metalmare
Well-Known Member
My pony has recently been given the green light to re-start work under saddle, having had two treatments from the back lady. His spine has been manipulated and straightened and after a month off work and daily carrot stretches, his muscles are evening up and holding his spine in the correct position.
He also has a new saddle.
He has not been well schooled, although he is rising 13. I'd like to develop his schooling.
Being welsh he has quite a bulky neck. His top line isn't great; he won't happily stretch down and work long and low.
I now have the opportunity with his back having been treated and his new saddle to develop his physique and from there improve his schooling. Already, having had his back treated he will now leg yield right as well as left. I'm know he will be much happier and more able when ridden if I can now develop his muscles correctly.
What exercises would people recommend, on and off the ground?
I will be having lessons, too, when the ground dries out. I'll continue carrot stretches but less intensively and I would like to incorporate lungeing / long reining but would like to know how best to have a positive impact.
While hacking I'm riding serpentines, leg yields, circles, shallow loops and transitions and asking for bend. I'm riding on a long rein to encourage him to stretch over the top as on a shorter rein he likes to hold a false outline, without actually relaxing at the jaw or poll, which I would think is developing the underside of his neck incorrectly.
He won't take a decent rein contact on the left rein yet, so working right leg to left rein is out, and he struggles to bend left, although there is already a definite improvement.
Maybe I should invest in the book Cobs Can?
He also has a new saddle.
He has not been well schooled, although he is rising 13. I'd like to develop his schooling.
Being welsh he has quite a bulky neck. His top line isn't great; he won't happily stretch down and work long and low.
I now have the opportunity with his back having been treated and his new saddle to develop his physique and from there improve his schooling. Already, having had his back treated he will now leg yield right as well as left. I'm know he will be much happier and more able when ridden if I can now develop his muscles correctly.
What exercises would people recommend, on and off the ground?
I will be having lessons, too, when the ground dries out. I'll continue carrot stretches but less intensively and I would like to incorporate lungeing / long reining but would like to know how best to have a positive impact.
While hacking I'm riding serpentines, leg yields, circles, shallow loops and transitions and asking for bend. I'm riding on a long rein to encourage him to stretch over the top as on a shorter rein he likes to hold a false outline, without actually relaxing at the jaw or poll, which I would think is developing the underside of his neck incorrectly.
He won't take a decent rein contact on the left rein yet, so working right leg to left rein is out, and he struggles to bend left, although there is already a definite improvement.
Maybe I should invest in the book Cobs Can?