Schooling

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Ellierhawkins

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I have recently started taking my horse into our outdoor school to do a little bit of light schooling. He's well behaved on a hack (just lazy and a little unfit) but in the school hes a very different story. In walk hes happy to go large but is not keen to circle or change rein. In trot he will not stick to the track on the edge of the school no matter how I ask him to. He will not circle in trot nor will he change the rein on a straight line without falling back to walk. He drags me into the centre of the school and also does a strange bunny hop type step where he tries to break into canter on the coprners, despite not having been asked to. This is completely out of character for him. We dont go in the school regularly and I was wondering if it could be because he is unfamilliar with the school? Any advice on how to fix this problem would be greatly appreciated. xxx
 
I think it's likely to be a combination of a few things, but in very general speak here's my opinion 1, your horse is not used to schooling so is unlikely to have the required strength and muscles to do what your asking, 2, if you think in terms of the scales of training as you don't school often your horses general level of schooling is unlikely to be high/established such as rythum, straightness. He not know how to balance himself probably hence the bunny hop issue or understand what your asking. 3, your horse is being generally nappy as it is not used to being schooled. 4, your horse is physically feeling pain during schooling
 
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ossy said:
I think it's likely to be a combination of a few things, but in very general speak here's my opinion 1, your horse is not used to schooling so is unlikely to have the required strength and muscles to do what your asking, 2, as you don't school often your horses general level of schooling is unlikely to high therefore he may not understand what your asking and have scales of training such as straightness. 3, your horse is being generally nappy as it is not used to being schooled. 4, your horse is physically feeling pain during schooling
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Thank you for your opinion, I think you might be right in that he doesnt have the right muscles or abilities, so maybe we should school more often? Also its highly likely that hes being nappy as he always used to be very nappy on a hack. I wouls like to think that he uisnt in pain as everything ive tried is very straight forward and in theory unlikely to put too much stress on his body and hes fine when out hacking but i might get him checked over to make sure that that isnt the case.
 
You do not need to be in an arena to 'school' or ride correctly. When you are hacking do as much hill work as possible to build up his muscles and make sure that you are riding from your seat and legs (no fiddling with the reins to pull his nose in). He will develop the balance and muscles that he needs without realising it or Bering bored rigid by going round in circles. You need to be aware as well that some horses struggle to move sell on a deep artificial surface, sometimes because of arthritic changes.
 
He's probably just a bit ridget finds it hard bend round corners doesn't really know he's meant to go in a straight line and not in front of the leg so can nap a bit too. If you want to do a bit more schooling I'd get an instructor to help you get started very basically. When I've had horses for re-schooling I find little and often good so would start with just 10 mins in school even if it's just a bit of walk/halt transitions some changes of rein. Even if you do 10 mins in school like that then as reward go for a 15 min hack so he begins to see the school as a normal place to go and not something to be dreaded.

If I'm schooling on a hack I focus on them staying front of the leg and then do a bit shoulder in/traver to keep the supple.
 
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How old is he? the hopping into canter is a common thing when horses are uncomfortable, either through lack of schooling so are generally stiff or due to stiffness within a certain area which will be making them lame, it is often a sign of arthritis and is also a sign of muscle discomfort.

From your other threads he is obviously unfit, probably overweight, a heavy cob that only gets ridden twice a week and has not done much work for some time, possibly never been schooled or really fit, I would not expect much in the school, even less than out hacking where he will find things easier, just concentrate on the very basics walking where you want and halting, walking on until he is listening to you, if he is not able to walk a circle or change rein then he will be worse in trot as the faster pace will make him less balanced.

Finally following the first comment regarding possibly being unsound if you are going to spend your time and money on him it would be worth getting him checked by a vet before you get too involved, you will obviously need the owner to arrange this, also get his teeth checked and the saddle as well, even sharing can prove expensive and your time may be being wasted if this horse is fundamentally unsound and requires treating in order to be able to work at the level you want, although being fitter may be enough to make the difference, riding a horse that is not sound is not fair unless it is under veterinary advice, he may not be obviously lame but does need to be checked over by a professional.
 
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