tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3245952445455454984.post1404182057153623941..comments2023-06-07T00:56:06.848-07:00Comments on Schooling Your Horse: The Other Way of StoppingAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10322496275100753654noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3245952445455454984.post-33869819114887234932012-02-22T08:43:02.978-08:002012-02-22T08:43:02.978-08:00I'm so excited that you tried this :) Not only...I'm so excited that you tried this :) Not only will it make a huge difference to your brakes it also makes you realise how much you might be stopping your horse go forward if your leg is tight on the saddle. (Something else for you to think about! :) )Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10322496275100753654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3245952445455454984.post-40968038417170809152012-02-22T08:26:32.148-08:002012-02-22T08:26:32.148-08:00I've not had the confidence to try this as I&#...I've not had the confidence to try this as I'm still learning and on school horses but was on a horse I trust a lot and decided to give it a shot. One squeeze on the upper legs and he stopped. It was amazing.Mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17169172886373383465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3245952445455454984.post-78952693495871660032011-07-03T00:45:33.053-07:002011-07-03T00:45:33.053-07:00Hi Tor, I'm so glad you're getting results...Hi Tor, I'm so glad you're getting results. Here's my theory on falling in. It's worth looking at In Your Hands and Keep in Touch too.<br /><br />if a horse falls in or out it's because you haven't kept their shoulders together. So put simply you're doing something in the hand department to allow them to move apart.<br /><br />Horses that look to the outside tend to be heavy in the outside rein or so we say. Someone once told me to look at it another way. Instead of thinking they're heavy in one rein, think they're light in the other!<br /><br />Seriously try this because it's amazing.Take up your reins so you have even weight in each - even if it feels too much. Ride your horse straight in his head and neck and ride from a strong inside heel to your outside leg.<br /><br />Circle at E or B so you have to use your outside leg. If you don't your horse can do whatever he likes with his body.<br /><br />The most important thing to remember is a horse will copy whatever you do with your hands with their head, neck and shoulders. Lift, drop or move your hands apart and the same will happen in front of your saddle! Fascinating and true. <br /><br />I hope this helps. Let me know how you go. :) LorraineAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10322496275100753654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3245952445455454984.post-33652974785515455912011-07-02T04:49:41.993-07:002011-07-02T04:49:41.993-07:00Now this is genius. I've been using this on my...Now this is genius. I've been using this on my 6yo for a week now & all tension is starting to disappear. He's no longer spooking at nothing & working much better & more consistently. THANK YOU!!!<br /><br />I have a similar question as the comment above. When we practise dressage tests, simple things like cantering on a circle, my horse tends to bend to the outside & fall in a bit, and even in trot he occasionally goes a bit bridle lame. Am I hanging onto his mouth too much? He's a sensitive horse, but does often ignore my leg or lean on it (hence him falling in), would you have any suggestions to correct this?<br /><br />Thank you again!! Tor xtorabellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11175579611843744331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3245952445455454984.post-77449905789558444072011-05-04T07:58:41.819-07:002011-05-04T07:58:41.819-07:00Hi Claire, thanks for your question. I’ve been luc...Hi Claire, thanks for your question. I’ve been lucky enough to have had a few ex racehorses over the years and I love them. They’re not without their difficulties of course but that’s TBs for you!<br /><br />It sounds to me as if your horse needs to find his confidence with a rider on top. The quicker he finds it the sooner he’ll establish some sense of balance. It might help if you do your canter work slightly up off his back just until he settles down a bit. He’ll be used to that position so it’s one less thing for him to worry about.<br /><br />With any young or green horse I tend to cut off the corners on the short sides to make it easier to get round and I circle in the middle of the school which allows me to make the circle that bit wider if I need to. I’ll ride a circle and then go once large, then circle again to keep things simple but varied.<br /><br />Race horses, especially flat racers, depend a lot on the bit to balance. Watch any finish and you’ll see that the best way to stop one is to drop your reins and drop the horse onto its forehand. I’ve found this can work in your favour as you re-school.<br /><br />With other types you’d be pushing them to take more weight on their hocks but I’ve always allowed an ex-racehorse to become fairly heavy in my hand until I gain their trust. As they start to get more confident the rushing tends to disappear and then you can work on moving more weight back to the hocks.<br /><br />You may well throw your hands up in horror but I’ve always ridden mine in a straight bar snaffle with flash to actively encourage them to ‘sit’ on the bit. (A standing martingale also works wonders if you are still at the upside down head stage.) I can honestly say it was the quickest way I found to get a horse settled and in my hand. There’s nothing worse than a nervous, unbalanced horse which is capable of 40mph!<br /><br />Race horses are used to spending hours in canter. That’s far more normal than short bursts. Get off his back, keep a firm contact on his mouth so he can lean on you if he feels unbalanced and set your stop watch for five minutes. As you’re cantering count strides from 1 to 4 and keep at it. It’s a strange thing to do but somehow it sets up a rhythm for you without you having to think about it. You keep counting and the rest sorts itself out. (It has to be 4 - 3 or 5 don’t work!)<br /><br />I hope something here helps, Claire, but it’s an interesting question with a whole load of answers. These are things I’ve had success with but all horses are different. Feel free to come back and discuss.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10322496275100753654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3245952445455454984.post-75485962897850878332011-05-04T05:55:09.385-07:002011-05-04T05:55:09.385-07:00Hi Lorraine,
I too was taught this technique many...Hi Lorraine,<br /><br />I too was taught this technique many years ago - I used to get told off for doing it in college lessons, however, for training youngters at home and even for the older more 'established' horses it is the best way to steady and slow pace.<br /><br />My query to you is - what is the best way to teach a very long legged 5 year old T.B (Ex. race horse)to canter in the school without feeling the need to rush when he becomes unbalanced? He is very good at cantering on the lunge (he lunges in a de-gogue) but in the school we find it hard to create a balanced canter. Any suggestions greatly appreciated.<br /><br />Thanks, Claireclairehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05969682926089315428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3245952445455454984.post-37489815321745330552011-01-07T07:27:44.509-08:002011-01-07T07:27:44.509-08:00Thanks, it's one of the best things I've e...Thanks, it's one of the best things I've ever been taught.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10322496275100753654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3245952445455454984.post-34892334851584064032011-01-07T06:34:22.051-08:002011-01-07T06:34:22.051-08:00Great stuff. :)Great stuff. :)Lianehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13364008453957945466noreply@blogger.com