Spanish walk

[ann marie]

I am teaching my horse the Spanish walk. She picks both front feet up alternatively now when asked by touching he front legs lightly with a whip and she also does it when walking at every third stride. We stop I ask for right leg pick up then move on three stride and ask for left pick up by taping each leg or sometimes even when someone else just points a whip at her legs while I ride her. The problem is she either stamps her foot just in front of her (paws the ground) or holds her leg up folded under her (bent at the knee with her hoof touching where the girth goes under her. How do I proceed to get her to stretch her legs out in front ???

Ann

[Torny]

I was working on the same thing with my mare tonight. She is just coming out of the paw/stomp stages. You need to encourage her to walk and lift the leg. Are you tapping the front of the leg?

With enough forward momentum, she should not bend leg back but forwards. it may be a bit of a stomp at first, but it all takes time and practice ;) When she does something right, stop, click/reward and don't do it again. ;) As that directly pin points the desired movement.

Sometimes you may need to tap a bit harder to get a more energetic reaction. She may swish her tail and flick her ears, but if you click/reward if she flicks out her leg as well, she'll get the jist. Then you will be able to work on going back to a more suttle quieter aid. (don't whack her though, not that you will) ;) As she improves, she will sit back on her haunches more and lift a little at the front end. ;)

PLEASE REMEMBER.warm up you horse first and help with some stretch excercises. The Spanish Walk is very demanding and it can cause great strain on the shoulder and leg muscles if done incorrectly and/or persistantly. Bare in mind, like us, we need our muscles to learn to strenghten and stretch slowly. Avoiding damage and injury, :rolleyes:

All the best,
Lx

[ann marie]

Thanks for your reply.

I usually try a few steps after schooling her - I will try to keep her walking forward instead of stopping at each third step.

She is an Andalusian and picking her legs up seems natural to her.

She is so quick to learn anything I often have a problem with her anticipating what I am going to ask her to do next. Sometimes when riding her if I ask her to stand, as soon as she stops she tries lifting legs, backing up, and some lateral movements that she knows before I even ask for them, so I have to stop her, get her attention then ask again for what I want her to do. I have even known her to start lifting a front leg up when I ask her to stop during lunging if she thinks the whip is pointing at her legs.

If we get around to dressage I think I will let her read the test paper Im sure she would remember it better than me !!!!!

She is not quite five yet so I have plenty of time.
She is so lovely and clever, I realy enjoy owning her.
........... Ann Marie

[Torny]

;) She sounds fabulous!! In fact, from what you say, she is VERY EAGER to please you, thats why she keeps trying all the different movements. Hispanic horses are very intelligent animals and need a lot of mental stimulation! So teaching her tricks and movements will be a big game to her :cool:

She is only wee still, my mare is about 6 now. :D

LOL. Defo looks like she would enjoy reading the dressage test! :p Hey, at least you would actually have to just sit and look pretty!!! :p :D Alas, it is truly a 50/50 work out. :rolleyes:

All the best, would love to hear how you both progress!!! :D

x