Transitions

[LHIS]

Afternoon all,

I'd like some advice please - I'm making progress (nothing ground breaking, steady away) on schooling my pony (under the supervision of my instructor) and some sessions I struggle to get him into trot swiftly. I ask for trot and I get a fast walk. Sometimes I get it straight away.
He knows his voice commands and I remind him of this regularly, so I don't think there's any work there to be done.
Before I ride I warm him up on long lines (which also functions to keep him sharp to voice commands) as he can be excitable and I prefer to get any excess energy out of his system before I get on. I have taken this down to about 5 mins on each rein now so I don't think he's tired, if anything he can be a bit lazy.

So, I'm looking for advice to how to keep his transitions quick. He is forward going and not a plod, but is also opinionated and will question something if I don't mean it (ie. If I'm having a confidence wobble- I'm doing really well and these are becoming rarer and rarer).
I wondered if when he's slow on the uptake if it's because I'm not being clear in my asking, or if it could be something else?

 

[LHIS]

Anyone?

 

[Shay]

You'd probably be best asking your instructor but my bet is that he either isn't hearing your aid correctly, or he wants to know if you mean it. Probably the reason no-one has replied is that there are so many possible reasons we'd end up writing you an essay! Here is a brief subsection of possible reasons...

Tack / Back / teeth / vet. Is there something making him reluctant to step under for the upward transition?
Feed. Has he the appropriate feed for his type and workload? Both over and under feeding can be a problem. Might he have a low grade niggle making him feel unwell?
Rider balance. Do you loose balance slightly as you ask for the transition, or through it, which would confuse him? Or catch him in the mouth as he starts forward? Did someone else at some point making him fearful of the transition?
Dead to the leg. Too much nagging with the leg, or an unstable lower leg. He's switched off listening.
Wants to know if you mean it. (Typical pony!!)

So as you see there is just so much that could be going on here you are best off asking your instructor what they recommend.

Edited to add... just thought of another. Unclear aids. Fits below rider balance I suppose. Does he know what he is being asked to do with you on his back?

 

[LHIS]

Thanks Shay. Of those I think the culprit could be a mixture of rider balance (though this has improved a lot- but work still to do), knowing if I mean it (I am working on getting my confidence back after a few years out of the saddle and finding myself nervous), and clear aids (again my instructor thinks I'm pretty much there with this but work still to do).
I hope all of this will come with time, it's frustrating I can't just 'get it' and voila.
I'll keep practising. Luckily my pony is patient (most of the time).

 

[xgemmax]

If he doesn't go first time you ask then back it up with a tap of the whip, make sure he knows you mean business!

 

[RebeccaClark]

Firstly, i can understand why you're nervous if he can be excitable. What you should try is getting a very experienced rider to come and help, they can get on and when you're nervous and having a wobble they will give you confidence and they will teach him to do what you tell him to do.

What i would do is i would pick a letter in the school and tell myself i'm going to trot at that letter, before the letter i would start preparing (shorten reins, squeeze, sit up), if he trots pat him, if he fast walks, bring him back to a slow walk and try again. Horses need repetition till they learn that they need to do what you're saying.