Finding the right buttons

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Permalink Reply by Geoffrey Pannell on February 22, 2009 at 6:17pm

Hi Rebecca, I hope things are settling down there for you with the fires and all. With this new horse of yours, how long have you had him? Has he been in work? Is he fit enough to do these movements? Whenever we get a new horse that has an assumed level of training the temptation to test it out is quite strong. RESIST the temptation and take some time and do much more basic exersices with him. First discover if he is fit enough to do these movements, as he may not be obstinate as you say, mearly , finding it physically difficult to perform! Some of the things I do with a new horse , regardless what level the horse has been competing at ( as this is not always to say the horse is compitent at that level), make sure the horse is on the aids . (1) Weight aids. During the transition straiten the shoulders," grow" in the saddle, transfer you weight slightly behind the horse's centre of gravity; this will slow the horse. (2) Leg aids. The horse in the earlier stages should have been taught to move the 1/4's sideways during transitions when the rider applied stronger pressure with one leg behind the girth. At the same time, and on the same side, the horse brought one hindleg further underneath his body. The engaging of one hindleg alternatly has made the horse stronger and suple in the rib part and developed those muscles which will enable the horse to bring both hindlegs under , without effort, tension or strain. The "one-sided" aids are now applied on 'both" sides simultaneously , in conjunction with strong seat preasure. In the early stages apply the leg exrta far behind the girth to make the horse more attentive and to prevent any deviation of the engaged 1\4's. (To obtain extra engagement of the 1\4's one can later on touch the croup gently with the dressage whip to emphasise the aid) . After a while , depending on the horse's sensitiveness, there will be no need to apply exaggerated leg aids . The leg aids, applied in the normal region, will then be sufficent to bring the horse into colection. (3) Rein aids. As the horse has been taught to respond to the half-halt aids he will, when sent into the passive hands, make a submission and flex his lower jaw, when one should begin to slightly open and close the fingers like squeezing and unsqueezing a sponge. Developing this sensitive feel is so important , it may be why you feel he is " obstinate" . We must ease the passiveness of the hands as soon as we feel the horse's "intention" to slow down. Do not wait until the horse has actually slowed down. Remember , pressure creates pressure. Once you have that feel then start to do some leg-yeilding , shoulder-in and shoulder-out before half-pass and flying changes. You might find the horse is not as "obstinate" as you think. Cheers Geoffery

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Permalink Reply by Rebecca Franklin on February 23, 2009 at 3:41pm

Thanks Geoffrey. We had another scary day yesterday but thankfully it was not as bad as predicted. I have had Toohey under a month. I have known him for about 5 months as he was on my agistment property and I had ridden him a few times before buying him. (his owner was too scared to ride him). He would not be very fit and I should have thought of that. I have managed to get him doing all the things you have listed. I will start working on shoulder ins etc. and getting his fitness up. I have always done more jumping than dressage and I am the first to admit, this is not my strong point. I want to become a more rounded rider and got very excited having a horse that was able to do so much. I appreciate your input greatly

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Permalink Reply by Barbara F. on February 24, 2009 at 12:33pm

Hi Rebecca,

What a couple of horrible weeks you've had!

How long have you had your horse? What is it that you are trying to do that he isn't doing? Flying changes and half pass are pretty advanced movements, and are always dependent upon the stuff that goes into them working well before they will work. So if he is not responding, I would go back to the very basic stuff and see where the holes in communication are.
For example, for flying changes, the horse has to respond easily to the correct canter depart aids, do fluid canter walk canter transitions, do a well balanced counter canter, be in front of your leg and straight at the canter and through transitions, be able to respond to your collection/extension aids and there's probably something I've missed! If any of those things are not in place, or if the horse does not or can not respond to your aids for these more basic things, the changes won't work.
The half pass as well depends on so many basic things being in place - bending, shoulder-in, haunches-in, the horse in front of the leg and quick to respond to lateral and forward aids.

Both of you have been through a lot recently, so why not work on the things that you both do well together until you can afford to get some coaching. Play with the walk, trot canter, leg yielding aids and keep it positive for now until you get to know each other a bit better and start speaking the same language.

I hope that is helpful!

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Permalink Reply by Rebecca Franklin on February 24, 2009 at 4:22pm

Thanks Barbara, I rode last night and started working on shoulder ins, he responded spasmodically. I also did some counter canters, but he did not feel very balanced. His muscle tone is probably not up to it at the moment. I had been having too much fun (probably letting off some steam) on him since I moved him back. Lots of jumping and even a race with a friend. He has decided that was much more fun and has become very strong, so I was trying to calm things down. He canters from the walk on the correct leg and has started slowing down and speeding up with my seat. As a kid, the type of horses I had were ones that were sent to the sale yards. One had not even been touched and she was 2 (she ended up being the most amazing horse). I am hoping that Toohey will help teach me more, as my other boy is straight off the track and I have to concentrate on him more than me when I am riding. I wont ask too much for a while and work on our basics until they are more fluent. Friday is going to be another horror day with high temps and high winds. I hope we get through this one alright. thank you for your input. I will get some lessons with him shortly and work on his fitness until then.

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Permalink Reply by Judith A James on March 7, 2009 at 9:43am

Hi Rebecca,
Do you have other thoroughbreds. I love thoroughbreds, but they can be what they are described as - hot blooded. They are bred for speed and stamina and less for the more controlled types of equine movement. I find that thoroughbreds take time to trust their rider. They are quick to object and react and slower to think and respond. They can become very resistent if they feel pressured into trying to do something they don't understand. I find that taking time, working in short periods (5 mins at a time), lots of relaxation and letting them know at every stage when they do something you want them to will give you a more responsive and willing horse. My own thoroughbred mare spent several years arguing with me when she thought she did not want to do something or had done good enough. A great deal of tact was needed. She can still argue, but is older and more inclined to please. Also she has learned that doing things the way I ask her to makes it easier for her. BUT she does not like being pushed beyond what she is fit enough to do and will always tell me!!

Good Luck, thoroughbreds can be the most rewarding of horses to ride.

Judith

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Permalink Reply by Rebecca Franklin on March 7, 2009 at 3:49pm

Thanks Judith, I have 2 thoroughbreds my other boy is only 5 and if I try to push him too quickly, he has a total meltdown. I used to ride track (before I got too big) and these 2 make about 5 thoroughbreds I have owned. Toohey has improved a lot since I wrote this post. We still are not doing more advanced dressage movements, but what I am asking him, he is doing more easily. I have backed off asking him too much and I am now doing small amounts of flatwork everyday and then jumping him, as he really enjoys it. I ask more of him each day and am working on his fitness. I am sure we will get there. It is just going to take a lot of time.
Rebecca

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