so heavy on the forehand ? advice please .....

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dane07

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i have a 17h middle weight hunter (and he;s 17h wide aswell!)

hes recently come back into work after a tendon injury which happenend just before xmas, he went to his first show on saturday and the judge commented that he was very heavy on the forehand! he is still fittening up from his injury but is there any schooling techniques/bits etc that could help me ? hes a big lump to try and hold up !!
 
My dad's horse is so heavy on the forehand. He is slowly getting better. He is lunged a fair bit with side reins and lots of transitions.
 
do you mind me asking how old your dads horse is ? just mines 11 and im worried im trying to teach and old dog new tricks ?
 
lateral work and really getting the horse to move off your leg are the key, but you would be better with an instructor or somebody competent on the ground to help you too
 
Exercises which bring his hind feet stepping under will shift his centre of gravity back - circles, serpentines, leg yielding and also a spiral that spirals in and then out again. Most of them you can do on long reins as well as in the saddle.
It takes longer with the slightly older horse but will work over time - and much better than trying to force a frame on him.
 
im starting my lesons again next week now that he is coming back into full time work !its just such hard work, he's such a lump !!!
 
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do you mind me asking how old your dads horse is ? just mines 11 and im worried im trying to teach and old dog new tricks ?

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that's definately an old wives tale as my boy is 15 and is learning new tricks every day
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Best thing for getting your horse off the forehand is building up his strength behind so he has more self carriage and is coming through properly from the hind. Plenty of transitions are definately going to help and lots of lengthening and collecting within walk/trot/canter to get him pushing behind. I also find lungeing is very useful, however I wouldn't suggest side reins as mine can be heavy on the forehand and he just leans on side reins. I find a de gogue and a passoa very good as it helps to get them to stretch over their back.

Apart from that you could try some pole work or grid work to strengthen up behind.
 
My boy is somewhere between 8 and 10 and he's learning ok! I personally prefer double line lunging for getting them moving forward as side reins only brings the head down, although I suppose you could argue that you're driving them forward with the whip/your voice....just think that the other lunge rein pushing low and from behind is a great help to alot of horses.

I'm also spending money getting my YO to school Ty once a week and I'm having a weekly lesson aswell - it's working wonders and alot cheaper than sending him away to be schooled....good instructor is worth their weight in gold x
 
He's about 11 or 12 now but he has been the same since we got him as a 7 year old. Tufty is more backwards than forwards which is such a shame as he has lovely paces and is quite well put together but as soon as a judge gets on him he moves down the line, if we ever show him.

I haven't been home much over the past 18 months but my dad seems to be doing something right as he is going so much better.
 
Very good advice from all the above, especially getting a good instructor.

Another exercise for getting the back end working under him is to ride squares within transitions. Once worked in properly you can ask for turns on the forehand etc.

Might be a daft question, but do you ride him forward with your legs ?
 
well ive always been told that im a very sympathetic rider and only ride from the leg, he's usally ridden in a 3 ring bit for every day and a plain pelum for the shows as hes only got a really small mouth and hates a double ! was wondering if a change in bit might help at all ?

he was doing really well last year until he had the injury and its was always his ridden show that pulled him up the line as he was very responsive and always gave the judge a good ride but now hes the total opposite !
 
try putting him in a loosering snaffle for schooling - I tried loads of difference bits but a friend said try the loosering - I did and it worked!

Ty has lightened since my contact has gotten stronger - he was leaning for support before but doesn't have to as I already have the contact there (if that makes sense)?
 
yes ive just actually put him into a hanging cheeck as wanted to try some dressage on him (when he will go in a shape) seems to be working os far !

thanks for all the advice everyone, thinks its a case of hard work and determination oh and a bucket full of patience !!!!
 
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