Gingers canter is his weakest pace and we often get comments reference needing more 'jump' to get higher marks. This has now become a sticking point and we have been struggling to get past this problem.
In ever lesson the RI tries to get us to go forward more and he just gets really tight through his back and shuffles. You can actually let the reins drop on his neck and ask for forward and he will not go. I have heard that this is quite common for ex racer horses as they learn a forward canter or gallop and nothing inbetween. He has also taken to curling round my inside leg creating to much bend which then does not allow forwardness then bucks when asked to move. He also drops behind my leg. So lots of issues
Now thing got so bad my RI stripped it right back in last weeks lesson. Firstly in trot I had to make sure he was riding straight and not curled round my inside leg then I was told to let go of the front end take up a loose out side rein and only touch the inside as a quick turning aid if needed to ride off my outside completely. The plan is to get him forward. Once we had forward I was allowed to pick up more outside rein.
I then practice this every time I rode just forward not contact. This was followed with a SJ lesson doing lots of walk to canter. then a fast canter hack with minium contact so he learns he can go forward.
Moving on to todays lesson. He started stuffy as always but started on the canter as above then my RI side time to get on a ride him correctly, I took up the contact as it should be asked canter and up he came. I kept letting my lower legs slip to fair foward and letting my outside arm go straighter. We canter pretty much non stop for 20mins only changing the rein through trot. With lots of reminding by my RI 'bend your outside arm, bring your legs back etc' to canter became quite breath taking. He was off my leg and in front of it he was soft and round over his back and lifting though his shoulder the over all picture was lovely. plus the resulting trot work was amazing again forward and soft and very very powerful. We even managed from extented trot.
We have mirrors in our indoor school and even I could see the difference my leg position made. He is hard work but man it was worth it.
Now if I can get 1/2 that energhy for Saturday RC test I will be very happy.
So after a couple of months of feeling like we have been stuck in a rut I am hoping this is the break through we have been waiting for.
Just wanted to share some positive stuff for once
In ever lesson the RI tries to get us to go forward more and he just gets really tight through his back and shuffles. You can actually let the reins drop on his neck and ask for forward and he will not go. I have heard that this is quite common for ex racer horses as they learn a forward canter or gallop and nothing inbetween. He has also taken to curling round my inside leg creating to much bend which then does not allow forwardness then bucks when asked to move. He also drops behind my leg. So lots of issues
Now thing got so bad my RI stripped it right back in last weeks lesson. Firstly in trot I had to make sure he was riding straight and not curled round my inside leg then I was told to let go of the front end take up a loose out side rein and only touch the inside as a quick turning aid if needed to ride off my outside completely. The plan is to get him forward. Once we had forward I was allowed to pick up more outside rein.
I then practice this every time I rode just forward not contact. This was followed with a SJ lesson doing lots of walk to canter. then a fast canter hack with minium contact so he learns he can go forward.
Moving on to todays lesson. He started stuffy as always but started on the canter as above then my RI side time to get on a ride him correctly, I took up the contact as it should be asked canter and up he came. I kept letting my lower legs slip to fair foward and letting my outside arm go straighter. We canter pretty much non stop for 20mins only changing the rein through trot. With lots of reminding by my RI 'bend your outside arm, bring your legs back etc' to canter became quite breath taking. He was off my leg and in front of it he was soft and round over his back and lifting though his shoulder the over all picture was lovely. plus the resulting trot work was amazing again forward and soft and very very powerful. We even managed from extented trot.
We have mirrors in our indoor school and even I could see the difference my leg position made. He is hard work but man it was worth it.
Now if I can get 1/2 that energhy for Saturday RC test I will be very happy.
So after a couple of months of feeling like we have been stuck in a rut I am hoping this is the break through we have been waiting for.
Just wanted to share some positive stuff for once