Riding a horse in an outline - different methods of asking...

Surely when a horse is working in a true outline, the head coming down is secondary because its hindlegs are tracking up, it's working over its back and because there's a contact there, the horse works into it. Over-emphasising the head position and sawing the reins just makes it tuck its jaw in and doesn't make it use its back at all...?

On a similar, kind-of note, my new 6-year-oold ISH gelding's canter is very babyish, unbalanced and all over the place! Any good exercises for helping balance it? Thanks.
 
eleanor79 said:
Surely when a horse is working in a true outline, the head coming down is secondary because its hindlegs are tracking up, it's working over its back and because there's a contact there, the horse works into it. Over-emphasising the head position and sawing the reins just makes it tuck its jaw in and doesn't make it use its back at all...?

On a similar, kind-of note, my new 6-year-oold ISH gelding's canter is very babyish, unbalanced and all over the place! Any good exercises for helping balance it? Thanks.
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Totally agree with the first paragraph, unfortunately the current 'face vertical - or btv - and prettily arched neck' fixation does not help at all... :( :(

Exercises: uphill work to strengthen hind end if you can. Cantering out on hacks to be able to send on build strength. In arena - leg yield a bit out to canter trans so engaging inside hind from the start, lots of transitions, keep canter periods short so he doesn't get on his forehand, canter 18m circle to 20m circle, that sort of thing. The canter can improve dramatically very quickly, I think, as strength improves.
 
think its a case of find what works for your horse - if i rode either of mine in the method that I use for the other one I would be in trouble - my giraffe is a lazy toad and yes he will tuck his head in a look all pretty but his arse is waving around in the wind doing nowt so he is a real one for transitions,circles,get him totally off my leg and the front/half outline just happens - i guess the more traditional method of working a horse into an outlione. My mare would have a total hissy fit if i tried this - rightly or wrongly she needs a very definate rein contact and then you cangradually wind the power up from her hind quarters ,soften the rein contact out longer and lighter and still get the result of a horse working (90% of the time :) ) i know the method for her isnt strictly correct as such but it works for her and deals with the people created issues that she has - in time im sure the balance will tip towards the correct methods as such .
 
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