stretching when ridden

[fleabitten]

Thinking forward with regards to murphy, i think it would be beneficial to continue to include stretching work into his ridden work as long as he continues to improve and continue into ridden work of course lol!

At the moment we are using side reins between his front legs to encourage his head down low when being led in hand or lunged but nothing when riding him. He seems to like to put his head down when im riding him and im not sure whether or not to let this happen or whether to insist on a normal rein contact. I wonder is it a learned behaviour now or is it him wanting to stretch his muscles?

im aware of 'long and low' and ive done it once before but tbh i dont really know how i did it (it was in a lesson) and obviously on a horse that knew how to do it/was good at stretching. murphy is poor at stretching, thats just the way he is - we always got marked down on free walk in dressage tests, he just sort of sticks his nose out and thats about it.

So ive been thinking how would you get him to stretch when ridden - is it even possible at his age for to even attempt to try and teach him - hes 17 this year. Also i was wondering if ive got the skill to do it when he doesnt know how/doesnt find it easy. I wouldnt really know where to start to teach him and i cant think of any ideal person off the top of my head that could teach us. Is there any point in busting a gut trying to do this if it would be a struggle? - would it be just as good to just do the 'side reins from the ground' on a regular basis?

Planning on continuing with carrot stretches long term anyway.

Thoughts?

[brigadier]

Flea, its something every horse should do as part of their ridden education, because the 'outline ' is a progression then the horse should first be encouraged to go long and low then once this is established the rider can put the horse where they want it by use of the leg and the rein and half halts to help the horse rebalance, bring its hind leg underneath and lift its shoulder- this lifts its forearm more and enables the horse (eventually) to achieve the classic dressage outline.
To help Murph do this you may have to re-teach him its ok to take your hand down and forward but you have to be careful to keep the contact so as not to encourage him to start snatching. I tend to do this by establishing a good trot on a big circle at oneend of the school, take your hands wider and low and if the horse takes the contact more which it should then suggest by a slight give that he can take the outline down and forward-even a tiny bit is good. If you get this then continue to ask for a bit more until he gets the idea and really drops his nose- in effect his head should disappear and when they get really good you almost ride buckle end BUT keep the leg supportive and on otherwise it becomes a slobalong! oh and once you get a bit lower let him go large as a reward so he can really stride out and stretch. Once he responds to this at trot he shpuld learn that a slight widening of your hands mean drop his nose so your free walk should also improve.

[pboy]

That's a great description from Brig!

[ernieburt]

Great description and exactly what I do, when I widen my hands my chaps no it's stretching time and yes very important to support with your legs to keep the work active and the engine working.

[fleabitten]

That makes sense brig although that thinking is new to me (that you teach them to stretch first and then work in an outline), i havent heard anyone talking about that really over here. Saying that ive come from a riding school and have only been mixing with the rest of the horsey world this time round through murphy so im sure theres people out there that do this, i just havent come across it yet.

Thinking about that lesson i had where i got the horse to stretch i can relate to what youre saying - as i let the reins out the horse took the reins forward but didnt pull, it was quite a cool feeling but strange to ride in that way!

I think i will need to find someone that can take me through this on the ground and give it a bash anyway! It was really helpful last winter when i got a dressage trainer out to me to take me through riding him in an outline, after that lesson it just clicked.

Thanks!

[brigadier]

No prob Flea- remember though that teaching horses is a progression- horses cant just achieve an outline- they have to develop their musculature to do so- some may already have good balance so find it easier but they all start as unschooled and undisciplined. If a horse is forced into an outline then problems will arise- as they will support weak muscles with other parts of their body. If you think about a prelim dressage test it is testing that the basics are there- the horse does know how to stretch down, make a rhythm, obedient to start and stop etc- nowhere does it ask for an advanced outline. So in your lessons at the riding school and with your own horse you need to ensure the horse and yourself can do these basics so that you can progress in the safest way possible for you and your horse. No point running before you can walk as something gives. Riding schools and inexperienced riders/trainers can sometimes get locked into the horse making a shape at whatever the cost as it looks nicer- that's why there are so many gadgets out there-they should be renamed "quick enforcers".

[fleabitten]

I agree brig, one of the first things you seem to learn after the basic walk trot canter and jump is how to make the horse go in a shape!
i definitely think it will be worth trying to do this with murphy but its just finding a person to help me lol!
I think i will say to Ms owner and see if she has any suggestions. The coach i used to get, who i really like, has only really done jumping with me and Ms owner says he can be quite intense for flatwork.