Teaching downwards transitions?

dwi

dwi

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Any tips on teaching a youngster downwards transitions?

Lil has a lovely soft mouth and is very responsive to your hands but I genuinely don't think she understands what I'm asking for when I ask for a downwards transition. We always stop eventually but its not neat or balanced. I've tried just practising it lots so she understands the aids but it doesn't seem to make any difference.

*Ben and Jerrys to all with helpful suggestions*
 
Very interested in the answers you get to this one! :)

Dizz has become resistant to downward transitions, especially downhill. I've tried half halts and asking for her head and trying to keep her attention, but it's not brilliant. The only thing that seems to work is getting her relaxed on the bit and working on ten metre circles; she seems to listen better and be more together.

If your post doesn't get much response in NL maybe try it in Comp Rider?

Fancy a hot choccie? :)
 
She's not bad at all on 10m circles but I'm not sure that i can pop an extra circle into a dressage test! maybe I should do dressage to music "You spin me right round baby!"

I'm unfortunately allergic to hot chocolate, life's so unfair!

*Passes MrsM a nice chuck of Galaxy*
 
There may be some ideas here http://www.classicaldressage.net/members/lesson_pages/transitions.html

tbh, the day I learnt to ride a downward transition with my seat instead of my hands was a real lightbulb moment. I learnt it doing canter-trot transitions as that was the easiest way for me to change the way I sat/felt on the horse, and it really helped to develop clear, forward and soft transitions, without having to use the reins to change pace. I think it's easy for the horse to understand as well. Today I rode a horse that has been trained by a complete novice and it responded to this straight away, when the rider has been having trouble with her downward transitions. I think the explanation in this article is pretty good if you haven't cracked it before ;)

(sorry if this is a grandma/egg sucking thing)
 
By using your hands you are teaching a horse to stop because you are pulling on the mouth-this does not train the horse to carry itself better. This is how i would do it, example from walk to halt-
1) good active walk
2) make sure rider is allowing through the back and seat and the hands are going with the movement.
3) half halt to say to horse im going to ask you to do something
4) Cease movement in arms and back and hold with you seat

with point 4- you do NOT pull back with your hands, just stop the movement. Likewise you do not grip with your seat or legs, just hold. There should be a clear distinction between going and stopping- allowing and holding through your body. Increased tension on the reins isnt needed.

If it takes ten steps to get halt, next time aim for 9 and so on. Same princples apply in faster paces but it will take longer to stop. This is because the horse is naturally on its forehand and it takes a long time to teach it balance and engagement of the hindquarters. Any use of the reins to pull to stop is just a short cut and likely to lead to resistance because youre pulling on the mouth, when the horse needs to learn and be able to physically slow down.

Dont be tempted to use more contact, just be consistant with your aids, use your body and the horse will gradually get better as he gets stronger and more balanced.
 
I will agree, my instructor is teaching how to ride with my core and seat rather than my hands, so you make a downwards transition that way. It's amazing when you accomplish it and it keeps the horse so soft in the mouth.
 
I get my horses to slow down and balance from the weight of my seat and fixing myself into position (but not fixed, in a bad way), so I don't have to use hands at all, just my seat/core muscles to slow down, and to halt I use my knees.
If they don't slow down, try turning them onto a small circle use your weight aid and then as soon as you get the response you want, reward them and make it more comfortable for them,so that everything is clear ie black and white- that is the way I've been taught with my horses, but don't know if you might find that helpful or not!..... best of luck.
 
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