Schooling exercises for dummies!

LaurenM

LaurenM

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After spending months on ground work i.e. catching said horse, we've finally progressed to ridden work! Go us!

I haven't schooled a horse in years (hacked instead) and don't know where to start.. suggestions please!!

Said horse avoids the bit, refuses to bend and sticks his head right up when changing transitions. He is also very nosey so needs to be kept focused. I also want to improve his approach to jumps.

Any ideas?
 
Don't call yourself a Dummy!! Bet you not!!! You could try doing a bit of lunging first with side reins to get him to go in to more of an outline. To help with jumping do a lot of pole work, raised poles and just do small jumps to get him really confident at jumping smaller jumps then get slightly bigger. Hope this is some help x
 
I start my youngsters with basic walk trot transitions not nec. in an out line but just enough to get them listening to the leg. I usually introduce a teeny bit of leg yielding early on just pushing them out from the inside of the track onto the track, to get them moving away from the inside leg which gives you some help when asking for bend... I also at trot do changes of pace within the pace - slow the trot, speed the trot up etc thus introducing the 1/2 halt... You can work on this with poles if you're not getting anywhere. I only venture into canter once walk trot is OK. Also you could start some large circle work when you ask for a bend and then release as soon as its given (or even tried to give)... Also introducing horse to lots of 'obstacles' eg plastic bags, other horses, tractors whatever you have to hand is great for the horses over all education.
 
Thanks for the help! Will dust the lunge line and make us both dizzy!

If I incorporated trot poles into it - how do I work out the distance to fit his strides?
 
Thanks!

I get the impression that he's been there, done it and seen it hence why he's not interested. He's 15 years young now.

Think I'll lunge tomorrow. How long should I aim for - until he's working in a good outline?
 
I have always been told and believe that 20 mins lunging = 1hr of riding, you will prob need 2 spend longer than 20mins as he prob wont like the side reins at first as it will restrict him chucking head in the air so i wouldn't do side reins too tight!! Do about 5-10mins on each rein first time then lengthen time everytime you lunge him and tighten side reins very slowly each time!!

Hope this makes sense!! x
 
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