Tense schooling session- CC needed! *Vid*

Kokopelli

Kokopelli

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Feeling a bit disheartened, Andy has been going quite well and has been looking brilliant weight wise. Got the vet coming out next week for a check up and to take some bloods, his weird shoulder sweat patch has changed to a chestnut colour and his summer coat is a stunning colour and he is just looking and feeling well.

However, he was last in tonight and left out on his own. When I got to him he was a bit upset but not too bothered but led in from the field very energetic. He settled as soon as he saw his friends so I tacked up and rode.

He was just not paying attention to me. Every time I went past the gate he felt the need to gawp out and totally unfocused on his work. I tired lots of different things to try with him like shoulder in, leg yield and transitions. But when ever I put leg on to ask over he burst into canter. He knows shoulder in and leg yield so there is no need for this.

My mum got a bit on video. Please excuse the dreadful riding and any tips to improve much appreciated. Any tips to get his focus on me and suppler also appreciated. From looking at the video I think I need to shorten my reins! I have them short in lessons but on my own I tend to forget about it.

I have a lesson tomorrow and Friday which will hopefully get me riding better. I have no idea what is going on with my wrists (my mum calls them 'gay' hands :o)
Vid:
[youtube]dN-FJYUKK9E?hd=1[/youtube]

Please don't be too harsh as I say we were having a bad day but any tips for when we next have a bad day would be brill. :)

Also a pic to show you how he's doing. You can also see the colour of his shoulder, the vet doesn't seem worried about it as it never sweats up now nor does it seem to bother him.

IMG00302-20110426-1835.jpg


Please excuse the pink leadrope and headcollar- it's our only field safe one and the lead rope had to match it :D
 
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think your riding is great, and Andy's condition has improved 100%. from what was happening last week, seems like an improvement all round ?
 
not very good on giving CC or advising others, sorry. But would be very intrested to know others replies on the shoulder sweat patch as my horse has the same. I have never really thought anything of it though, it doesn't effect him in any way.
 
Cheers SM I've tried to do very relaxing things with him since the break down but in Andy's world nothing is relaxing. He's had his magnets on more often which seem to help and grazing in hand and attempts at quiet hacks. We had a good schooling session after that though and I'm thinking he is recovered from last week. Well I hope he has anyway. :p

Bustalot- He had it a few months ago, it would sweat up very randomly and he found it itchy. Had a vet and chiro out but never got to the bottom of it. We were told to just ignore it unless he went lame which he never did. Now it never sweats up but the spot where it did sweat has changed colour. It was most likely minor nerve damage, but if your worried get a vet out to check it. :)
 
I had a tense and distracted session tonight too so no help really but you wernt alone.
He is looking good tho cant wait to see what he will look like when he is more muscled :)
 
The video was 100 times better than I was exepecting having read the post. My cc for what its worth is that you spend a heap of time wandering around the track, try to use the 2nd track so he isnt just hanging to the wall and as far as the concentration goes I would be doing loads more transitions and I dont mean walk to trot I mean collected trot into working back to collected direct to halt then rein back direct back to trot etc etc every circuit maybe 10 - 12 different transitions to engage not only his body but also his brain to concentrate on you.
With regard to your position try to think of riding him more between the leg and hand as opposed to using legs for one job and hands for another, if you could get a bend in your elbow and keep your thumbs most of the problem is solved.
Hope some of that helps, good luck in your lesson xx
 
dafthoss- there must be something in the air. :p The annoying thing is I know he will never get better toned until he starts working better. It's like a viscous circle.

Thanks Farma I do tend to get stuck in a pace when he's going well, will keep in mind to do more direct transitions as they always slip my mind. Will try that with my position as well, thanks. :)
 
First of all he doesn't look that bad at all, from your description I was expecting many more problems. Overall he looks much better so well done.

The second thing to keep in mind is that everyone has bad days and that includes horses. Being left out last is exactly the sort of thing that might unsettle him and ruin a schooling session, but it's all part and parcel of horse riding so don't worry about it.

And a bit of CC;
- the walk is nice but try to get more connection between his back end and your hands. Try smaller circles (10metres) and see if you can't get him to take the bit and stretch forwards and down more.
- when he hollows remember to use more leg than hand, the moment he hollows forget about the position of the head, it's no longer important and focus on getting him to react to your leg...the head will then follow.
- when you turn and when on circles make sure he bends because of your inside leg and never because of your inside hand.

You might also find it useful to work on leg yielding from a small circle (10m) to a larger one (20m), but take it slowly, i.e. do a could of strides of leg yielding, then stay on your new circle (12m) for a circle, then ask for a bit more leg yielding, etc.

Looking greatly improved though well done!
 
Thanks Booboos. Will try the smaller circles to get a better walk, normally I would have done some lateral work with him and possibly flex his neck but he was making it really difficult today.

In my lessons I always get told to use more leg but on my own its another thing that goes out my mind, it seems so odd putting leg on him as he feels so forward. Will make sure I remember though. :)
I tried leg yielding on a circle today and he wasn't having it, at one point he just spun and went the other way. He is fine physcially like you say I think he was having an off day. Hopefully it doesn't last long. :)
 
TBH you've got a lovely position but you look a bit tight thru your back (Between your shoulders) and thus you['re not moving 'with' him and therefore stopping the forward movement with your back and hips. It's hard to know if this is cos you feel like your sitting on a time bomb, you're stressed about something none horse related or your just 'not right' today. Because he's not moving forward, he doesn't look like he's engaging with the contact and thus it all looks a bit (And I mean a bit) sloppy and not together.

Looks to me like a bad day - everyone has them. I always think when I feel like this , give up, go on a hack or do something fun that day and get back to the serious stuff another day.

Blitz
 
shoulder sweat patsh thing: DONT WORRY my horse had exact the same thing (cant seem to upload picture) its something to do with the lay of the hair and the way it grows we were quite disconserted turned out to be nothing)

riding: he looks really good well done 1 thing i seem to notice is that when he throws up his head it seems to be straight after you tip forward even slightly. I think he must be very sensitive to weight distribution because when you look for it (granted it what i then looked for in the rest of it) it seems to be conected.. just a thought
on the whole looked great was probably just anxious, guess its instinct...
 
I haven't seen previous pics - but just going on what I see: nothing much wrong with your riding although it's at times a bit hesitant! I'd lose that super long whip - you don't appear to use it and he doesn't appear to need it - so it's just a distraction.

The biggest problem I can see is that he is VERY weak in his back - and until you have him built up in that area I would adopt a VERY slightly forward seat and try to work him long and low. The high head carriage is probably a result of back weakness. Lunging in a Pessoa for 15 minutes 2-3 times a week would help him a lot.
 
Hi K - on the plus side my opinion is that he seems to have a nice rhythm, and you have a nice leg position. I would agree with the OP's comments too, and would add that riding long and low may help a little? He is a handsome boy and I think that if he were allowed to lower his head, and lengthen his neck and had a little more freedom, it might help to strenghten his whole topline. This could also help you to sit back a little, and be very stable and strong in the saddle, and get more power and roundness in his movement, which I suspect has the ability to be prety big, and will also encourage him to use his back end. Hats off to you for asking for CC - I like to ride in the dark!!
 
Well when I read your post, I expected a video of a horse pulling and throwing a tantrum. Instead, I saw what looked like a fairly relaxed horse and a great rider. But I bet that you could feel that ticking time bomb that we can't see. The only thing I can see (and the only reason I can see it is because I do it myself a lot) is that you appear to be slightly behind the movement in the trot. I tend to do it when the horse is rushing and I suspect you're doing the same in an effort to slow him down.....
Get rid of that big whip - it doesn't look like you need it with him! He's looking great and I don't think I've seen your vids since you posted the first one of you having a lesson on him. Its a fab improvement and he is a credit to you. Well done. x
 
blitznbobs said:
TBH you've got a lovely position but you look a bit tight thru your back (Between your shoulders) and thus you['re not moving 'with' him and therefore stopping the forward movement with your back and hips. It's hard to know if this is cos you feel like your sitting on a time bomb, you're stressed about something none horse related or your just 'not right' today. Because he's not moving forward, he doesn't look like he's engaging with the contact and thus it all looks a bit (And I mean a bit) sloppy and not together.

Looks to me like a bad day - everyone has them. I always think when I feel like this , give up, go on a hack or do something fun that day and get back to the serious stuff another day.

Blitz
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Exam period plus other things has caused me to be very stressed so probably tense from that. Will try to do some exercises to loosen up a bit. I did eventually give up and went on a hack as its one argument I don't see worth getting into with him. Thanks. :)

lydia_markwick said:
shoulder sweat patsh thing: DONT WORRY my horse had exact the same thing (cant seem to upload picture) its something to do with the lay of the hair and the way it grows we were quite disconserted turned out to be nothing)

riding: he looks really good well done 1 thing i seem to notice is that when he throws up his head it seems to be straight after you tip forward even slightly. I think he must be very sensitive to weight distribution because when you look for it (granted it what i then looked for in the rest of it) it seems to be conected.. just a thought
on the whole looked great was probably just anxious, guess its instinct...
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Thanks about the shoulder thing, it doesn't worry me any more but at first had me a bit panicked. I would say he is very sensitive and I do tip forward occasionally must remember to sit up. :)

JanetGeorge said:
I haven't seen previous pics - but just going on what I see: nothing much wrong with your riding although it's at times a bit hesitant! I'd lose that super long whip - you don't appear to use it and he doesn't appear to need it - so it's just a distraction.

The biggest problem I can see is that he is VERY weak in his back - and until you have him built up in that area I would adopt a VERY slightly forward seat and try to work him long and low. The high head carriage is probably a result of back weakness. Lunging in a Pessoa for 15 minutes 2-3 times a week would help him a lot.
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I should get shot of the whip, force of habit carrying it but Andy has never needed it. He looks a lot weaker than he is because he is swayed backed but is still weak, we do normally work long and low but the problem with today was he was too tense to work lower and use his muscles. We lunge twice a week in pessoa as well, it works very nicely with him. :)

fluffalina said:
Hi K - on the plus side my opinion is that he seems to have a nice rhythm, and you have a nice leg position. I would agree with the OP's comments too, and would add that riding long and low may help a little? He is a handsome boy and I think that if he were allowed to lower his head, and lengthen his neck and had a little more freedom, it might help to strenghten his whole topline. This could also help you to sit back a little, and be very stable and strong in the saddle, and get more power and roundness in his movement, which I suspect has the ability to be prety big, and will also encourage him to use his back end. Hats off to you for asking for CC - I like to ride in the dark!!
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Long and low just was not happening today he was to uptight but it is how we normally work and has been consistently working. Some helpful advice thank you. I don't mind asking for cc I have found people don't tend to be mean unless you are mean back. :p :)

Thanks Holly Hocks he definitely felt like a ticking time bomb today which then probably made me tense which then made him worse so all in all wasn't to great. Will get shot of big whip as well. :)
 
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those wrists often happen when people try to get a drop in the head height when riding- its an auto response in two girls I teach! I would be doing more figures or eight, serpentine loops, making the circle smaller then bigger as I felt as soon as he started to focus he lost it as there was something else more interesting outside the school. It wasnt awful at all, just an untidy, and relatively unproductive session- try to relax though- I felt at times you got tense- not sure if it was due to frustration? Anyway- more tasks for him, keeping him forward esp in walk, relax and dont worry I'm sure tomorrow will be better. Cute boy though :)
 
Heya,

This is EXACTLY how my tb works. The trick is to not let their tension affect you as its a never ending circle! You are showing a bit of tension through your back and shoulders- which will of course affect the tension in his back and shoulder, which will then affect you again.

Try not to pin his head down and forget your legs- this is where my 'gay' hands start as I try to keep my horses head down. As soon as you lose that straight connection form bit to hand to elbow you've lost him as theres no contact for him to work into. To avoid this, try to keep your hands up and look up and around you, not at his head.

Also try not to stay on a circle or the same shape- make it interesting for him in order to get him to focus on where he needs to put his feet.

What I find helps is lots of serpentines, spiral circles, transitions, shallow loops, lots of bending to the outside and then the inside to supple them up. Do all of this with JUST your legs and body aids and just keep a very consistent and steady rein contact. If you need to slow him down, again do this by holding your thigh and slowing your rising- don't touch the reins.

Eventually you should find he softens to you and you're doing so many changes that he has no choice but to pay a bit more attention as otherwise he'll fall on his nose!

Give lots of praise and keep schooling sessions short- as soon as you feel him soften and relax, do one circle and then call it a day so he's getting a reward.

I hope that helps. I know its not easy at all and it gets very frustrating. Everybody has bad days and you'll get there! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
 
You look well suited to me and you seem a quiet rider and happy together.

I agree that the whip is too long and not used and i think that the size/weight of it is causing your 'gay' wrist as your right wrist is in a very different position.
 
I definitley think tension is non-riding influences then when I have a day like today with him tension gets worse. I need to learn to relax more. Will work on the hands, I never normally try and fix the head down so no idea why I was trying to do it it today! :o

Will definitely ditch whip in next session. :)

bushbaby if its the one in your sig the do look like they go in a similar fashion. Will try and keep schooling sessions more interesting though, its a bad habit of mine that I tend to make them a bit boring for him and then he switches off. In my RI school we tend to go better as its bigger so I have more space to move around.
 
marmalade76 said:
I am also guilty of 'gay hands' :eek: :o

Just remember, 'thumbs on top'!
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Quite a common problem by the sounds of it. :p

Had a fab lesson today I felt I rode better and Andy went very nicely. We did lots of transitions and tried to vary his work a bit more which I think helped a lot. :) Thanks everyone.
 
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