schooling advice

[serena2005]

a pony im riding is very sensitive to the leg, so everythime i ask for bend he shots off, the longer i ride the better he get (responsing to my legs) but gets stronger, i try not to have a pulling battle with his mouth but we cant seem to find a happy medium.
iv known him for a good number of years and know he is well schooled, its just due to the lack of schooling recently.

what can i do to make schooling easier, for both of us!!

 

[Abbeygale]

Have you checked all the obvious - back / teeth / saddle fit etc?

My mare was like this when I started schooling her. The best thing that I found with her was to do a lot of talking to her when I was schooling (yes you will look like a crazy person!!

) and use my voice a lot rather than necessarily using my legs. Just keep your legs really still and quiet. I then progressed on slowly to using my legs very gently - but I would think of using my knees to put pressure on her side, rather than my lower leg. This will mean a gentler pressure. Over time I did get my mare so I could ride "normally" (whatever that is.....).

Also, the best thing I ever did was have an instructor explain really well to me about using my weight as a slow aid.

Do you have lessons on the pony you are riding?

 

[serena2005]

yep every thing is sound teeth, tack, ect.

i know what u mean about using weight as a slowing aid, ill give that a go next time.

not having lessons as im just excersing him for a friend, if i continue to ride him then i will have lessons, but its just short term at the mo.

 

[vhf]

A few things I've tried/been told.
Think slower, i.e. think of making your rising slower in the trot, staying out the saddle less, rising less high.
Ride along murmering "soft-ly, soft-ly, soft-ly" - you look like a loon, but it can work. I was taught that one in Austria where it was "rhu-igg-err, rhu-igg-err" (aps for spelling!)
Get a rhythm in your head and think of riding to that beat, or ride to tranquil music or music with the tempo you want to achieve - works on some horses as well as riders.
Difficult movements every time the horse reacts in a way you don't want - like a small circle or a leg yield, or a shoulder in, so that actually, going slow starts to feel like the easy option.

I've found odd things work in different cases, and sometimes you have to come up with a wacky solution of your own!

 

[helenhorse]

yerp thats it lol..i havnjt got much time but yeah, think slower, loosen your seat, bring your heal away, light with you seat, and talk to him, dont be affraid to talk to him. Also i find working on a circle helps with calming and conrtol. Always give and take with the rein. Support with the putside rein, and squeeze, give and forward, squeeze, give and forward with your inside rein. Look in the direction your going and close your thigh if hes falling in. If he goes to shoot off, open your inside hand and squeeze, gve and forward with your inside rein again, talk and rise high and slow.
hope i have made sense lol..got to go
xxxxxxx