The most basic transition? (kinda long)

[SouthWestWhippet]

Can anyone help me with my downward transition from walk to halt please?! I am trying to keep a nice soft relaxed outline through the transition but I'm finding that if I half halt through my seat I get nothing and as I touch the rein I get a poked out nose and a set jaw. She then halts with her head right up in the air.

History... horse is sharp and lacks focus with a poor top line (although am working on this). I've had her about 8months before which she was mostly just used for jumping. Trot/walk is sorted now (at last) - she will stay deep/round/relaxed, The canter/trot is improving slowly although she is still inclined to rush.

She had a bad back from ill fitting saddle but this was 'done' 4 months ago and new saddle purchased. Teeth were done at the same time. Saddle was reflocked at the weekend and, although she is due for a check up from the back-lady, the saddle fitter had a feel around and said there were no glaring problems.

Does anyone have any tips for this transition? I've tried asking and asking through my seat without touching the reins but seriously NOTHING happens. I've also tried dropping the rein as soon as she tenses but she just walks on. I've also tried asking for inside flexion through the transition to help soften her jaw. This solved the trot/walk transition but doesn' seem to help the walk/halt.

Any ideas on how to change my riding or exercise to help her would be much appreciated! Oh, she is ridden in an eggbut snaffle and flash noseband.
thanks!
Jenny

 

[Baileysno1]

When I'm warming up my downward trasition from walk to halt is awful, seat is ineffective and when I ask with the riens he sets his mouth, same as yours. However after warming up through the paces particulary canter I can ask with my seat and he does a lovely transition, then I work on trot to walk and finally the halts, by the end of the session the downwards are a soft and round as the upwards, our latest trick is canter to halt rien back then trot away, can't preform this until the end of the session,think it just takes him a while to warm up. In the beginning if he resists the down ward aid I just push. forwards and move on no point getting into a bit grabbing battle. Try the halts at the end it might just work!

 

[katiejaye]

I have also had this problem but through plenty of muscle building ex the problem is now solved. My boy used to poke his head out in downwards transitions because he was tense and stiff over his back. I agree with what you have been doing with creating a flexion, this has really helped me boy and I would continue doing it as it will help building up the right muscles and softening the jaw. When you are in trot play around with the flexion, creating flexion to the inside and alternatively play with some counter-flexion too so she is listening to you hands and softens through her neck and over her back. Make sure you keep your inside leg on though so you are getting a proper bend rather than just a neck flexion. The best place to do it is in the corners. I pick up my inside rein and bring my inside hand over Louis's neck (and keep my outside hand low and firm to prevent him from dropping his shoulder and evading) and then keep my inside leg firmly on until I get a submission and true flexion. Once I get a good few steps of this I then push him forwards in a straight outline. Play around with this ex and it should help with the transitions.

Also to help build up the right muscles try playing around with the trot/canter bringing it back and then pushing it out. My trainer taught me this ex to help with the same problem you are having. In the trot get a good forward moving working trot and then collect it slightly as if you were about to walk and then when you get a good submission push it on again. Continue doing this and praise her alot when you get a good one with no head raising. This helped me to sharpen up the transitions and soften Louis up over his back.

Make sure also you warm her up over back really thoroughly when you start. I warm Louis up long and low to start just to stretch out his back. I also lunge him in a de gogue once a week to get him swinging and loosten up his back.

Hope this makes sense and helps

 

[SouthWestWhippet]

thanks, I'm glad I'm not the only one.

A lot of this makes sense because my horse is not used to staying relaxed and working through over her back. I will try some of these exercises and just keep working on her general fitness and suppleness as well.

I was thinking 'if I can do canter/trot/walk transistions ok, why can't I stop' but I can see that actually this isn't the easy transition I thought it was! !!