mixing that up to get him listening. Once he's woken up, we almost always do shallow loops and then come on an inner track so I force myself to think about riding the outside of him. He loves clinging to the track and falling out otherwise. We try to always end on something fun before cooling off - he likes leg yield/shoulder in/turn on or about the forehand, so if I do these on each rein towards the end of the session, we finish on a positive even if other things haven't gone so well beforehand. Like at the moment, we're trying to get the canter better. Or, well, any kind of canter at all to be honest! So often that is a bit of a mess, but I don't like ending on it. I type on my phone what went wrong so I can try to replicate it for my next lesson to get feedback. And then we forget it and do something we CAN do so we're both happier.

It's much harder without an instructor to guide you. Why not ask yours what she'd recommend you work on? Mine kind of gives me homework.

 

[chestnut cob]

Why don't you ask your instructor for some schooling session plans? At the end of my lessons, mine always tells me that for the next few weeks, you need to work on X, warm him up in this way, then start such and such, then when that's right, move on to Y, then add in A and B, and so on. I also have a competition warm up routine from her.

I have a current schooling routine which is tailored to what I'm working on and towards at the moment, but it changes as time goes on.

 

[blitznbobs]

Generally I work with what I've got, I like circles within circles so do a 20m circle with 10m circles within it every 1/2 or 1/4 circle or 20m circles with 10 m circle in the opposite direction at x. I also like mini transitions within a pace so shorten and lengthen stride within a pace by a small amount, leg yielding as well to get horse bending round inside leg and accepting the outside rein... On my more advanced horse we work on our half pass and loads on his canter which is a bit rubbishy.

 

[scats]

My warm up is based on what I plan to achieve that session, plus I work with what's underneath me that day.

 

[spider]

My instructor gives me new exercises every lesson so I practise them.

 

[Karran]

Currently my flatwork schooling away from lessons is something like this:
I always start with a lap on each rein in walk and trot with the longest rein possible.
This gives her a chance to stretch and get the creaks and coughs out of her system. (She lives in and is around 13/14)
We then pick up and work on forward! Lots of transitions, halt/trot walk/walk trot etc and try to do gear changes within the pace as well.
We then incorporate canter, maybe trying to count 7 strides and then changing so something like 7 trot, 7 canter, 7 walk. Halt, rein back. 7 walk, 7 canter.
Or we'll practice changing over the diagonal (my current game is making a pole square in the middle which we aim to do our change in) or figure 8 shapes with a change at X, C and A.
By then we're moving quite nicely so at the moment we either then work on nice bends, so spirals, shallow loops, 10, 15, 20m circles. Or i take stirrups away and try rising and sitting without them to improve my balance and position chanting at myself to not throw my contact away and stay still (i'm a terrible shuffler in the saddle).
We might then finish with some leg yields either in trot or canter or a canter 10m circle inclining back to the track with shallow loops at the other long side.
Poor fatty horse is a bit pooped so then i do another 5 minutes pootling on a long rein but insisting we walk rather than her preferred dawdle to cool her off.

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

I decide what I want to achieve in the work part of the session, basically pick something we're not that good at to work on and figure out which exercises I'm going to use to get the improvement. Then I plan the warm up based on that. Eg if I was going to work on extended trot, the warm up would have a lot of transitions in there, starting with walk/trot (after warming up in walk, obviously) then moving onto playing around with lengthened and shortened strides within the trot. Or eg if I was going to work on jumping a dog leg, the warm up would include a lot of focus on accurate steering as well as popping over the odd jump. Deciding which exercises to use for the work part of the session is just something that comes from stuff I've read, lessons I've had or watched others having, and past experience of what works.

ETA: my pet hate is people who don't warm up in walk before going faster. I can understand it if the horse is very fresh, I've let them have a bit of a trot and the odd canter before now rather than end up arguing with them and having a bucking fit or whatever. But generally I think it's best to walk the first and last 5-10min whether that's in the arena or out on a short hack.

 

[hollyandivy123]

i found the 101 books good for when i got stuck in a rut, gives ideas to mix and match

 

[Ellietotz]

Thank you everyone! Will look into getting that book. I think the thing I need to add as well is that I don't compete or anything and he's 16 now. Only ever done hacking but wanted to mix it up a bit so it doesn't get boring and I enjoy jumping and schooling. So I don't need to practice anything in particular but just wanted to know what other people do when they're schooling! Need to make a plan in my head! I just hate not knowing what I'm going to do. Thinking about it, we need to practice cantering on the right lead as he's not so great at that as he's only ever hacked and gone on the same leg! Part of me almost feels like schooling is pointless if I'm not showing... is it? I just like giving us targets and things to achieve, when you get your horse doing something that he couldn't before, it's the best feeling. I'm rambling but that's all I want to do really is have some fun in the school, work on things and jump a bit. Just didn't know what order to do anything and wanted ideas on mixing it up rather than just going in circles!

 

[LadySam]

Part of me almost feels like schooling is pointless if I'm not showing... is it?

No, not at all. Schooling isn't just about learning pretty moves for the arena, it's where you make your technique solid. That forms the bedrock for everything you go on to do.

 

[Equi]

Wobble about for a few strides in each rein, try to do the trot from U to Q, play with my stirrups a few times, go over a pole or x pole or cavaletti in walk, pretend its canter, try a canter, decide i dont know what i am doing and end up going on a hack.

Ive often thought about recording a session on my phone, so i can follow it - the only issue is you can't dictate to real life time.

 

[chestnut cob]

Part of me almost feels like schooling is pointless if I'm not showing... is it?

Definitely not. Even if don't don't compete, you can learn to enjoy schooling for its own sake. Schooling, done properly, should be about making your horse more supple, more athletic, and stronger. It's about developing the relationship with your horse, improving your own riding, and improving his way of going.

Meg - do you have any lessons? What do you work on in those and what does your instructor tell you to practise in between lessons? If you aren't having lessons then the best thing you can do is to find a good instructor and start some. Someone on the ground is the best person to tell you what to work on at home rather than lots of people on the internet who have never seen you or your horse.

 

[chahala]

I hardly ever use the outside track. I nearly always have some sort of equipment out; poles cones etc and do loads of lateral flexion in the warm up. I am aiming for quality rather than quantity and if my horse performs well I often finish early.

I also recommend the 101 book.

 

[LeannePip]

i dont really have a warm up plan, as its all about how the horse feels when i get on, and i definitely wouldn't have one so structured as the one you describe.;

Generally, in the summer i get on and walk down our lane for a stretch and into one of the cut hay fields walk round the edge flexing both ways, focussing on keeping her straight through the body and loosening up the neck and quietly following the rein pressure, doing this in the field really helps as she has to really concentrate so she doesn't end up flat on her face as the surface obviously isn't as flat/ even as the school, do the same in trot, throw in a few circles and changes of direction and then have a canter on each rein, always assessing how supple and soft she feels and if there are any blockers. we then walk back down the lane to the school and that's when i decide what i want to work on for the day.

What i work on can be based on what went badly the last session, what i pick up in the warm up, i.e not feeling very supple or steerable, what we are aiming for or elements of what is coming up in a dressage test.

Do you already have an instructor, perhaps they could give you some exercises to work on for the next time they see you? I dont think not competing should bare any effect on schooling your horse, you could just get some of the dressage tests and practice running through them your self? intro A,B and C would be a good place to start in a session then if you find bits difficult you could break it down and work on individual elements

 

[Ellietotz]

I love this, it has made my day!

 

[Ellietotz]

I don't have lessons as I normally hack but have decided that it's a bit boring now! It's been a very long time since I've had a lesson so I don't really know what I want/need to work on. Currently I'm working on getting the stride right when jumping but I don't just want to do that.
I know I could think of other things to practice but then at the same time, I guess I didn't really have a point if I'm not showing him but like you said, it's about making him better and myself so that's helped my way of thinking, thank you. I like having structure to things I do so I should probably just make schooling plans beforehand maybe...
When my boy has done something well that we struggled with before, it is so rewarding but I feel selfish because I'm sure he would just be as happy to wander around the forest. I know I'm being silly! I just feel bad making him do stuff!

 

[Ellietotz]

I don't have an instructor but have looked into it. I like working alone but I think in this case, I need one otherwise I just improvise and don't know what to do. I don't know why but I just feel selfish making him work.

 

[LeannePip]

Currently I'm working on getting the stride right when jumping but I don't just want to do that.
I know I could think of other things to practice but then at the same time, I guess I didn't really have a point if I'm not showing him but like you said, it's about making him better and myself so that's helped my way of thinking, thank you.

If that's your aim then you can lie two poles down about 6 strides apart and work on adjusting the canter, make the canter smaller and get 7/8 strides down the distance and then make it bigger and try for 5 strides, all the while you should be encouraging a relaxed smooth canter and not just holding the horse so short it physically can go forward or just galloping down to get less strides.

You shouldn't be jumping him every time you ride, but in between jumping sessions you can work on the things that will make the jumping easier/ better.

Get yourself an instructor even if just for a few lessons who can give you points to work on in between lessons so you aren't just riding round aimlessly

 

[Woolly Hat n Wellies]

My gelding is 16 now, and was sold about 3 years ago as a happy hack with the words 'he doesn't really DO schooling'. With the help of an instructor he's now not only schooling, but enjoying it, and it's so rewarding to see and feel him getting better, more supple, and stronger. At his age he has a lot of bad habits which are still being ironed out, but he looks and feels younger than he did when we started, and he's a nicer 'person' as well now that he's carrying himself better, he seems to have fewer aches and pains and is consequently less of a grumpy old man. I hope that doing this work with him means we can enjoy more hacking into his old age.

You shouldn't feel selfish making him work. I've been told off by my instructor for the same thing! But I think, having seen the change in my Billy, that schooling is really doing them a kindness, and once you have help and a plan it becomes a bit addictive!

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

I don't have an instructor but have looked into it. I like working alone but I think in this case, I need one otherwise I just improvise and don't know what to do. I don't know why but I just feel selfish making him work.

most humans have to work around 8hrs a day to survive, some work more and some less, but most have to work often at things they don't much enjoy doing. I know horses are a bit like slaves really in that they don't have any control over their own lives, but as long as you're giving him a good home with decent standard of care then you're not being cruel making him work. If he's out in the field he has 23hrs a day to do whatever he likes, he can do what you want for 1hr a day, it's not such a bad life really especially when you consider that most owners don't ask their horses to do a job they detest.

 

[Ellietotz]

My gelding is 16 now, and was sold about 3 years ago as a happy hack with the words 'he doesn't really DO schooling'. With the help of an instructor he's now not only schooling, but enjoying it, and it's so rewarding to see and feel him getting better, more supple, and stronger. At his age he has a lot of bad habits which are still being ironed out, but he looks and feels younger than he did when we started, and he's a nicer 'person' as well now that he's carrying himself better, he seems to have fewer aches and pains and is consequently less of a grumpy old man. I hope that doing this work with him means we can enjoy more hacking into his old age.

You shouldn't feel selfish making him work. I've been told off by my instructor for the same thing! But I think, having seen the change in my Billy, that schooling is really doing them a kindness, and once you have help and a plan it becomes a bit addictive!

I really like this, sounds exactly like mine and the same age! What is your usual routine? How did you know when he was feeling better and stronger? I want to keep the cogs turning with mine as well so schooling him would help working easier for him I suppose. I still feel guilty though! Silly isn't it!

 

[Ellietotz]

most humans have to work around 8hrs a day to survive, some work more and some less, but most have to work often at things they don't much enjoy doing. I know horses are a bit like slaves really in that they don't have any control over their own lives, but as long as you're giving him a good home with decent standard of care then you're not being cruel making him work. If he's out in the field he has 23hrs a day to do whatever he likes, he can do what you want for 1hr a day, it's not such a bad life really especially when you consider that most owners don't ask their horses to do a job they detest.

You are right. He is currently only getting ridden 3 times a week and will only be twice in the winter. He gets to live out 24/7, have a two hour hack on the weekend, have a good burn, a nice dinner and back to the field again so it's not a hard life! I constantly pamper him, he has more outfits than me and yet I feel bad for making him do what I want for an hour!

 

[Woolly Hat n Wellies]

I really like this, sounds exactly like mine and the same age! What is your usual routine? How did you know when he was feeling better and stronger? I want to keep the cogs turning with mine as well so schooling him would help working easier for him I suppose. I still feel guilty though! Silly isn't it!

To begin with, my instructor told me what to look for and feel for, and to see which parts of his body were improving. In Billy's case it's reducing the massive muscle under his neck, and building muscle all along the top, stopping him leaning on his forehand, so his chest is quite soft, without his big pointy sternum sticking out the front, lifting himself up from underneath so I can see the muscles working down his sides, learning to stand with his back legs underneath, supporting him, rather than splayed out the back, having nice relaxed muscle on the top, instead of being very tight and uncomfortable, and looking for where he's sweating, closer to his stifle rather than just up his neck and shoulders from his front end dragging him along and his back end not doing anything! (yes, he was a bit of a mess!) I also take lots of photos and videos so I can compare them and see how we're progressing. A lot of it is just the feeling I get when I get on him. He feels so much more powerful now, and bigger somehow, but more under control and chilled out about things he used to get uptight about.

I don't really have a usual routine for schooling. I don't make a plan until I've warmed up and felt how we're doing that day. I start with a walk and trot both ways, some turns and circles, lots of transitions, and then either I work on my homework from my instructor if everything feels good, or, if I'm not happy with something in the warm up, for example he can still find the left rein more difficult than the right, or he might feel a bit lazy in his transitions some days, then I work on that. I like to do leg yield on a circle, making it smaller and bigger again. I also like exercises on a serpentine, adding in circles inside the turns, or trot-halt-trot transitions over the centre line each time. The main thing is lots of variety to keep him thinking and concentrating.

My goal is to be able to do a prelim test, and to do the local 65cm/prelim test mini ODE, so it's not much, but it would be a huge achievement for The Horse Formerly Known As Billy-No-Brakes who could only canter on the right leg, in a straight line, up a hill!

 

[moosea]

You say hacking like hacking is easy - it's not!

There are loads of reasons to school your happy hacker. By building correct muscles you make it easier for him to carry you over a variety of terrain. By being able to flex and bend him you can control where his body is in relation to traffic. By improving his lateral work it makes opening/ closing gates easier.

Schooling is training the horse and rider.

As your horse is 16 it's important to ensure he is as supple as possible to help him long term.

I'm the same as most of the other replies on here in that my warm up is based on what the horse presents me with that day and what I aim to achieve from the session. I also use the warm up to check my position and do a few exercises to loosen me up.
I tend to have a few minutes at a relaxed walk and then take up a little more contact and work on getting the horse listening to me with lots of transitions. I probably spend somewhere between 20 - 40 minutes 'working' on whatever I need to improve then 10 minutes at the end for cool down.

 

[gunnergundog]

Short answer: there is no routine!

You need first of all to understand where you are at, then you need to know where you are going/where you want to be and what needs to be achieved in the interim.

You then (and this is the difficult bit) need to learn to read/understand the horse beneath you, what it is telling you, what the issues are and how to act accordingly to overcome/improve.

It all comes with experience.