Training advice - What should I do? Trusty HHO'ers, please help!!

BorgRae

BorgRae

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I’m looking for some advice, whether it be to start from scratch or, some helpful training advice.

I’ve had my lad since he was 3 (he’s 7 now). We have a fantastic relationship and he respects me 100%, but I am struggling to maintain a correct, light and un-resistant contact.

One day he will be an absolute super star, and our schooling session will leave me beaming at the end. Then the next day, he will refuse to take a contact, and I end up with a horse who’s head is just stuck in the air, running through the front door straight onto the forehand and he’s grabbing the bit in his jaws!!

I have regular lessons and am trying to work on getting a more consistent contact, but am at a loss as to why one minute he’s fab, and the next he’s an arse! So am looking for extra advice (you can never ask too much!).

So, what should I do? Start from scratch (again) and work on straightness, rhythm and impulsion, allowing his head be anywhere as long as he is straight and in a rhythm? Continue with what I am doing and apply the leg, give half halts and be patient (as per instructor)? Or something else? Should I send him away to be professionally schooled for a month? (I’d much prefer to do it myself!) Maybe he just needs a holiday?!

He gets relatively varied work, I ride/exercise 4-5 times a week, and he gets jumped once, hacked once, lunged occasionally and schooled the rest.

…Saddle was professionally fitted 8 months ago (dressage saddle) and back lady has seem him in the last 4 months. Teeth were done 6 months ago, dentist due out at the end of this week for a check. He’s ridden in a loose ring, lozenge snaffle (KK bit). He used to be in a flash, but I got rid 2 months ago to see if it made a difference.

This saga with him has been ongoing for years, so not sure it’s a teeth/back/saddle issue as they get done regularly and there are no problems. I’m sure it’s more of a training issue!!

Thanks for getting to the end! And more importantly, thanks for any suggestions!!!
 
My first thought is, is your light contact actually a contact or are you, in trying to get him light, riding him slightly too light so that his good work is a little behind the leg and not forward to a truely soft contact.
I would get your trainer to sit on and see if he is working really correctly, often the picture is not the same as the feel.
You dont say what level you are working at or what you are aiming for.
 
be positive said:
My first thought is, is your light contact actually a contact or are you, in trying to get him light, riding him slightly too light so that his good work is a little behind the leg and not forward to a truely soft contact.
I would get your trainer to sit on and see if he is working really correctly, often the picture is not the same as the feel.
You dont say what level you are working at or what you are aiming for.
Click to expand...

This

But you need a good trainer to really see what you are doing. My mare has been inconsistent through about five different trainers but FINALLY I have a dressage trainer who has made me see just how much it is my fault !

Hurray! and I dont mean that sarcastically. I wish I'd met her when my horse was seven as she is twelve now and we are only just getting consistency. Sadly my trainer is quite a bit more expensive than previous ones but I think it is a case of pay for what you get here.
 
We have done 20 or so Prelim dressage tests in total over the last 3 years, all of which have gone ok (ish) but we have never achieved over 55%! Which is very disheartening!

I would ideally like to compete to elementary level dressage, or further if poss, he's only young so don't see why not, but just can't get past this hurdle.

I do ride with a light contact, but some days, when he does take a contact, he's so heavy in my hand, I feel like my arms are going to fall off!! But generally, if I shake him off the reign (half holt if you like) he holds himself again. But 2 seconds later, he’s heavy again. No self carriage at all at times!! He just hangs on me for support!

Then on the days when he is being completely stubborn, no amount of shaking him off the reign, leg, or half halts get him off that reign and into a contact. I also do a lot of transitions, circles etc, and this just doesn’t seem to help when he’s in that “mood”.

I always back up a half halt with my leg, and he's very forward going and off the leg, but is definitely not working correctly from behind!!

Are we a lost cause! lol!

(Thank you for your replies!!)
 
elsielouise said:
This

But you need a good trainer to really see what you are doing. My mare has been inconsistent through about five different trainers but FINALLY I have a dressage trainer who has made me see just how much it is my fault !

Hurray! and I dont mean that sarcastically. I wish I'd met her when my horse was seven as she is twelve now and we are only just getting consistency. Sadly my trainer is quite a bit more expensive than previous ones but I think it is a case of pay for what you get here.
Click to expand...

I completely agree, and am certain it's me that is not helping, and could do with a REALLY good instructor!!

Does anyone know of any GOOD dressage instructors in the Blackpool/Kirkham/Preston area?
 
Find another trainer, you are somehow missing the basic connection or feel required, it seems that he is either leaning or off the contact and you need to find the correct way to maintain a genuine contact by working more from your legs, lots of leg yielding to get him lighter rather than half halts with the rein.
Shaking him off of the rein is confusing for your horse, he will be heavy at times until he learns to carry himself more on his quarters, this takes time and he needs to have confidence to do so.
 
be positive said:
Find another trainer, you are somehow missing the basic connection or feel required, it seems that he is either leaning or off the contact and you need to find the correct way to maintain a genuine contact by working more from your legs, lots of leg yielding to get him lighter rather than half halts with the rein.
Shaking him off of the rein is confusing for your horse, he will be heavy at times until he learns to carry himself more on his quarters, this takes time and he needs to have confidence to do so.
Click to expand...

Thank you for this. I completely agree and think it is definietly time to change instructor to see if we can work through this together properly. I've no doubt he is confused, as I am confused!! I've had 3 instructors over the last 4 years. My last instructor gave some really bad advice, so I changed as I really didn't like their methods (i.e. yank his mouth, he'll soon get off it!). TBH, I would just like to have an instructor that knows what they're talking about!!

Is there a "Dressage Instructor" list out in that interweb world anywhere? Or do you guys know of anyone?
 
BE has a list of accredited coaches, most will also be dressage trainers, or look on the BD site and see if you can find one in your area. Another way is to look at your dressage tests and see who judged you and had constructive comments they may also teach and would be worth approaching.
 
Sounds as if you need to keep him thinking about using his engine and driving forward from behind. Contact should start at the hocks and then come lightly into your hand. Shoulder-in, renvers and travers help the horse really engage behind, suppling and creating energy in all the gaits. I have PMd you with my trainer's details. She comes to the UK three or four times a year.
 
the only advise i can give, as i know what your going through with them being heavy in your hand, is as soon as he does, just completely through the contact at him, theres no point in trying to maintain a contact when he's heavey as essentially your just holding him up, it took me about a year to get taz going without going heavy we still get the occasionaly im going to be a prat and be heavy and then oh wait she's chucked the contact at me easier to work how she wants me to, ive had 4 different instructors in the last 3 years i felt like i was getting alot out of them but out my most recent instructor it clicked, you just need to find someone who is open to ride your horse to see whats happening onboard for them to get a better idea
 
Thank you all so much, you're all completely correct and I have picked up some great tips and advice!

I will have a look at all of the websites/trainers sugegsted, and keep my fingers crossed we find the right one for us.

Thanks again! I'll let you know how I get on!

Thank you all, (I knew I could rely on you lot!! :D)
 
If, as you say, he's very good one day and then resisting the next, it could be that when he really works his back he makes himself sore? If I have a totally fantastic session with my very sensitive fella, I always give him the next day off, or go for a very light hack or suchlike, as he does feel the effects of working muscles hard.
 
Tori has helped me sort my horse out. He was really heavy In the hand and now really light. Tori is soft and subtle but firm and fair. Never seen a horse not understand her yet. She's also really funny and takes the stress out of learning.
 
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