Rein back

[dianchi]

As were getting a bit better at dressage have decided to do more novice test though reading through them ive spotted rein back-which we cant do!

I have been doing stuff on the ground like asking her to back up in hand and can get a dfew steps though this goes out the window once im on her and she just stands dead still and wont move back.
She can do it tho as she knows she has to when opening gates.
But any training tips on starting rein back in the school and for dressage tests.
Thanks!

 

[Baileysno1]

Hi I'm working on this at the moment, my horse will back up on the ground if asked, my instructor says the key is to get someone on the ground to help you to start with, she stands in front of my horse and I give the aids acompanied by my voice aid 'back back' which I use on the ground, and my instructor taps him on the knees with the schooling whip to encourage him back, we started with one step then walk off and praise and he'll now do 3 or 4 steps and I've started to ask him on my own once or twice after I've had help on the ground, seems to be working so far.

 

[Butterbean]

I'm also working on this with my 6yo, doing very much the same as Baileysno1 ie started off on the ground then progressed to me on board & instructor standing in front (me still saying "back" to him while applying the aids). He is now doing a few steps without instructor being in front or anywhere near, but every so often he gets a bit stressed and does a mini-rear instead of stepping back.

So maybe I am confusing him a bit with my aids.

With my other horse I was taught that for rein back you should have your legs slightly behind the girth, and lighten your weight slightly, current instructor says legs should be in normal place - what do others do?

 

[not_with_it]

[ QUOTE ]
With my other horse I was taught that for rein back you should have your legs slightly behind the girth, and lighten your weight slightly, current instructor says legs should be in normal place - what do others do?

[/ QUOTE ]

Ive always been taught legs slightly back and when first teaching it take weight off the horses back. Surely if legs are in normal place then you would just be asking the horse to go forwards