working on the bit...again

[chilworth23]

ok so i used as much leg as i could, could feel the energy in her was being contained, yet she wouldnt round?????? arrrgggghhh, also had a white knuckle moment when a random golf ball appeared literally from no where into some bushes and set birds scattering......

 

[VioletStripe]

Were you keeping a firm, constant contact on with mouth without being too hard in the hand? Don't forget it's not just the head that has to go round, the entire body had to work well into it as well. xx

 

[chilworth23]

yep, i did everything i know i should do, stuff ive read and been taught and nothing, all of a sudden she did it, for a few mins when the rain was on her face, soon as rain died down, out poked the nose again! ive even had a lady who competes at dressage, who has a retired pony at my yard watch and she was like "oh she should do, think she's being stubborn, try a pelham" which im not sure about at all!!

 

[celia]

Not seen your previous posts but it will take consistent work over time to build up the right muscles so she can carry herself correctly. You'll probably only get a minute or two of 'soft' work at a time to begin with, but it should become easier for both of you with time. Lessons with a good instructer who can see what's going on from the ground are always useful.

 

[chilworth23]

if anyone has any tips, about what they do, or how they where taught, or how they started theirs off, it'd be much appreciated x

 

[somethingorother]

I wouldn't worry so much about the head being in.

If you work her correctly it will happen over time. I have worked really hard for nearly a year with my share to get him to relax down through his neck (as opposed to being a tense giraffe), work through his back and bend correctly. When all this is happening and he's relaxed, listening to me, working through from behind etc, then he goes onto the bit nicely. But still, he gets tired and needs a good stretch every 10 mins or so.

I would work on circles, balance and bend, and transitions within the paces to get her listening and moving forwards, and if you keep a relaxed, consistent contact then she will come round and work 'correctly'. Also try to make sure you are breathing and not tense through your hands and arms. I found this to be the main thing in getting over the 'ears in my face' problem.

 

[maletto]

I haven't read your previous posts either but don't forget that when you are asking her to come round, if she's not used to doing it, then you are effectively teaching her. You want to ask a little and if she responds, immediately soften with the inside rein so that she's rewarded. A few seconds later you can ask again, and so on. You don't want to be fighting with her the whole time as you will both get frustrated.

Don't forget you need to be doing loads of circling to get her flexing from one way to the other so that she can find it easier. A great exercise is to do a 3 loop serpentine with a 10m circle at the end of each loop (i.e. joining up three 10m circles) in walk and/or trot.

In terms of generally what you want to be doing, you want to be "keeping her between leg and hand" which basically means not pulling her back into an outline but driving her forwards with your legs and your seat (not masses, just enough) whilst keeping a steady contact with outside rein. Use your inside rein to both ask for bend and ask for softness, softening back when she responds. hope this helps, it's what works for me

 

[chilworth23]

thanks, i think i just need to keep doing what im doing then, she's a lovely young mare, very honest, but a typical chestnut welsh mare so can be fiery! x

 

[Holly Hocks]

I wouldn't worry so much about the head being in.

If you work her correctly it will happen over time. I have worked really hard for nearly a year with my share to get him to relax down through his neck (as opposed to being a tense giraffe), work through his back and bend correctly. When all this is happening and he's relaxed, listening to me, working through from behind etc, then he goes onto the bit nicely. But still, he gets tired and needs a good stretch every 10 mins or so.

I would work on circles, balance and bend, and transitions within the paces to get her listening and moving forwards, and if you keep a relaxed, consistent contact then she will come round and work 'correctly'. Also try to make sure you are breathing and not tense through your hands and arms. I found this to be the main thing in getting over the 'ears in my face' problem.

Exactly this - couldn't have put it better myself. x