schooling question

[Slave2Magic]

My mare has eventually started to work in a outline after months of evading the contact. One thing I have noticed though is she tends to nod when she works in trot. I have been told it is a balance thing and will get better as she gets more consistant with her outline. Does this sound right?

 

[monkeybum13]

Be careful you are not using too much hand with too little leg - this is often one of the main causes of 'head nodding'.

 

[Newbie84]

Sounds a bit like my ID, he's not been schooled for years and is completely wooden on the right reign. When we trot he's nodding too, almost a feels like he's going into a stride of canter, its very strange! I'm afraid I can't comment on whether this is right, but mine is doing a similar thing! Do you have any tips to stop him evading contact and concentrate on me and not what's going on around him!


Just seen the 2nd comment, that might be what I'm doing wrong - Im concentrating so much on my hands and sometimes forget my legs! Whoops!

 

[Slave2Magic]

Monkeybum13, that could well be the case. I do tend to be abit light with the leg use as she gets a little jet propelled! More leg and slowing her down with rising may help then?

 

[ofcourseyoucan]

are you sure its not nodding cos its lame??????

 

[Slave2Magic]

No she isn't lame. She trots fine on the lunge and also fine if I trot her without asking her to work properly.