Some advice sought

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MilosDad

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Well after 6 months of team work my boy is sound. So now I have to get him up to speed for eventing next year. Equipped with no knowledge (I have only been riding for 18 months) I need to bring a 17.3 warmblood with a jump to die for and who piaffes naturally on from walk which is all he will do at the moment to holding canter without loads of leg so we can then learn to jump and dressage.
All suggestions re groundwork etc welcome cos I literally have no knowledge about this at all.
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I would get yourself a decent instructor locally who trains for eventing - that way you will get all the help you need across all thre disciplines. Your groundwork is so important for all 3 phases so is best to start properly. A decent instructor will also give you 'homework' to work on between lessons so you have a purpose to your schooling.
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Instructor bless her
Bowen technique lady
Two farriers
and my long suffering wife (I am very much too old to be doing such stupid things as taking up riding let alone eventing)
 
Ok. Transitions, lots of them.

Pole work: Place poles on the ground in a row, with alternate ends raised - great for getting attention, and for tightening up ned's stomach muscles, as well as getting back end working; also use four in a circle - go over all, miss out one: gets attention and collects the stride.

Hills. Up and down. Walking. Trotting. Cantering.

Ride without reins and without stirrups. Get ned listening to your body; use your body to get the turns and transitions - it will speed you up when it counts.

Pilates. Strengthen your core muscles.

That should keep you occupied for a while
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No you aren't being thick... I am.
I have a horse who has potential but at the moment it takes a bomb to move him up to trot and then he won't hold it unless I encourage him on. As to asking for canter it has been so long since he has done it if you ask he just goes "What?" Yet lungeing him he has lovely paces walk thru canter and a jump to die for. I have stood beside him while he cleared a 6 bar gate from a standing start. I need advice on the groundwork and training I need to give him to get into his paces with me on his back and to hold them as I don't want him becoming dead to my leg thru my ignorance
 
Ok MD this is what I would do - ask my RI to put together a programme of excercises to do in the school between lessons with an idea of timings eg trotwork - 15 mins max trotting figures of 8, serpentines, etc etc canter 10 mins again canter 20m ciricles etc etc. The other thing is to work through transitions with him respinding to your request - if necessary back it up with a schooling whip so he does the work not you.

Have a look and see if there are some DVD's or books on ebay that will help you with grids etc - but talk it through with your RI - a decent instructor will be only to happy to help.
 
You're welcome m'duck.

You'll learn through riding what sort of mind he has - whether he is like the Dizzy one who needs constant stimulation; or like LC who likes the same thing for a while, then gets bored.

Just make things interesting and varied for him - it will keep him sparking.
 
I really think if your instructor isn't giving you all the advice you need on groundwork and riding and how to produce this horse you need to get a different instructor.
 
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