4whitesocks
Well-Known Member
OK....horse is very capable, rounds up really nicely for my YO, uses himself very well & has lovely paces (when he tries)....I am relatively novice, have never competed at dressage, am advanced primary riding club but would love to do an ODE (Riding Club) this summer
With me we are at 'almost but not quite' when it comes to his shape - have done a lot of work on my inside leg position & my consistency in my contact (together with lots of transitions, circles, serpentines, leg yielding etc....all of which he's will do quite nicely but I'm just not getting what she gets from him..)
His head will come down slightly but he's not really working through for me - we have had a few eureka moments but not consistently
YO/Instructor asked me to try him in draw reins in my lesson 2 weeks ago - I said ok under supervision....wanted to see what he could/should feel like & 10 - 15 minutes in he really started to use himself really nicely (apart from head position it's so easy to tell when he's working nicely as sitting to his trot becomes enjoyable not painful!)
After that her advice was - "well he's a clever little sod - once he accepts that you are in charge & that he's not going to get out of working (which she has firmly established when she rides him) then he's really working (draw reins not in play)....I think every time you ride you should pop them on at the start even for 10 minutes so he starts to make the connection that you mean business & he has to work properly"
Part of me thinks she's right....this is the only way with Sid as he's just a smart*rse....the other part of me thinks surely if I was a good enough rider I shoudl be able to crack this without them....and to be honest it feels like a bit of a cheat..BUT I do trust her, she's done so much work with the two of us that has really paid off for us...
Thoughts anyone (don't want to start another draw reins debate to be honest - just looking for anyone with similar experiences or practical advice!)
With me we are at 'almost but not quite' when it comes to his shape - have done a lot of work on my inside leg position & my consistency in my contact (together with lots of transitions, circles, serpentines, leg yielding etc....all of which he's will do quite nicely but I'm just not getting what she gets from him..)
His head will come down slightly but he's not really working through for me - we have had a few eureka moments but not consistently
YO/Instructor asked me to try him in draw reins in my lesson 2 weeks ago - I said ok under supervision....wanted to see what he could/should feel like & 10 - 15 minutes in he really started to use himself really nicely (apart from head position it's so easy to tell when he's working nicely as sitting to his trot becomes enjoyable not painful!)
After that her advice was - "well he's a clever little sod - once he accepts that you are in charge & that he's not going to get out of working (which she has firmly established when she rides him) then he's really working (draw reins not in play)....I think every time you ride you should pop them on at the start even for 10 minutes so he starts to make the connection that you mean business & he has to work properly"
Part of me thinks she's right....this is the only way with Sid as he's just a smart*rse....the other part of me thinks surely if I was a good enough rider I shoudl be able to crack this without them....and to be honest it feels like a bit of a cheat..BUT I do trust her, she's done so much work with the two of us that has really paid off for us...
Thoughts anyone (don't want to start another draw reins debate to be honest - just looking for anyone with similar experiences or practical advice!)