Working trough from behind!!

[Fiorano]

Morning!!

Am I right in thinking that the best way to encourage a horse to work through from behind is to do lots of transitions and keep him from the inside leg to the outside hand? I seem to have hit a bit of a wall when I'm schooling and just need a little reassurance.

 

[Vicki1986]

i've got this prob with my mare and get this comm on my dress shts.

my instructor says i always must make sure that whilst supporting the contact i am riding forward very strong making sure she is off the leg not behind it. half halts also help. some lateral work helps my mare.

 

[scrumpygus]

You are right to do what you are doing - transitions and lots of them! Lateral exercises are also very helpful. Most people will find they get frustrated trying to achieve this but if you keep trying it will come. A lot of good riders/ instructors / dressage pros can get on most horses and achieve this after a very short space of time which says alot about seat and position so work on strengthening your seat and position so you can ride positively forward enough that your horse finds it easier to engage from behind. I think this is what we all strive to achieve no matter what level we are at though!

 

[Silverspring]

Yes lots of transitions and a strong contact will encourage them to work from behind. I would also make sure you spend lots of time warming up and trying to get a long low walk and wrm up trot/canter before you start to ask for proper work. In order to work properly they need to be using their stomach muscles and supporting their back, it's almost impossible to get the back legs engaged if they aren't carrying themselves correctly.

 

[Kenzo]

Echo what everyone else has said, specially taking time to warm up well firstly and doing some stretches and really thigns loosening off.
I good exercise it to ride a 20m circle in trot but a one quarter of it in sitting (so you slow the trot down) then push on into a rising trot for most of the circle and then back into sitting really helps, just takes time.

Too much work on the outside track will encourage them to fall back onto forehand (when trying to teach them to work correctly) only when your horse feels liking he's coming underneath should you then work in a larger area but again not for too long, use this as an excuse to change the rein.

Also too much contact can make your horse go the other way, he needs to come forward onto the bit to enable his backed to come underneath him, if he's tense through the poll and neck then you have no hope, offer your hands by lifting and pushing them forward (every so often) and you may find that your horse will just move into your hands and you will feel him come underneath you.

 

[Fiorano]

Thank you so much for your advice! I knew I could rely on H & H'er!