Tip please for a green welshie!

[lucky7]

My 7 yr old welsh D seems to be really coming into himself, finally! he's much more consistent now with holding himself nicely, and he's much more responsive. Hes still very sharp and spooky but can also be a bit lazy in the same breath! I recognise when he gets a bit behind as he disappears in my hands and curls up - i push him forwards and he takes up the contac again, also he used to throw his head about - this habit has now almost completley gone, rare he does it now. We still have a way to go and wondered if you could offer som tips?

1. When i ask for leg yield he goes in wonky - almost bananas to the inside or goes front legs first (if that makes sense?!) he is responsive moving off the leg and does a lovely turn on the forehand, excellent at opening gates etc as just takes a touch of leg now. Took a while to sink in but hes got it, just need to improve!

2. He gets *fast* as in he sorts of runs away then loses rhythm and balance then hollows, i do use half halt but sometimes hes hard to keep in check! normally this happens during the first 15 mins of the session, he's very forward.

3. Canter transitions are naff! upward is okay - its downwards, he loses balance and runs and hollows. He's getting better when he canters, i can feel when he gets its right, these good moments are out weighing the bad moments of his canter - he falls onto his forehand or hollows or runs! also he used to find it hard to strike off on the correct leg on the right rein, it used to take about 6 attempts but this is getting better - normally 1 in 3 times he will get it correct.

Any tips would be good!! i have a clinic in April then will be taking up lessons again.
I alsomost thought about selling him a while back but glad i persevered, he seems to be growing into himself now and has matured lots over the past couple of months. I took the pressure off and we don't have any competitions booked or had a lesson since early december. He then had a few weeks off over christmas and we have been mainly hacking and recently started the schooling again.

 

[Notimetoride]

I too have a Sec D. Weve had so many problems - from running away to spooking and napping. However she has a side that is so incredibly co-operative and trainable and so tries so very hard to please. In the ring judges love her and when we're not retiring due to her bad behaviour, we do very well. My only tip, as a fellow Sec D owner, is to stick with it. My horse had a terrible canter and now I'm regularly complimented on it. I'm fairly amateur at this dressage thing so its certainly not my experience that has improved it - just time and perseverance. Sounds like youre doing brilliant and you know your stuff. Maybe youre a bit peed off with winter now and are getting a little disheartened perhaps ? This time next year your issues above will be history (and no doubt youll have new ones to work on) .

 

[milliepops]

agree with the above, stick with it, give him time and lots of practice.

My section D also had a terrible canter, it was exhausting just getting a lap of the arena. Now it's her best pace, super balanced and adjustable. They just need time to work out how to keep their balance, and time to build up their strength.

I remember what it felt like while we were hurtling around and getting the wrong lead but it will improve Make sure you are helping him in all of this with a good even feel down the outside rein as well as the inside rein, this often helps with canter strike offs. With the running in the downward trans, this will get better as the canter gets more balanced, but in the meantime quietly ride a half halt and ask him to try a bit harder! Can you feel the moment in the canter stride that will give you the best trans to trot? Aim for that if you can as this will reduce the loss of balance.

Same with the leg yield, it will improve by doing more of it if you practice correctly. just quietly correct him and tell him how to do it to your spec if he makes a mistake. Make sure you are starting with him really straight, only tiny tiny bit of flexion needed. And then check that you can straighten up at any point. The leg yield is as much about control of all the corners of the horse as much as the actual sideways, so don't sacrifice the control element!

 

[lucky7]

I too have a Sec D. Weve had so many problems - from running away to spooking and napping. However she has a side that is so incredibly co-operative and trainable and so tries so very hard to please. In the ring judges love her and when we're not retiring due to her bad behaviour, we do very well. My only tip, as a fellow Sec D owner, is to stick with it. My horse had a terrible canter and now I'm regularly complimented on it. I'm fairly amateur at this dressage thing so its certainly not my experience that has improved it - just time and perseverance. Sounds like you're doing brilliant and you know your stuff. Maybe youre a bit peed off with winter now and are getting a little disheartened perhaps ? This time next year your issues above will be history (and no doubt youll have new ones to work on) .

Thank you, your welshie sounds like mine with the spooking and running!!

agree with the above, stick with it, give him time and lots of practice.

My section D also had a terrible canter, it was exhausting just getting a lap of the arena. Now it's her best pace, super balanced and adjustable. They just need time to work out how to keep their balance, and time to build up their strength.

I remember what it felt like while we were hurtling around and getting the wrong lead but it will improve Make sure you are helping him in all of this with a good even feel down the outside rein as well as the inside rein, this often helps with canter strike offs. With the running in the downward trans, this will get better as the canter gets more balanced, but in the meantime quietly ride a half halt and ask him to try a bit harder! Can you feel the moment in the canter stride that will give you the best trans to trot? Aim for that if you can as this will reduce the loss of balance.

Same with the leg yield, it will improve by doing more of it if you practice correctly. just quietly correct him and tell him how to do it to your spec if he makes a mistake. Make sure you are starting with him really straight, only tiny tiny bit of flexion needed. And then check that you can straighten up at any point. The leg yield is as much about control of all the corners of the horse as much as the actual sideways, so don't sacrifice the control element!

Thank you - its nice to hear from fellow welsh owners and it gives me a bit of hope that my boy will turn out okay!

 

[scats]

The Diva used to struggle with downwards transitions and what worked for us was to ensure that my inside leg stayed on during the transition, it gave her some support and kept the inside hind activated which helped her to balance. Also, help out by asking for the transition as the canter is coming 'back' to you, this stops them falling onto the forehand which can then produce a hurried and unbalanced trot.

I had a TB X D that I backed and produced myself. He had all the worst traits of both breeds and was incredibly difficult at times, due to his absolutely ridiculous level of sharpness, but he was also the most intelligent animal I've ever worked with so in some ways he was magnificent.

 

[lucky7]

At what age did your welshies really start to come into themselves? I was chatting to the horse physio who said my welsh my very baby like and thinks it wont be till hes 8!

 

[milliepops]

I didn't get mine until she was 9 but she'd been turned away several years at that point. She's 12 this year but i suppose about 12 months in she started to get the hang of it

She looks more and more grown up with every passing month now, I was just thinking tonight as I washed her that she appears to have grown, but it's just her strength that is developing.