Question about working in an outline - confused?

H

horsegirl

Well-Known Member
Joined
16 June 2006
Messages
10,432
Visit site
In order to get my TB to work in a nice outline I need to use loads of leg and take quite a strong contact to stop him speeding up. I feel like I am pulling on his mouth the whole time, won't this encourage him to pull against me or make him hard mouthed? I don't understand.
confused.gif
confused.gif
 
You can't pull a horse into an outline - try relaxing your hands and getting your horse to work long and low, when you feel him stretching down into the bridle you can begin to take up the contact. Make sure he has an active walk and is using his back end. If it becomes a pulling competition, he will always win.
 
I find riding with my legs quite far back helps get Ty working up and under. Keeping my hands quite high too so that I'l lifting him into an outline.

TBH, I'd rather worry about getting him tracking up to start with, the head will come later - well it did with Ty!

Although I'm no expert so can only go by the experiences I've had......
 
He tracks up nicely, when he is working in an outline but if I release the reins he holds it for a few strides and then sticks his nose in the air and hollows.
 
I'd say you need work on controlling more with your seat and getting free relaxed forward movement before you try to work in an outline, it will naturally come.
I also find with horses that are forward going or sensitive encouraging them to work long and low first, then slowly bringing the head up to correct position will mean you get a horse working correctly from behind on a contact that is also relaxed without relying on your hands or reins to maintain outline.
 
[ QUOTE ]
He tracks up nicely, when he is working in an outline but if I release the reins he holds it for a few strides and then sticks his nose in the air and hollows.

[/ QUOTE ]

double line lunging is also great for encouraging the long and low thing!
 
You need to allow with inside hand but hold outside contact , as you allow with inside hand, horse should drop down into contact- cos there's no pressure.- horses move away from pressure.
Movement should come from shoulder through elbow to hand instead of moving fingers. The more you hold tight on both riens, the more they will lean.
You should squeeze horse into contact - think of tube of toothpaste and squeeze, then as you got forward movement allow with inside hand and if going too fast put in also a couple of half halts. Also remember to sit tall in seat and not to lean forward (at this point you need to rub tummy and pat hat
cool.gif
cool.gif
)
If you give horse wobbly contact you'll get wobbly outline
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top