training aids help please!

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millyspaniel

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I would like to take my 4yr tb mare to some local shows in the summer, would like to do some jumping (mine and her 1st love!!) and a bit of dressage.
The jumping is coming on lovely, although shes green shes very keen.
The flatwork side is not so good, hoping to start my lessons again after xmas and when shes fit and well again. We have a few issues in the school, she is very reluctant to come into an outline, she fights me all the way, she is ridden in a snaffle with lozenge and goes well in it out hacking etc its when i ask her she resists and throws her head about.
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I understand that shes still very young and green but wondered if there was anything out there that would help us achieve a nice outline without all the resisting and fighting?
All advice welcomed! thanks
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harbridge?
john whitaker training reins?
what do you think of the above? are they too harsh? any suggestions?
 
No no no, please no. Gadgets will only force her into what essentially will be a false outline.

Work her in properly, ask for neck bend to the left using lots of left leg on the girth. When she gives, release and ride forward. Repeat to the right. Do this on a straight line and on circles, and add in some leg yielding as you do it. Be careful to follow her natural stretch with your hand.

She'll very quickly start to stretch and relax down. Then, don't hold her there. Keep her on circles and working laterally if necessary, and sit back to help her carry her weight behind.
 
[ QUOTE ]
No no no, please no. Gadgets will only force her into what essentially will be a false outline.

Work her in properly, ask for neck bend to the left using lots of left leg on the girth. When she gives, release and ride forward. Repeat to the right. Do this on a straight line and on circles, and add in some leg yielding as you do it. Be careful to follow her natural stretch with your hand.

She'll very quickly start to stretch and relax down. Then, don't hold her there. Keep her on circles and working laterally if necessary, and sit back to help her carry her weight behind.

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i agree 100%.

the only gadget i ever use with my 5 y/o if you can call it that is a pessoa.
 
I use a harbridge on my 5 yr old. It is very flexible and doesnt hold him but encourages him to work properly. I find it great for him.
 
are you having any lessons?

If not maybe consider having some lessons to at least get you pointed in the right direction.

If you are unsure enough of training aids to ask about them, I would definitely get an instructor or someone knowledgeable to show you how to use them. Training aids can be very helpful - but they can also cause a lot of harm, especially to a young horse
 
I honestly think gadgets should only be used on horses that are already established.

With young horses, correct riding, repetition and reward = a correct way of going. If you cannot school a youngster without the aid of gadgets then you shouldn't really be on a youngster, as they are like sponges and if they learn as four year olds that they work in a certain way because they *have* to rather than because it's more comfortable, in a lot of cases you'll end up with a sour horse on your hands, or at least some problems to fix later on.

Please try a basic warm up and flexing technique as described above, first.
 
I have been down the training aid route and it caused me nothing but trouble!! I moved on to have lessons and my old mare started going in a fabulous outline. I owuld suggest lessons are the way forward, I agree with the comments above
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I am hoping to take up lessons again as soon as she's back in work. I will try the above also - thanks, i didn't really want to go down the training aid route TBH just needed some ideas
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After a 8yr gap of not riding i need to brush up on my skills!
My instructor says i have a very good position and very gentle hands its just putting them all into use!
Is it best to achieve the outline working her in a sitting trot and using my seat aswell as legs and gently sponging on the reins?
 
It's best not to do too much sitting trot on a 4 year old as their backs aren't yet strong enough to cope with it. Also, if you're getting fit again yourself, it's likely your stomach muscles aren't yet back to their best as you might block her movement.

I'd establish her in walk first, and then work on some sharp transitions to move her weight to her back end. The exercises I mentioned above work in all paces. Remember she's not yet got the muscle strength to maintain an outline for long, so for a while it'll be inconsistent, but encourage her, don't force her, or she'll just end up with her nose tucked in and trailing her back legs along behind her. Lots of walk and stretch breaks too!

At this stage you need to be thinking long and low, and concentrate more on lifting her shoulder and maintaining an nice, even contact down the reins. Hopefully the judges will be looking for the same if they recognise she's a novice
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Keep your elbows bent and your hands maybe slightly wider at first, as it'll create a more comfortable feel for her.

Good luck!
 
Will try the above, thanks
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She always has a good stretch every 10/15 mins or so to relax, which i find really works for her.
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We havent been in the school for a while, just been hacking
 
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