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Post by solomon on Feb 17, 2010 21:41:12 GMT
Hi folks, need your help again. I took Pete out on Sunday for a quiet hack round the lanes. I tried to keep his attention on me and ask him for more of an outline periodically. I know these muscles will take time to train, but also RI said it is not fair to let him slop about on hacks either. The thing is if I ask him with the right rein and hold the left one still I get quite an immediate response and i try to give as soon as he relaxes and he stays for a short time on contact. I found that if I asked with both reins or the left rein he resisted. Dentist due next month by the way. It is obvious when you are schooling that the inside rein asks for softening but what about when hacking? Don't want to cause a problem. Help?  |
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Post by fleabitten on Feb 17, 2010 21:49:02 GMT
perhaps he is just stiffer on one side than the other. sorry. not much help. what does your instructor say?
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Post by solomon on Feb 17, 2010 21:54:04 GMT
I wil ask her at my next lesson, this is all very new to me.
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Post by brigadier on Feb 18, 2010 10:08:45 GMT
Sol, horses will resist more to one side than the other, it could be stiffness from birth (way they lay in the womb) or simply that they have been ridden by a rider who is stronger in one arm than the other or that you may be feeling stiffness to one side but its because you are actually weaker on that side (my horses always end up a tad more resistant on the right but I dont notice it because Ive caused it!!!)
If you work in an outline when hacking then you should work to one flexion or the other because thats how we ensure the horse stays straight. Change this flexion every few minutes to keep the horse thinking and working. If he is coming into a shape for you and holding it when you give a light contact then it sounds if you are making good progress. Its taken his muscles a long time to get where they are currently so it will take patience to get him completely soft and round most of the time. Also at a walk it is reallly really hard for them to walk out and give an outline for any period of time- it uses absolutely all their muscles and is the hardest thing they need to learn. Let him relax a tad more at walk (it may be this that causes the resistance) but ask for the contact and shape when in trot.
To give you some idea I only ask for a medium walk on a contact once or twice for about half a twenty metre circle during any session, i then immediately allow a free walk on a long rein. And yes Basil is younger but he is further along in his schooling.
Sounds like you are doing really well.
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Post by solomon on Feb 18, 2010 12:26:51 GMT
Thank you I understand that better now, funny thing is it seems easier for him in walk than trot?? Is he strange? I know he likes trot least of all the paces so maybe that is it.
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Post by brigadier on Feb 18, 2010 17:28:08 GMT
Its easier for you in walk, thats the difference! In trot its all about coordination and speed of reaction so he will find it easier to dodge!
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for so much hard work we thank ye!!
