Professional Schooling

R

rachier

Well-Known Member
Joined
13 September 2007
Messages
184
Visit site
My TB is going away to be reschooled in 2 weeks, and my usual instructor rode him for an hour yesterday instead of me riding (as i had been unsure since he was pratting about last wknd).

She was amazing, but the difference in my horse was also - he tried to tank, bucked and was rocking from back to front legs when she asked him to go forward. We discovered that he gets anxious when pressured into doing things - her advice was to ask, and if he doesnt do what you say then ask again.

Im just scared now - he is usually so ploddy (however not working in an outline etc.). I dont want him to come back too sharp or i think i might scare myself. The place im sending him is very well thought of and has been proven and i have asked for him not to end up too sharp which they said was fine.

AIM He finds it very hard to work straight and struggles to bend (mainly losing his shoulders to the point where you feel like hes on 2 legs!). Want him to be more supple and soft in the hand (typical ex racer that leans) and willing to work in an outline.

Has anybody got any schooling experiences to share (mainly good!)?
 
i'd agree that it sounds as if he doesn't cope with any pressure from the rider very well, and gets very anxious....asking nicely, and convincing him that nothing bad will happen, which takes a lot of time (time = confidence to a horse, i was taught) is the way forward. just make sure that wherever you are sending him are very patient and calm, and won't pressurise him to get results. if he's usually 'ploddy' but has just started behaving like this after being asked to work in an outline etc, i'd say he's either confused, or uncomfortable. be very very careful where you send him.
 
It's impossible to tell over the internet, of course, but depending why he is the way he is, a complete overhaul might be a bit much to ask in a short space of time. How long is he away for? Have you spoken to the trainer about what, specifically, you want improved? It's impossible to set time frames and I'd be leery of anyone who says "We can have this fixed by this time" before they start. Having him be "better" is well and good but you might get a little more "customer satisfaction" if you discuss some more individual and specific goals. Has the trainer seen him go/sat on him? It's pretty hard to judge otherwise.

Presumably there is the option of watching him work and getting instruction on him whilst he's away on his training course? I, personally, prefer the owner come to see the horse go and then have at least one session on the horse before it leaves, preferably with myself and, if possible, whomever teaches the owner at home. I know this sounds a lot of bother but lasting progress is more about taking the whole system up a notch and helping the regular rider figure out how to communicate with the individual horse more effectively. A good working knowledge also makes it easier to get help once you're home, either by contacting the trainer or discussing things with your regular instructor - the more information you (and the trainer) have, the easier it is to make quick, clear progress and to prevent unnecessary detours. YOU should know what's going on and be able to at least start to understand and produce the improvements.

As an old boss of mine used to say, "Who cares if you can ride it?"
smile.gif


As to not making the horse too sharp, it's good you've mentioned that to them. I still say it's a bit difficult to judge if they've never seen you ride but definitely an important point. This is actually quite a common "side effect" of increased training, after all the point of the exercise is to make the horse more responsive and reactive! I like to sit down with the owner and have a chat about both long and short term goals and how different requirements might affect the horse's program. I have literally had people say they want the horse to be much fitter and stronger, sharper in it' competitive life but remain as quiet and easy for their novice friend to hack. This might be possible with SOME horses but certainly not with all and certainly not while the horse is sorting out when it's acceptable to be what kind of horse. A good trainer should talk to you openly about YOUR horse and what expectations are reasonable at which points.

Sorry, I know that's too much information and it's tempting to just send the horse off to be "fixed" but my experience (started a couple hundred horses, worked with at least as many "problem" horses) has been that the best results and the best value for money comes from a more "holistic" approach. Keep yourself involved in the process - after all, it's your money and your horse.
 
I have had horses professionally schooled in the past and I also school other poeples horses for them. One bit of advice I always give is to find somewhere sympathetic to the way you ride, but also not too much more advanced than you are. The main problem I find with horses that have been professionally schooled or produced is that the pro riders are very accomplished and very strong, they are also very correct and the horse can get used to being ridden in a firm and correct manner by a very good rider. You might think this sounds great but often when the much more novicy owner gets on the horse gets very confused about the sudden lack of support and clear aids from the rider and is actually worse than before. It is therefore very important that you are fully involved with any schooling he has and you regularly ride the horse under their instruction to get the full benefits.

Hope thst helps!
 
[ QUOTE ]
It's impossible to tell over the internet, of course, but depending why he is the way he is, a complete overhaul might be a bit much to ask in a short space of time. How long is he away for? Have you spoken to the trainer about what, specifically, you want improved? It's impossible to set time frames and I'd be leery of anyone who says "We can have this fixed by this time" before they start. Having him be "better" is well and good but you might get a little more "customer satisfaction" if you discuss some more individual and specific goals. Has the trainer seen him go/sat on him? It's pretty hard to judge otherwise.

[/ QUOTE ]

I will be going up for lessons as part of it (as much for me as him) and also i am not expecting miracles - i would like him to be more supple and comfortable in himself, he struggles with some lateral movements but can do them with persuasion. He does have a pelvis problem which was the initial factor for him getting schooled - to be able to carry himself better with better suppleness (which trainers are aware of).

There is no specified time really, just however long it takes, and the people doing it match my riding style - they are very very highly recommended, competing in a range of disciplines and they know my limitations. They are known for bringing on horses very slowly, so I have no doubt that they will not try and 'fix' things too quickly.

As he is a 12 yr old TB who has raced, I had considered selling him, but he is my first horse and I have built up an amazing trust with him - he looks after me even if its my fault things have went wrong!

Thanks for the advice, it has been a difficult decision to decide what to do for the best, I know he can do the little bit that i want him to do (my RI has discussed with me her views too) and cant give up on him now. After all - I would only like to do a little bit of prelim DR with him!!
 
have you had his back, saddle and teeth checked in the last month? You say hes been like it since youve started asking him to go in an outline and to work harder - to me it seems like he might have a problem in his back which is making him object to the work.
 
Hes had physio, vet, saddle, teeth all checked!! Has got pelvis prob which explains behaviour which makes him stiff but physio said to work through it and it will drastically improve!!

Thanks for tip thou!
 
Having an exracer who for years and years was pokeynosed and wooden, I can sypathise. I would however thoroughly investigate physical causes - mine turned out to have severe arthritis in his neck. It has taken 2 years to turn him around, and you're right that correct muscle development is instrumental to this. It does have to be done slowly and sensitively though.

On an encouraging note though, after much work and patience, I managed to take Jack (now aged 16) to his first unaff dressage comp over the summer which was a real milestone. (see second pic in sig)

Sounds like your boy is going to the right people anyway so good luck!
 
Thanks for that OrangeEmpire - its always 2 steps forward and 10 back with mine (bet you know the feeling!). The physio/vet said all he has really is uneven muscle development generally on his right / left rein and also gets pressure build up at a point in his neck because he carries it to the outside on both reins (which acn be worked on).

I love him to bits and if someone down the line says its just not possible, i would accept that. But as your story proves time, patience (*and being skint!) pays off in the end!!

Cant give up on him now x
 
Jack was much worse than your chap and was at one point looking like it might be The End. But he is testament to the fact that time and patience can work wonders!

I started with lungeing - lots of walk to trot transitions to get his bum working with a DIY pessoa - lungeing draw reins and a tail bandage around his bum. Then spent 6 months in walk just teaching him to soften under saddle. Walk can achieve alot - we did circles, shoulder-in, leg-yielding and halts, including developing an active working pace. I used the contravertial draw reins for too (loosely!) as he needed to be shown where to put his head. Without them I found he only flexed at the poll, still keeping the rest of his neck ridged. It was done gently and without hauling his head in. Eventually he went back to trot and finally canter work.

Needless to say i had alot of lessons on my other horse in this time which has improved my riding no end. And it is all done at his own pace and gently. That feeling of understanding and trust that has developed is so incredible and is definately worth perservering for!

oh and he's on cortaflex and nobute.
Good luck!
 
Lateral work on ground, gets the horses body supple and bending.
smile.gif




So you're talking hindq yield, foreq yield, lateral flexion & sidepassing.

You can teach all of these in short 10 min sessions over a few weeks.

The idea is that asking a horse to work correctly on the circle means asking a horse to do A LOT of things - they need their HQ supple and coming under them, their foreq light (not working on forehand, but with shoulders free and moving) their neck softened and turned a little in direction they're going, ribs arc-ed aroudn your inside leg, etc, etc.....

If you can work with your horse on these things - one at a time - to make sure his body is actually supple and flexible all over, before you sit up in saddle and ask him to do all these things together, it works really well, and its fairly simple to do too.

Theres a bit more info here:

http://irishnhsociety.proboards41.com/in...read=1189155540

It might also suit your horse v well as there's no pressurized situation involved.... its all very relaxed and low key, with small cues and immediate praise / rest for horse when he gets it right. I was teaching a few weeks back at a clinic and one lady remarked to me it was like a spa for horses
smile.gif


Best of luck.
 
Ill definately give it a go, luckily xmas holidays are near so no excuses!!

Always wanted to do some groundwork/ IH, but nowhere near me does lessons etc.

ill let you know how it goes elaineh!!
 
I wish you all the best for you and your horse...thank goodness you are looking at your options and for support rather than struggling on and becoming bogged down with it.
I have an ex-racehorse and we had some problems similar to yours.
My mare always suffered with a sore neck/poll/shoulders..which was helped with physio...and it made some work hard for her so we would never ask too much at one time which used that area. Also she would avoid some work if she didnt feel like it - definitely a strop not pain...so we could have a total stand off after about 20mins. Keeping it varied helped...they are bright and need stimulating - not just doing the same thing over and over again.
I sometimes used an elastic band (dont know correct term!) which went over her headpiece, through bit rings and done up to strap on girth between front legs...she found this helped her and it uplifted her back with the correct exercises.
Luckily I had instructors who got to know her personality and would know if it was temperament issue or something wasn't quite right physically with her.
As one instructor used to say 'she is wily and knows how to play the game' as well!!! So she would keep us on our toes!!!
We did dressage (not advanced tho due to her physical capabilities after racing) and jumping...
You had to be very precise with signals as well...if you didnt do things just right she just wouldnt do it..no grey areas...which is fair enough really!!!
She didnt like the pressure sometimes and would dash in to a panic-like state...sometimes I think the schooling just got too much for her, so we would do something else for a bit ie. pop over poles, go for a walk. We did lots of flexing work and different pacing ie. collect at ends of school, extend down long sides as she could get stuffy and end up going nowhere!!

I wish you every success...GOOD LUCK!
 
sounds like Ty when I started to put him under pressure! I had him schooled for me twice a week and he was much easier to handle after that - getting him reschooled will only help him so try not to worry! x
 
It sounds like you've really thought this out, are reasonable in your expectations, and will be keeping on top of things - honestly, you should be fine.
smile.gif


Good luck with your horse and I commend you for getting professional help to reach your goals more safely and efficiently. So many people want to do it all on their own with no regard to what might be best for all concerned but that's just pride talking. I don't fix my own brakes, although I guess I could give it a shot!
wink.gif
I'm sure your horse will turn out just fine.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top