schooling help please i need your expertise

[jenbleep]

*because i clearly have none*

i didnt ride Frankie for 3 days due to family stuff and the shite weather, oh and plus my new boss messing up

(i am still mad about that now! long story, wont elaborate)

anyway i rode him last night in the school, he was a bit tense but then i can understand that. trotting round he would sometimes rush off, which i think is because i was unbalanced, which in turn unbalanced him. he was in a nice outline at times, but i think he may be using that as a way to evade me. he'd stretch out his neck, but sometimes he would feel quite heavy in my hands. what can i do to get him lighter? did he feel like that because he was on his forehand? how can you tell if a horse is using his back properly? sorry for all the questions!

i do worry because he's not mine so his way of going says a lot about my riding! i dont want to ruin him!

and i worry that he will get hard mouthed, and the next person who rides him (hopefully no one!)

will have to change his bit or something

oh yes and he wouldnt halt either

any tips/comment/advice please

thanks xx

 

[jumpthemoon]

Hi

I probably can't help much, but I would try doing lots of transitions and getting him working off my leg. I would also do some leg yieiding to encourage him to work between the leg and hand. Try to think about your position as you are riding to improve your balance, my horse does the same - if I lose my concentration for a moment, he's off!

As for being able to tell if he's using his back properly - it's easiest if someone is on the ground tbh. unless you know what it feels like to start with, it's hard to tell (and be sure) just on your own. Do you have lessons on him?

I'm sure you won't ruin him and I'm sure he's not going to need another bit!

Staying relaxed is another thing to remebmer - I find that if I try too hard I tense up an it all goes horribly wrong!

 

[katiejaye]

It's hard to offer too much advice without seeing the horse being ridden so the best thing you could do is get an instructor or an experienced rider to watch from the ground.

It sounds like, from what you are describing, that the rushing and the being heavy in your hands is an evasion to properly working over his back. You may just want to have his back/saddle checked to make sure there is no underlying problem. If there is no underlying problems I would suggest you try doing lots of long and low work when you are schooling to get him to stretch over his back and to get his hind coming underneath him correctly. Lots of transitions will also. Also some work on the lunge with a passoa or degogue can help to stretch him over his back and loosten him up.

As i say it's hard to really comment without seeing the problem so I suggest a good instructor to advise from the ground.

Good luck

 

[jenbleep]

yep i have lessons on him, haven't for a couple of weeks though due to this and that. next week i'll get her to have a go on him and she can she want i'm on about! i'll also get some piccies or a video too. oh yes one thing i forgot to mention was last night the red arrows were taking off from bournemouth airport (were int he flight path!) he was fine with them but me - not so much! when i get tense he gets tense so i have to keep calm, i keep telling myself to relax.

its funny you should say that about his back katyjaye because my instructor has said that he doesn't reach through enough from behind, and looks quite short. i think a visit from the physiotherapist is in order! i did ask his owner when she was coming and she said soon, but who knows? *thats another story, i'll put a post up!*

thanks for your comments xx

 

[gemmaw]

when he gets heavy in your hands try using a sponge effect on your reigns, gently squeeze your hands alternatively, but dont saw! my lad usually stops leaning and becomes lighter when i do it

 

[jenbleep]

thanks will try it!

jen xx

 

[GinaGem]

When my mare gets heavy on the hands i try to use lots of changes of flexion with a straight neck, this will help to soften and stretch. Serpentines are also good, if they rush or fall out on the loop turn it into a circle and then when re-established continue on with the serpentine. Use half halts for rushing and plenty of transitions. These should also help to get them sitting back on the haunches, if you can establish this you will get a better softness on the contact.