Working in a outline

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gemmypie44

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I have a 4yr old shire x, I had lessons with him last summer and I worked with 2 instructors, we were trying to get him working in a outline, 1 told me to just tighten my reins (not happy doing that) well that didn't work.. The other told me to circle in trot getting smaller circles each time then getting bigger again, whilst having my inside rein on his shoulder and the other slightly higher, I keep doing this for about 15 mins a night I haven't noticed any difference he still has his nose up.... Just can't seem to gethim to settle into it, I don't want a false outline but if I could get a correct contact he would just work so much nicer.... He is in a ns Waterford. Please any ideas would really help. I want to show this summer :-/
 
Find a third instructor, and a fourth, and if necessary a fifth until you find one who can teach you that going 'in an outline' is about getting a horse going forward (in front of the leg) and working through the back while accepting a quiet contact. Forward comes first!!

Your first instructor was a tw*t. Yes, to get your horse in 'an outline' requires shorter reins than to have your horse working 'long & low' - but without 'forward', you're more likely to get a horse that is constantly resisting. Your 2nd instructor gave you an exercise that can help (when done properly) - but unless you have a true understanding of what you're after, exercises are just school figures!

See also the related thread below.
 
your instructors sound like looneys :) but i can see why one of them got you to make the circle bigger then smaller as this gets the horse stepping under themselves and they have to be balenced. because hes only a baby, try not to think about an out line too much, just keep an even contact, stay balanced and concentrate on impulsion at his age, lots of lunging ina a passoa and the neck will soften naturally.

(is soften even a word?) :rolleyes:
 
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Ditto previous comments.

We can't teach you on here how to work your horse in an outline, you really need to be able to see the horse to comment and give effective exercises, you need to find yourself a good instructor, who understands you and your horse :)

Good luck and happy riding
 
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