Ridden issues - basic

Yeah, I wouldn't necessarily describe him as lame either, just 'not right'. But there could/probably is a whole variety of stuff contributing to that. Hell, pssm could account for the poor, tight musculature behind and weird gait and the alternating between barely being able to put one foot in front of the other in trot and then rushing off in a ball of tension. But the over riding thing for me is that the OP seems to have lots of advice in real life, that is all apparently excellent, and yet still the merry-go-round of schooling approach change; vet investigation; new supplement; tack change goes on. I just real feel for OP, because she doesn't seem to be getting the support she needs :(
 
I feel for the OP too, as when she posts on FB she also gets 101 other opinions on what is happening and what to do.
 
Isn't it funny how different people see different things? In the video I see a green horse who is tense and an unbalanced rider. These things can be fixed. The house looks a very genuine sort who is trying to understand what is wanted. When he speeds up it is because the rider is leaning forward and using her legs - typical go faster signs. She is then doing half halts to slow him. He is confused.

Pretty typical cob action especially when tense.

I would advise lots of lessons on different horses, so you can really concentrate on your position. Get a good rider to school the horse, encouraging self balance, relaxation and basic schooling - I bet you will see a difference in the way he moves. It wouldn't do any harm to get a lameness workup, but I doubt that much will be found other than tension.

I would also think that doing some hacking - even at walk will help build confidence in both horse and rider, and help reduce the stress.

Good luck OP - sort out your balance and things will go a lot smoother
 
EllenJay said:
Isn't it funny how different people see different things? In the video I see a green horse who is tense and an unbalanced rider. These things can be fixed. The house looks a very genuine sort who is trying to understand what is wanted. When he speeds up it is because the rider is leaning forward and using her legs - typical go faster signs. She is then doing half halts to slow him. He is confused.

Pretty typical cob action especially when tense.

I would advise lots of lessons on different horses, so you can really concentrate on your position. Get a good rider to school the horse, encouraging self balance, relaxation and basic schooling - I bet you will see a difference in the way he moves. It wouldn't do any harm to get a lameness workup, but I doubt that much will be found other than tension.

I would also think that doing some hacking - even at walk will help build confidence in both horse and rider, and help reduce the stress.

Good luck OP - sort out your balance and things will go a lot smoother
Click to expand...

Totally agree, please don't give up with your lovely boy OP. You will make progress and get it right, and all the effort and care you've put in will be worth it :)
 
supsup said:
Have you tried simply getting on and standing still? This is a great article:
http://peterdecosemo.weebly.com/blog/he-pulls-like-a-bloody-train1

If you have time, I think it is a very low risk thing to try (and you don't need any especially advanced riding skills either), and it may help your horse settle down, stop rushing and spooking.
Click to expand...

I’m going to try this - my little mare is fab but we’ve had to work at the standing still (to groom as well as to ride). It’s progressed well but will give this a whirl - really want to take her to comps this summer and this coupled with the fact she’s way more lively away from home have been putting me off. Would it work to do this once a week as part of routine (until its sorted) or intensive every day until sorted. Sorry to hijack post!
 
Hi. Probably everything has already been said but......of course it is difficult when you are in the early stages of learning about riding and learning about your horse. However, a thing to remember is that you are the person who must ultimately decide what is going to happen when you are in the school - you have half a ton of horse there but you must be in charge - some of the things you have written where you describe that your cob behaves in certain ways make it sound as if you feel like this is happening and you react afterwards. You must be the one who decides what happens - good paces, obedience etc will not happen by themselves - you are the one who will teach your horse about these. He should be looking to you for guidance ( although those of us in Cobland know this is not always true!) - at the moment he may well be very confused with all the changes of gear and supplements. You mention his naughty behaviour when walking over poles - stop, work over and around the poLe until you get one or two good steps, then stop, praise him loads, change the activity, perhaps try it just once more in the session and praise again. Also, as many have said, hack out with your cob- just relaxed peaceful walks to start with where you can get to know each other in a calm laid back situation. The coming summer will be the ideal time to do this. Many posters here are very experienced in seeing lameness - if you can manage it get another lameness check to sort this out one way or the other. Look at the videos - occasionally ( often at one particular end of the school actually) he relaxes visibly, and then so do you of course, - remember this feeling and position and try to preserve it for a little further round the School in a calm walk each time. Perhaps delay the jumping until you have both it to a point where you can get three relaxed paces together.
Just a few thoughts......
 
I am not an expert at all but I agree with EllenJay, I see a horse that looks a bit confused and a tense rider. I've watched some of your other videos as well and you are stiff through your arms and often use a lot of leg (in particular your video 'early am outline work', rewatch this video, in slow motion if it helps, and just watch your leg and his response to it). Keep your thumbs on top - this should help relax your arms and soften the contact.

What happens if you drop your reins to the buckle? Can you walk/trot/canter on a long rein?
 
With all of the issues you have had I would be getting a lameness work up just as an exercise in elimination really. I'm not going to say out and out lameness as so much is going on that video that could or could not be potentially causing issues.

Secondly, you say he doesn't jog on the lunge. This is either a pain issue or a rider issue, does he do it if you ride bareback? Does he do it if someone else rides him?

If he is cleared as sound, you need to work on maintaining a rhythm. As people have suggested before, changes of direction and pace etc. If he is quite a sensative ride, you are also leaning forward defensively. As the owner of a hot as nails warmblood, the more sensative types are not as forgiving as some other horses. You are leaning forward slightly, unbalancing him, and that is what sends him onto the forehand to rush/jog/canter. He finds these evasions easier than work and you are giving him the perfect opening to do them. Mine does the same and sometimes you have to relax and go with them until you can then settle them into a rhythm. I used to like asking for trot on a 15m circle as you have an inside bend and it is harder for them to rush off.

I would not be focusing on "an outline" right now, you can't get him to work properly when his front and back end are not connected. Rhythm first.

I also note that in the 1st video, as others have said, once you were trotting, it didn't look like you actually did anything to say to him "right, this is the tempo", as someone else has said you looked like a passanger as opposed to a rider. If that were me on my sharp girl, I would be straight onto a circle or figure of 8. Singing 10 green bottles also helps, or counting 1,2,1,2 for the rhythm you want.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top