Working in an outline - slowing down?!

[Sarah1]

Hi everyone

I was just wanting your opinions on something please...

I've been working really hard at getting Bailey to carry himself properly while out hacking rather than gawping at everything & anything! This weekend he's been fab - I've had to flex him a little as he felt like he was getting a little stiff/tight in his neck but other than that he's been great.

Anyway, I can now get him to drop nice & soft on a long rein just by closing my hands & sitting up tall in the saddle with my elbows at my sides (keeping my legs round him obviously). I try very hard not to fiddle him into an outline!

The only thing I've found is that he feels like he's slowing down as he starts to work over his back - his footfalls sound very crisp, if that makes sense, & I do feel him round but he seems to go slower than if I allow him to go along as he likes?!

He does the same in trot - as I take up a contact & ask him to soften his jaw he'll slow down but the trot feels better & more rhythmical.

When I allow him to go along as he likes he shuffles a hind leg (something he's always done) - he doesn't do this when I ask him to work correctly but when I try to make him go faster in walk he throws his head up & gets a bit upset - am I pushing him out of his natural rhythm?

Does this sound normal? I always make sure we have a nice trot or canter to get him really forward & in front of my leg before asking him to work correctly.

Thanks everyone - hope I've made sense?!

S xx

 

[Booboos]

Sounds like he is trying to find his balance in the new outline so going a bit slower shouldn't be a problem. As long as you have impulsion from behind, I think it is acceptable to allow him a slightly slower trot to find his balance. However, don't let him 'rest on his laurels' too long, pretty soon ask him to try for a bigger trot with the same relaxation over the back. However, I am not very experienced with brining young horses on, so may be other people will disagree?

 

[dwi]

I've just started working Daisy in an outline with a fab new instructor and we're having exactly the same thing. She said its really common while she works out what to do because its new to her muscles. I'm focussing on getting her to work at a decent speed out hacking because she's naturally speedier then anyway and we're going to try a longer schooling whip to tickle her into it in our next lesson after she's had the week to get used to the new idea.

On a side point, doesn't it feel amazing? I can't stop grinning

 

[Sarah1]

Thanks guys - that's actually put my mind at rest! I was worried it was because he was dropping behind the leg & I'm so concious of having him forward, forward, forward!!!!
DWI - it does feel amazing! Do you find that Daisy is going to the toilet more when you ride her in an outline? Bailey seems to be going loads - I'm taking it as a good sign that he's relaxed etc.