Way of going

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Deefa

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After reading a thread in the Photo Gallery and hearing everyones comments on 'false' and 'true' outlines and ways of going i just wondered what you guys thought of Harrys

I now he is by no means the best in thw world and can improve, so any tips would be great
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bit hard to tell from a couple pictures but even though for me (am dressage judge) pony slightly behind vertical looks like plenty activity and secure contact which is good start. to me when someone talks about a false outline it is the sort of horse that appears on the bit but is given away by the varying contact and lack of engagement particularly in medium paces. hope that helps.
 
I would say he is nice and active, but seems very short and tight in the neck - might just be his conformation/ breeding. It is very difficult to tell in a double bridle as I feel unless a horse has had all the basic training in a snaffle then the outline of a double can be pretty false (not saying it is in this case). I would like to see more connection between the back end (which as I said is very active) and the front end, which could be much more relaxed and soft.
 
Agree with S_V - the horse is hollow in front of the saddle therefore IMHO it is not using its back correctly and coming forward into a contact with a soft, rounded back - another bright, forward going, fiesty character I would imagine!
 
Thanks S_V
I have changed him to a waterford snaffle for basic schooling instead og his dutch gag and he is getting better slowly.
He is qiute strong and very forward and i find myself pulling agianst him - i know i shouldn't but he sometimes feels like he will take off.
I am starting to have lessons after xmas once the new field and box is sorted. In the meantime are there any excersize you recommend?
 
If he has lots of forward energy then you are very lucky - use it to your advantage with constant transitions. walk/halt -halt/walk, trot/walk couple of strides of walk and straight back into trot. In time start doing more acute transitions - trot/halt and halt/trot. These will channel his energy into something constructive - and it will help him engage the power that is coming from behind and you will find he comes much lighter in the hand and more uphill. Even though he looks active enough, he's not look "together" and uphill - I hope will find this comes with engaging that back end through the transitions. Focus as well on the reaction in these transitions - you expect him to spring up into trot as soon as you ask him, not fall into it. With the downwards transitions think of them as "forward" transitions - as you're coming from trot to walk make sure he is still going forward - it's a downward transition not a backward one.
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Thanks Helen, He came 5th out of 13 horses in that class, Was very pleased as that was his first County show ever and he has only ever done 4 showing classes before that (he is 14yrs old but has been a SJ all his life)

Wil have a go S_V - Also will hopefully get some more updated vids ASAP so any difference can be seen. Thanks
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What about schooling with a neck strap? Keep a contact on the reins as normal but if you want to slow down you pull back on the neck strap. It just means you will not end up fighting with his mouth and he will learn to listen more. Very useful tool and so simple!
 
He has a running martingale on for schooling, shall i try that or get a completely diferent strap.

Going to have a go at the transitions today - will get a video if i can
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I really love your video of him, he looks like a cracking pony.
Odd as it seems - with strong gassy animals you need to aim to ride with more leg (with lazy animals you aim to ride with less leg!!). He needs to allow you to control him. I find that they need to focus on one thing at a time.
If he were mine I would work on hacks on getting him to leg yield without getting faster - so zigzagging quietly in walk then trot with minimal rein contact .
Once he will allow you to that then I would work slowly in trot in a steady rhythmm, doing loops, circles and serpentines until he will stay in a steady rhythm without you holding his head. He should in time allow you to manage all the changes of rein & directions off your leg aids alone and you should aim to do this with virtually no contact.
He will slowly build up some muscles along his topline and will also develop a rhythm.
I also like to train hot horses to slow down with my knees. Whenever you want a downwards transition accompany it with a squeeze with your knees. reward him when he is good. He will learn to stop without you having a battle, it is useful in dressage tests as the judge can't see and you can control the pace without touching his mouth.
That will probably take you the best part of the winter, but will really be worth it if you succeed.
 
Sienamum, could you explain how to slow with your knees further as i am not quite sure how to implement it and think it may be useful on my boy. Thanks.
 
It is as simple as it sounds. Effectively you are blocking his shoulders and hindering him from moving forwards. It allows you to be wonderfully lazy out on hacks and also gives you an extra bit of control without setting up a fight with the mouth. On a jogger or gassy horse it will allow you to control pace & half halt with nice loose reins.
Starting in walk - halt transition. Practice and practice till he will stop without any rein. Start with a normal transition accompanied with simply squeezing with your knees. keep at it until you need no rein. Use it with all downwards transitions until it is second nature.
Don't overcomplicate it, don't expect perfect transitions and ideally work on it on hacks in a relaxed frame of mind.On Sienna I like to ride in walk and trot without reins at all, and can circle, serpentine etc & go through simple transitions & half halts. It's mainly because I am so lazy and do like to slop along like a cowboy/girl
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Lovely pony and I would agree with all previous replies, i.e. very active but rather tight in the back and neck and needs to take the contact more forwards.

One thing that hasn't been picked up on is that in the video he looked really lacking lateral bend/suppleness.
I think it was siennamum that mentioned using leg yielding for another purpose but it will also help with making him more supple.

Lovely pony though and well worth working on to improve!
 
I have only just been able to play the video and still keeps stopping. But as a Dressage judge I would agree that he is a lovely chap and nice and active (for the tiny bit I saw), but that he is tight over the back and comes short in the neck, he isn't always secure into the contact because he is tight. I also agree that he lacks lateral suppleness (side to side/bend) but also think he lacks longitudinal suppleness (over topline). The lack of suppleness makes him appear tight and means he does not work OVER his back into an elastic contact. When he is more supple - which must come before anything else, his work will become more fluent and the quality of the contact will improve.

I'm sure the lessons will help you lots
 
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