Riding Question from me for once!

S14Tobin

S14Tobin

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Well, as most of you know, Ped's is (rather like Hovis) a big huge hairy beast, however, Peds is 11 and a near ornament... until a few months ago! Until I moved him, I'd possibly riddden him, maybe 12 times since he was broken in :-) - down to alot of reasons. Anyway, now we've been hacking out, and doing lots of interesting things - yes, going faster than a walk too :-) I've started to take him in the school. I'm not doing anything major, he will live his life out being a hack, as that's all i want to do, he loves it, and, well, he's a yak crossed with a heffalump. Now. Riding him last night, I'm struggling to get him bending. Seriously, it's rather like riding a hunk of firewood round corners. Oh boy can we do small circlework, but bend? nope! I swear he has a broom down his neck! (I did find out he can neckrein beautifully though!)
Any advice on how to help me help him here? Carrot cake and chocolate for getting to the end :-) :-)
 
Have you tried getting him to flex his neck standing still first, then in walk when he can do this???

Get him to bend when going straight not just on corners too.

A full cheek bit may help with steering too.

Raising and/or opening your inside hand can help you to get the bend too, it is difficult to know what to advise as we can't see what he is actually doing. I'd be inclined to believe that it is stiffness and lack of education as he hasn't done much and to just take it very steady with him, asking for a bit of bend and rewarding him when you get it, starting at halt and working up to trot in time.
 
Thanks Katt, I think I need to get him on video! He's ridden in either a fullcheek frenchlink, or a hanging, depending on which bridle I grab turning isn't a problem at all - infact the total opporside, Im just failing to get him to actually bend through his neck! He's reasonably balanced considering his lack of education which is good! I'll try him while standing, and see how he reacts, although suspect I know :-) !!! Thanks alot!
 
Carrot stretches are good. My boy, mind you, can bend beautofully for carrots then is stiff as a plank once we're in the school. He gets better as he warms up tho. Keep at it
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Try him standing still and bring your hand up to your nipple, to get him to actually bend through his neck. Then let hime straighten and try the other way.

Don't make him hold it for long, just make him bend without resisting and then give. Try it a couple of times each way.

When he is doing this reasonably easily try him in walk, but only ask for a small amount of bend at first. Bear in mind that as he hasn't been doing much he may lack the strength and balance to give you as much as you would like.
 
Thanks ladies - just a slight bit of sideways bend would be great - he does go in a reasonable outline, but I may as well be riding a hobbyhorse round corners! How he can remain so balanced in circles I have absolutely no idea!

Katt - after 2 kids, that really wouldn't be very high to raise my hand :-)
 
lol! Ok where your nipple was once upon a time a long long time ago.......... Or maybe we should just say "towards your shoulder".......
 
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