clipclop
2nd Apr 2002, 12:40 AM
I am a very firm believer in Heathers methods and have spent a very long time retraining my mare (Age 14) to go in a reasonable outline.
I would like to ask a few questions to see if i am making "correct" progress as my mare is rather difficult.
Firstly I don't agree with the kicking into a hard contact etc. But my mare can be very lazy behind and needs a lot of leg work to persuade her to step under rather that go faster and flatter, so i have to "hold onto the front end and use a lot of leg" (These are the principles which i don't like) firm riding like this is what my mare understands. She doesn't like it at first (ears back swishing tail tossing of her head but i have tried asking her to work into the bridle for herself and she just resorts to lazy tackticks or goes faster and flatter) Once I have her working as I want I leave her well alone and she works lovely. But without all the cohersion beforehand she would plod along or on the other hand go flat out like a racehorse.
Am I doing the right thing? I sometimes wonder.
My mare is a dominant type and naturally stroppy. All things such as teeth and back etc have been checked on a regular basis and all are fine. I have been concentrating over the past year to get her working in a round outline to encourage muscle developemnet and would like her to start coming up a bit more in front now into a more conventional outline. my instructor says I need to bring my hands closer together and slightly higher, is this correct?
I know it is difficult to judge without seeing the horse or knowing her full history but does this all sound as if I am making "Correct progress" Because to me at times it does feel and sound like a bit of the old kick and pull story.
Briefly: My horse is a very strong 16.2 stroppy mare with fantastic natural paces previously done BSJA as a youngster. (Not with me not got the nerve) Can usually take a strong contact and does not respond well to longitudal flexions but responds well to lateral flexions. Needs to develope more neck muscle on top and still loose a bit more underneath.
I have lunged her in a harbridge to encourage her to carry herself and this has helped. Also used the harbridge to do short hacks in walk around an outdoor track, because is is nappy and spooky but is an angel wearing the harbridge and respect the riders wishes. (I am now starting to do without it, it has not been a cure all but it has helped. What do you think of this gadget for this type of horse?
A lot of questions i know, but I would like to know what everyone thinks.
I would like to ask a few questions to see if i am making "correct" progress as my mare is rather difficult.
Firstly I don't agree with the kicking into a hard contact etc. But my mare can be very lazy behind and needs a lot of leg work to persuade her to step under rather that go faster and flatter, so i have to "hold onto the front end and use a lot of leg" (These are the principles which i don't like) firm riding like this is what my mare understands. She doesn't like it at first (ears back swishing tail tossing of her head but i have tried asking her to work into the bridle for herself and she just resorts to lazy tackticks or goes faster and flatter) Once I have her working as I want I leave her well alone and she works lovely. But without all the cohersion beforehand she would plod along or on the other hand go flat out like a racehorse.
Am I doing the right thing? I sometimes wonder.
My mare is a dominant type and naturally stroppy. All things such as teeth and back etc have been checked on a regular basis and all are fine. I have been concentrating over the past year to get her working in a round outline to encourage muscle developemnet and would like her to start coming up a bit more in front now into a more conventional outline. my instructor says I need to bring my hands closer together and slightly higher, is this correct?
I know it is difficult to judge without seeing the horse or knowing her full history but does this all sound as if I am making "Correct progress" Because to me at times it does feel and sound like a bit of the old kick and pull story.
Briefly: My horse is a very strong 16.2 stroppy mare with fantastic natural paces previously done BSJA as a youngster. (Not with me not got the nerve) Can usually take a strong contact and does not respond well to longitudal flexions but responds well to lateral flexions. Needs to develope more neck muscle on top and still loose a bit more underneath.
I have lunged her in a harbridge to encourage her to carry herself and this has helped. Also used the harbridge to do short hacks in walk around an outdoor track, because is is nappy and spooky but is an angel wearing the harbridge and respect the riders wishes. (I am now starting to do without it, it has not been a cure all but it has helped. What do you think of this gadget for this type of horse?
A lot of questions i know, but I would like to know what everyone thinks.