What can Murphy learn this winter??

[bex1984]

I spent yesterday evening on a very happy pony, galloping round fields and jumping over the biggest logs and stacks of hay bales we've ever jumped

but in a few weeks winter will properly be here and our beloved jumping field will be closed.

Unfortunately, Murphy is making it quite clear that in comparison to the field, the school is very boring

I kind of agree with him

The only way to keep him interested in the school is to teach him something new, so I'm looking for ideas of things he can learn this winter/things to keep him occupied??

He is currently working nicely in a consistent outline in walk and trot, his canter isn't great because it needs more oomph! It would be lovely if he could learn to do left canter but that just isn't going to happen

So - ideas for new things to learn to keep him (and me!) busy and entertained in the school this winter please?

 

[Squeak]

Truthully I would work on the left canter and the canter in general, but you could always do pole work and stuff with him as well to help make it more interesting.

 

[beckieswann]

You could try the Spanish walk - it strengthens their shoulder so may actually help with cantering? Emma Letherbridge - knowing your horse, has a great technique to teach horses on the ground first before teaching them in the saddle new things!

 

[Pidgeon]

now he's going so nicely what about some lateral work? leg yielding, shoulder in, turn on the forehand etc?
Or just more interesting schooling - serpentines, T cup handles, spiralling in and out of circles etc?

 

[bex1984]

ooo he does an excellent turn on the forehand

but leg yield has been impossible until very recently - now I've started riding him in spurs he's beginning to get the idea!!

So we're currently working on that

I have got to get over my dislike of circles, I avoid doing them because they bore me!!

Squeak - I can't work on the left canter, I just can't

We just try not to go there.

Spanish walk sounds interesting (altho perhaps not designed for cobby natives?!

)

 

[Pidgeon]

cool

Ah then circles - ride to M, do a 1/2 10m circle left to the centre line, then ride back to F then as you get better pull it in further ie ride to B.
Another one is serpentine and every time you cross the center line do a 10m circle the way you are bending before crossing the centre line
and another one - aren't I wicked

20m circle with a 10m circle at each quarter mark, 2 outside the circle and 2 in the circle - if that makes sense?
This will cure your phobia of circles

but will make Murphy more supple and engage your legs lots

 

[beckieswann]

[ QUOTE ]
Spanish walk sounds interesting (altho perhaps not designed for cobby natives?! )

[/ QUOTE ]

just the exercise will help build shoulder muscles, and the pony in the book is a cob

 

[bex1984]

[ QUOTE ]
cool

Ah then circles - ride to M, do a 1/2 10m circle left to the centre line, then ride back to F then as you get better pull it in further ie ride to B.
Another one is serpentine and every time you cross the center line do a 10m circle the way you are bending before crossing the centre line
and another one - aren't I wicked

20m circle with a 10m circle at each quarter mark, 2 outside the circle and 2 in the circle - if that makes sense?


[/ QUOTE ]

so just lots of crazy wiggling about then?!

I'll give it a go, sounds more interesting than just '20m circle at A' etc...yawn!!

 

[Pidgeon]

yep you got it

let me know if you want more

Ooh another thought

leg yield in trot to the edge of the school and then when you get to the track ask for canter - may help?

 

[chickeninabun]

[ QUOTE ]
yep you got it

let me know if you want more

Ooh another thought

leg yield in trot to the edge of the school and then when you get to the track ask for canter - may help?

[/ QUOTE ]

Similar to this, we used to trot to B or E then do half a circle in to the quarter line and leg yield back to track and ask for canter when you hit the track, having change the rein at the same time. Was it called a demi vault, or something??

How about setting up a couse of show jumps in the school and practising doing those, or even some handy pony type games with flags/tarpauling (sp?)/umbrellas?!

 

[Hedwards]

Have you thought about having a go at some TREC - my friend recently had a session at our yard with a TREC instructor and its given us all loads of ideas and plenty of fun in the school - things like walk/trot/canter through two poles side by side, gradually making the gap between them smaller, makes you really work on accuracy and straightness. weaving in an out of cones, going through an S bend made of poles on the ground etc. All our horses have loved it, and made the boring school much more fun - plus involves lateral work etc without them even realising it!

 

[bex1984]

We'll be jumping regularly throughout winter - the problem is that's the only thing Murphy likes doing in the school, and I'm having trouble explaining to him that he can't jump everyday!!

We have a full set of pony games stuff, bending cones, poles, flags etc so we do all that sort of stuff regularly too and we'll be booking out the school to play games with other liveries, but TBH because we can do it whenever we want Murphy doesn't find it that exciting!!

I think his life is just too full of fun so I ahve trouble keeping the excitement up for him all the time