Stretching in FW

[Wan2bEventer]

I got a comment on my test sheet from yesterday saying that although my horse takes all the rein in a free walk, she doesn't actually stretch. I let the rein out really gradually and let her take it from me, and I find that gently scratching her wither helps her to lower her head to quite a low point and she definately does reach with her nose.

Obviously though I am still doing something wrong though as she isn't actually stretching... how can I make her stretch properly?

 

[Nats_uk]

She may be stretching her head down but does she still walk in a nice active rhythm? The judges will want to see the horse stretch its head down with the walk staying nice and active and with a slight overtrack

 

[kerilli]

agree with nats, the horse needs to stretch through its whole body, ideally lengthening the stride in free walk on a long rein. really it's about having the confidence to push on a bit, i guess.

 

[Wan2bEventer]

Ok thanks guys, I do tend to push on in the free walk as this is the only way to keep her straight! Obviously not enough though... is this all I need to focus on then? Pushing her forwards?

 

[Nats_uk]

Yeah I would say push through your seat and legs to encourage her to stretch through her body but be careful that she doesn't start to rush or jog! It's a fine line (and why I prefer SJ!

)

Have you got a video clip of her doing FW for an example of what she does?

 

[carthorse]

Yes ,the judge would want to see clear overtracking and lengthening of stride as well as neck stretch.It should feel really purposeful and active

 

[Wan2bEventer]

Thanks guys, definately useful advice and I shall work on it this week to see if I can get any improvement by Sunday's tests. I'll try and pinch Dad's video camera and upload some footage.
Thank you so much! xx

 

[dianchi]

also if your pushing from seat helps! I breathe our loudly so that it keeps my mare relaxed

 

[lifeslemons]

Try thinking about the movement as "long and low" instead, perhaps? You say you "let her take the rein" but try also to maintain a contact, otherwise you loose the engagement and will struggle to lengthen the frame and maintain overtracking as other peeps have said. Relax the hips and move the hands and hips forward with the stride, so that you are absorbing the movement too.

 

[TarrSteps]

I don't know if it's happening to you but sometimes riders let the horse get a little behind the leg in the walk, perhaps to keep from rushing/coming up or behind/losing the rhythm, which might not look too obvious until the stretch. This is a particular problem in tests as most people ride conservatively so as not to avoid mistakes and the walk, having little natural impulsion, tends to suffer most. Since the stretch is supposed to be an outgrowth of the walk, not some different movement, make sure your horse is back in front of the leg after your transition down (sorry, don't know the tests well enough - is there much walk before the stretch?) and then again after the corner and then again right before the letter.

The best thing you can do is be really vigilant about the quality of your long rein walk all the time, getting the horse in the habit of marching forward in front of the leg without losing rhythm. Even a few days of this will make a big difference.