Training an older horse

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Milliek

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I've decided to start some proper schooling with Stanley instead of just hacking out, however he is an older horse (with plenty of life left in him)! He hasn't had much schooling in the past as far as I am aware so is rather stiff on one rein and does not work properly over his back (most of the time). I have done a little bit of work with him in the walk and managed to get him stretching down and working into a contact however he doesn't maintain this when I ask for trot. Does anyone have any advise for progressing the work from walk into trot?
Thanks :)
 
"A little bit of work in walk" is the key - you need to do plenty, until the walk is good. Mark Rashid once said he spent 18 months getting the walk correct in one horse.
Large circles and serpentines until he can manage smaller ones without losing the bend, lots of walk - halt - walk transitions, half halts and rein back to walk until his balance is good and teach him shoulder in at walk. Save the trot work for hacking until he can manage stuff in the school at walk.
Mine is 18 and still enjoying learning (because I reward him when he has got it right with a snog or a rest)
 
Yes, walk , if you use five poles in a grid you can do quite a few exercises going over the grid and also up and down, also lay a track with parallel poles forming a right angle so he has to negotiate a bend, I think they do this for le trec.
You can also progress to trot poles, using two grids of three, altering the distances just a little so he shortens and lengthens.
I would have a few lessons to concentrate on your position, with and without stirrups, your hands and body will be reflected in his walk, and it is only too easy to get in to bad habits. With the right horse, bareback riding is really rewarding.
To get him to relax you can long rein, wide circles, long and low to re-structure the muscles a bit.
I have used the book 101 exercses for jumping, but there is one for dressage, worth a look.
 
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