Developing Cadence, Suspension and Expression

[Rachel C.]

Hi!

I'm interested in any ideas people have (and particurlarly Heather) in increasing the suspension and expression to my horses way of going. I am going to attatch a couple of photos just so you can see what I am talking about.

Ferdie is not generally impressed with dressage work, and really prefers to be out jumping cross country, but he is quite willing, and he doesn't go at all badly. He is very good moving forward from the leg, and his transitions are very precise, he is working generally on a horizontal way (ie. not very downhill, but not uphill either) and considering he is definitely built downhill I am pleased with this. He bends very well on one rein, but is a bit stiff on the other, however we are getting over that with plenty of different circling at turning excercises.

Whilst Ferd works quite consistently forwards into the contact, and works in a reasonable outline, he doesn't really spring off the ground, and he isnt as expressive as I'd like him to be.

Any Ideas for increasing suspension, cadence and expression will be gratefully received!!

This first photo is trot on the left rein...

[Rachel C.]

This is trot on the left rein, his more supple rein....

[Rachel C.]

And one extra fuzzy canter picture!

[Sue Carnell]

Hi Rachel,

Firstly, what an absolute sweetheart your horse is in the pics. I think he looks a really lovely, genuine chap.

Now my opinion from just a couple of pics, so I could easily have got it wrong. He looks to me as though he thinks he knows what he's supposed to be doing, so he's doing it. Very tense, especially in his jaw, it gives him the appearance of being quite stiff. He may also have a pelvis problem, he doesn't seem to be very supple in the hip, or to have much behind the saddle.

Purely from the pictures, I would have his pelvis, shoulder and poll checked and the muscles between his forelegs (well, everything I suppose!). I would recommend Bowen to help relax him. He looks very tight and tense. I think that the suspension and expression you're looking for would come from his relaxation, not from pushing him on, or working him more. He is a little upright in the shoulder and close in the elbow, which would make it harder for him. I'd go for improving suppleness and relaxation and take what I got from that, rather than worrying about 'impulsion'.

Hope this helps, even if I'm totally wrong. Please do take into account that it's very difficult to tell from a couple of pictures?

Sue Carnell
sue@eclipse.co.uk

[ros]

This is very topical for me, as Merlin has been having chiropractic treatment for some months now.

Hope Rachel doesn't mind me saying this, but my first impression of the pics (leaving aside the fact that Ferdie has a lovely genuine expression as Sue says :) ) was that he looks tense behind the saddle and doesn't seem to be using his back as well as he might. And of course any such tension would explain why his movement might be lacking in expression.

I'm no expert, obviously, but Merlin's treatments are certainly making me think a whole lot more about the way he goes, what makes him tick, and what I expect of him. We've found quite a lot of muscle tension here and there - some, we think, a direct result of a slip he had last year, but other problems that are probably historical. Like the layers of an onion, you peel off one layer and there's another underneath. Merlin appears to be his own worst enemy - he's very laid back in some ways, but he can also be quite highly strung and nervy in others, and his way of dealing with problems both physical and psychological seems to be to clamp up; it's because he's so big and strong that he can actually do that, but it means it's difficult to get him to relax physically, and we think he's got some longstanding deep muscle tension that still needs to be addressed. We're going to try acupuncture.

Sorry this is a bit long, but it's amazing what you find when you start to look under the surface. It's been said that riding a horse is pretty much an exercise in damage limitation, and I suspect there aren't many horses out there who couldn't be helped and improved in *some* way by this kind of therapy, however careful and conscientious we are as owners.

[Heather]

I would agree absolutely with everything Sue and Ros have pointed out, Rachel.

Ros, Mike Aylmore had constantly thought that Henry had something stil not right with his back despite all sorts of treatments. He never seemed to build up over his topline, despite working to medium level and having always had a holistic HM saddle of Barry's.

He has come across the best ever chiropractor, Mark ? - can't remember his surname-he is actually a qualified GP! He has treated Henry now over a few months, and his musculature has changed out of all recognition. Mark has even offered to sponsor Mike and Henry for competition expenses this year. Mike says that he has made enormous differences to other horses he has been working with. He apparently found something out behind the saddle in Henry ( not surprising the way he used to buck round the field like a bronco, and wasn't avers to putting in a few under saddle- bit of a boyo Henry!) that none of the others had found.

He is prepared to come down here to do clinics too, so if anyone is interested, in the Devon area, let me know and I will arrange for him to come down.


Heather

[Rachel C.]

Yes, this is what I have always thought with him, that he is tight behind the saddle.

He has had the chiropracter out twice, the last time about a month ago, I cant even remember the name of the bloke!! He was another qualified GP though. But he came to us highly reccomended by various people.

Anyway, the first time he visited Ferdie was very very tight around the wither area (due to badly fitting saddle before we bought him), and his sacro-iliac joint was a bit out of place, his poll wasnt tight though, and the base of his neck was a little tight, but probably due to the tightness in the wither.

As well as the visit, we were given some excercises to do, and these were performed religiously, and then about a month ago, he came again, and the wither was all cleared up, the base of his neck, improved but not quite there yet, and the sacro-iliac was fine as well.

As for his saddle, it was fitted by another well-known reccomended saddle-fitter, and I was told, and from what I can tell, it fits very nicely. As it is synthetic it is evenly stuffed, and hasnt developed lumps or anything like that.

I do find him sometimes tight in the jaw, he is also a bit dry in his mouth, I dont think this is helped by my horror-hands, which I must keep concentrating on to make sure I dont get to heavy with them. He is very underdeveloped behind the saddle, but it has and is building up behind there - earlier pictures of him show even less, and his hindquarters used to be awfully thin, plus he was almost ewe necked back then.

I am hopefully going to get the chiropracter out again soon, but if we consider that he is about right in his physical health, what kind of excercises would you recommend to develop his relaxation and suppleness, partucularly through his back and jaw? I know certainly that I need to work on my contact - I ALWAYS need to work on my contact, making it more consistant, but still light.

Anyway I'll attatch another photo or two.. this one is of canter, right rein. A good example of my awful hands!!

[Rachel C.]

For comparison - this is one of him late august, (5 months ago) I think he looks more stiff and tense here, would you agree?

[cvb]

ooo - feel a bit wary commenting in such august company....:eek:

If you had to rate the 'weight' in your hands out of a 0-10 scale, what would it be ?

Just wondering whether asking him to take a bit more responsibility for his front end might help with some lightness and expression ?

What happens when you work on a long rein ? Again its tough to tell from a photo (thats my get out ;) ) but I wondered whether you were trying to put it all together yourself, and may be trying too hard ? (Doing this will also make it more difficult for you to work on your hands etc, so there could be more than one benefit to be had.).

If any of this rings bells, then you could try doing some long rein work (but not all the time, don't want him to go downhill, on forehand etc etc), give and retake of reins. Spiral in and out on a circle and do lateral work but check that you are working inside leg into outside hand and not trying to move him across with your hands and body. (You try picking up half a tonne of horse - it aint gonna happen !). If necessary, give away the inside rein now and again.

When you do long rein work, you can use poles on the ground to encourage him to think for himself and stay focussed rather than switching off. Try things like walk to halt on a buckle end, or turning corners on a buckle end - how tuned in to your other cues is he ?

If I have got the wrong end of the stick - ignore all of above :D

[Cathy Reynolds]

If you can get them to come over to you try Martin at www.holistichorsehealth.co.uk
and get some light treatment in to him. He looks a lovely horse but terribly tense to me - but then what would I know?

[Rachel C.]

CVB - I'm not sure how to rate at out of ten, but I would say that I find myself having to drop the contact because he is heavy so that he takes his own responsibilty, so yes, i guess that means he can get quite heavy in the hands 7 maybe??

I think at times I do try to get it all together myself - I really shouldnt get impatient, but sometimes I find myself trying to push and pull him into the right shape, but usually If I do that he throws a tantrum, perhaps I'm doing that more than I realise.

He is very tuned in to transitions, up and down, from legs and slowing from the seat, but he is very difficult to turn just from the seat, he will even go canter to walk on a long rein, with just weight/seat aids.

When out hacking I do lots of long rein work, and leg yielding (which he is very good at) and some shoulder in, which again he picked up very easily - I think thats because he is generally so eager to please. CVB, what happens when I drop my contact isnt all that bad, but possibly it does tend to go a little more downhill, but not awful, and he stretches down a little in trot and canter, and he stretches right out in walk.

Cathy the light treatment sounds very interesting.. have you had any experience with it?

[cvb]

Hi Rachel

I was not sure from your original post whether you wanted examples of exercises,or clues/concepts. Sounds like you have plenty of ideas of your own and just need some feedback more generally :)

The idea of scoring the weight in your hand - you can use it while you are riding and then when he starts to feel like a "7" weight, deliberately make your response much lighter i.e. go for a 6 instead. It may sound odd but its a good way to stop both of you accepting the heaviness.

I know it feels a bit weird to start rating something like that (you are using a different side of your brain normally to ride), but it's not like anyone is going to test your answer scientifically :D !

It can be quite a useful way to think of e.g. the speed you are going at, the weight in each hand, or each seatbone, leg etc.

[ros]

I'm having to restrain myself quite firmly here :) I'm itching to suggest that you try the good old rubber Pelham, but in this case I'm not absolutely sure.

I think the feel it gives you could very well help you use your hands better and stop that heaviness creeping in, and I also think it would help Ferdie relax in his jaw, which would have the knock-on effect of allowing him to relax through his back - or at least it wouldn't encourage him to tense as so often seems to happen with the snaffle. However, given the fact that he's a little upright in his shoulder, as Sue pointed out, and because from what you say he seems to be a little too reliant on that heavier contact at the moment, I wonder if it might be more likely to make him overbend?

Sue? Heather?

[Rachel C.]

Ros - I do have a rubber pelham lying around which I used on my old pony, and I can try it out soon perhaps - if Heather/Sue thought it a good idea!!

But anyway, Ferdie seemed slightly unsound today, I started in the school, and on the right rein he was sound, but on the left rein (his stiffer rein anyway) he was slightly lame. Then when trotted up on a hard surface his left fore was not quite right. Anyway, there is no heat, swelling or cuts that anyone can find on his leg, and no heat in his hoof, so I'm going to have a chiropracter out as soon as possible to check out his shoulder/inbetween his legs in particurlar.

The question is do I get the more local reasonable man, or should I trailer Ferd 1 hour away so that Tex Gamble can see him???

Advice please on what to do, and what might be wrong ??

Thanks, Rachel

[Sue Carnell]

Hi Rachel,

A quick reply, whilst I'm cooking Sunday dinner. :)

90% of lameness is in the foot, so I would have that checked first if I were you. Easy enough for vet or farrier to apply hoof testers to check it out.

Rubber pelham with the elastic curb and read Heather's book, or 'kinder way' on this website, so that you know how to use this equipment most effectively and with sensitivity to teach him to relax his jaw and help improve your hands, would be my recommendation, especially as you already have one. You can always put him back in his snaffle if you have any problem with it.

See how it goes and then follow that up with chiropractor/physio type of work, as you don't have any serious problems (bucking etc) and have time to decide on the best options for you both.

Good luck!

Sue
sue@eclipse.co.uk

[Rachel C.]

THe pelham was left over from riding EE on my pony, I found EE in general really worked for her, but somehow my hands have just gone downhill and Ive got lazy since, - although I can still sit the trot nicely :D

About his lameness - although I will have him checked out by a vet (hopefully tomorrow), from what the few reliable people who have seen him trot up, they reckon it looks more like something around that shoulder, than leg or hoof, by the way he is lame only when turning on the left rein, he is still very sound on the right rein, and recently in his lengthened strides he has stretched out with one leg, but not the other.

Heather is Mark (?) available to come out and visit yards, as there are a number of riders at my yard who may be interested. If you could PM with his number possibly that would be great!

Rachel

[Sue Carnell]

Hi again,

Another quick reply. :)

He has changed a lot from the before pics (well done). Looks as though he's still in the same saddle though? Perhaps another saddle check if he's just going short when ridden and only on one rein?

Cheers.

Sue
sue@eclipse.co.uk

[Remmy]

Hi Rachel,

Did you get my PM?

Vicki

[galadriel]

Oooh, big difference in the before & after pics. Wonderful job so far!

[Heather]

Sue cooking Sunday lunch? Blimey!!

I personally would try Ferdi in a hard ruber Pelham with elastic curb chain. If you haven't a copy of my book, try to borrow one as it tells you precisely how to use the bit.

If he softens to the contact, as I a pretty certain will happen, back it up with your leg and try to get the trot swinging forwards, really concentrating on rhythm. He will most likely offer a trot that you will never have felt him capable of before, as the tension in his jaw will go in the pelham, and you shoudl be able to leavhis head alone completely and concentrate on rhythm and forwardness, not outline. That will more or less look after itself, once the jaw and poll are relaxed.
It is rare that a horse does not respond well in the pelham. You can the put him back ikn the snaffle once he has realised what you want of him, and wil remain relaxed an soft int the jaw and poll.


Let us know how you get on if you do try it.

The GP chiropractor I am sure is in your area- his name is Mark but can't remember his surname- wil find out!


Heather

[Rachel C.]

Yep - I have the book, I have the hard rubber pelham, I have no elastic curb (yet) but I'll see if I can order one by the time he's sound again.

In the meanwhile I have a furry aged 14-2hh to ride! Possibly the most laterally stiff pony in the world, he really is like a rod of metal, probably due to having no schooling for 8 years!! but he is desperately sweet!

Rachel

[Sue Carnell]

No Heather, not Sunday lunch, far worse than that, Sunday Dinner, the full monty, it was just before Corrie! ;)

I wondered whether you'd pick up on that one. :D

Sue
sue@eclipse.co.uk

[virtuallyhorses]

Just a quick thought, I haven't read all the long replies so please excuse me if I am repeating someone else... have you considered working over poles and cavaletti? He could just have a TB type 'grasscutter' stride by nature (very efficient for covering ground fast) and has not 'learned' to bounce (bend his joints) and push himself into the air.

Try a few poles down one side of the arena (or work area) and then see if you can continue the 'bounce' for the next few strides - if so pat\praise and try again. Don't do too much to start with of course, but perhaps your horse just has no clue that this is the way you want him to move :)

[Lucy J]

i was just reading this thread and thinking about my own horse then i got to the 'grasscutter TB' bit and thought, yep, sounds like my horse! she will shorten and lengthen at trot and has the lovliest paces in the field when exited, but when ridden she is very 'flat' and can be quite tense/nose in air. i was thinking about trying the rubber pelham with her as she is in a full cheek jointed fulmen at the moment and really doesn't relax her jaw, but didn't know whether to try it or not. any advice?

also, i will add that trotting poles and grid work really do help her think about placing her feet and encourage her to be springy and lower her head to look where she is going. i change the width of them too, sometimes closer together, sometimes wider to make her stretch. so perhaps you could try lots of this?