IsabelleJ
Well-Known Member
OK, this is going to sound like a really stupid question, but here it is. What do you do to get your horse to work correctly? I mean by that, in a nice outline with proper movement from behind and everything? I just want to see how other people describe it, as it hasn't quite 'clicked' for me.
My horse, Sidney, is a 16.2 10 year old Shire/TB who has been doing some competing at Elementary level. I've been riding again for 6 months, having come back after a 12 year absence. So I'm basically just learning to do dressage things from scratch, as as a kid I was more into jumping
Sidney works beautifully when ridden by someone who knows what they're doing, and I have moments when I can get him to go nicely. We've done a couple of Prelims and a Novice, and got decent marks (57.6% and 58% in Prelims, 50.3% in Novice)and some really nice and positive comments. So I know that he can do it, it's just getting me on the same wavelength as me!
I try and get him to go more forward with my legs. Now he is quite lazy, so I have to get on at him quite a bit. I'm not using spurs yet, although I may well try them soon, but I don't think that that is the main problem. I keep a steady contact with the outside rein, and squeeze my fingers on the inside rein as if I'm opening and closing my fist. This works sometimes to get his head in the right place, but not all the time. My instructor says that I should be firmer with my contact, but I'm quite scared of hurting his mouth (eggbutt single jointed atm, swapping over to a loose ring lozenge ASAP).
I guess I'm just looking for descriptions of how other people get their horses working correctly, to see if there's something I'm missing. I also know that I shouldn't be using my hands to get a 'false' outline without him working properly, but I'm not sure how to tell if he's working properly, and how I should encourage him to go about using his back end more.
I have a wonderful instructor, but I'm posting this as I was wondering if a different way of thinking/saying things would make it all click in my head.
I would really appreciate people's tips on this subject - some of you have a really wonderful way of writing things that makes lightbulbs go off in my head, almost! Thanks!
Isabelle
My horse, Sidney, is a 16.2 10 year old Shire/TB who has been doing some competing at Elementary level. I've been riding again for 6 months, having come back after a 12 year absence. So I'm basically just learning to do dressage things from scratch, as as a kid I was more into jumping

Sidney works beautifully when ridden by someone who knows what they're doing, and I have moments when I can get him to go nicely. We've done a couple of Prelims and a Novice, and got decent marks (57.6% and 58% in Prelims, 50.3% in Novice)and some really nice and positive comments. So I know that he can do it, it's just getting me on the same wavelength as me!
I try and get him to go more forward with my legs. Now he is quite lazy, so I have to get on at him quite a bit. I'm not using spurs yet, although I may well try them soon, but I don't think that that is the main problem. I keep a steady contact with the outside rein, and squeeze my fingers on the inside rein as if I'm opening and closing my fist. This works sometimes to get his head in the right place, but not all the time. My instructor says that I should be firmer with my contact, but I'm quite scared of hurting his mouth (eggbutt single jointed atm, swapping over to a loose ring lozenge ASAP).
I guess I'm just looking for descriptions of how other people get their horses working correctly, to see if there's something I'm missing. I also know that I shouldn't be using my hands to get a 'false' outline without him working properly, but I'm not sure how to tell if he's working properly, and how I should encourage him to go about using his back end more.
I have a wonderful instructor, but I'm posting this as I was wondering if a different way of thinking/saying things would make it all click in my head.
I would really appreciate people's tips on this subject - some of you have a really wonderful way of writing things that makes lightbulbs go off in my head, almost! Thanks!
Isabelle