How much leg?

[Jo]

Hi

I am re-reading Heather's book and it makes a lot more sense second time around (it made sense first time but i was too green to carry out the advice!) I'm amazed at the difference by squeezing and vibrating the rein. I had a good lesson on the futility of hauling on the reins, too. I was riding a big, well-schooled Irish draught and I had been squeezing him into my hands all lesson, but at the end my legs were so tired I pulled rather harder on the reins than I should have to slow him down (NOT a haul or a yank, I must add). The result was that he went faster and instantly resisted, and quite right too!

My question is: how much leg and how can I stop myself niggling the horse and making him switch off when I really want to create impulsion? I am often told to use more leg and I don't thump the horse's sides but I do overwork and sometimes find the horse has switched off.

[floppy]

hehe sorry ntohing to do wit hyoru question btu how much is heathers book? i been hearing alot about it im starting to think mayeb i should read it too

[Jo]

I bought it through a book club so paid slightly less than cover price but I believe it is £13.99 - and worth every penny!

[lamprellsarah]

if the horse is going forwards nicely, don't start usng your leg a lot other wise they think blow this and switch off. if he's going forward nicely just give hima little squeeze every know and then as if to say keep it up. if the horse is not going forwards, you will have to work until you have him working how you want him, then you can relax a little like a reward.

[Heather]

HI Jo,

Try to use your seat to bring the horse back to you, which will lessen your necessity to use the reins as much.

Read up the use of the saeat in the book, an also re read the chapter on transitions.

It sounds to me as if you need to do lots and lots of transitions with this horse- that way, the quality of the pace is not lost, and will be easier to sit to. Also frequent transitions build up impulsion, whic shoudl then be controlled by the use of the seat.

Don't think 'slow down' in a transition, think 'change pace'. A good transition should flow smoothly from one pace to another, not slow down or speed up, according to whethr it is a change up or down a pace.



Heather

[Jo]

Thanks all,

yes, I do need to allow a horse to swing along, I am always looking for more and must learn when he is giving me enough.

The transition advice I will try tomorrow - I have to admit downward transitions are my worst thing. I don't so much bounce around as go abruptly form one to another - esp. canter to trot. What you said makes sense to me, Heather, and I will re-read the recommended chapters before tomorrow's lesson, which will probably be on a ID/TB cross who frets a lot and hollows and isn't always happy in his mouth, I think. He has lovely paces and I will try the transition thing with him - I've seen him go like a dream for better riders.

I have been trying the downward transition messages with my seat and this has improved my canter/trot transition work. Remarkable how sensitive horses are, isn't it?

[Jo]

Hi

Re-read the chapters from "Enlightened Equitation" and applied what I could remember in the lesson. I rode the IDxTB with some success but as it was a drill lesson and I was sometimes stuck behind a pony it was too frustration. But... and hour later I rode the pure bred ID. He needs a lot of leg, I am told, and I tired going through transitions - it worked. Suddenly, after about 40 minutes (I know, too long...) I relaxed mt shoulders, kept my legs working and hey presto, he was working form behind in a perefct outline. OK, I lost it after a few strides but got it back again in trot and walk several times before the lesson was over. Just a case of picking up where I left off on Monday and remembering the feeling. Thanks for the advice and for the book. I shall read it again tonight!

PS

How long does it take an average rider to get a fairly well schooled horse working properly? It's taken me 2 years! Ouch!