A couple of questions regarding schooling

[MadMumInKent]

Hello everyone :)

I had a lovely schooling session on Tally this morning, we did lots of transitions, and I backed up everything with voice commands, which he seems to understand really well. I'm trying to get him working in an outline (not achieved it yet!) hence doing lots of transitions, trying to get him working properly. Anyway, this isn't my question.

What I want to know is how you correctly ask for rein back - I've always thought it was squeeze with the legs and pressure on the reins at the same time, but either I've got it completely wrong, or Tally just doesn't know how to do it, which seems odd as he's extremely well schooled. When working with him on the ground, he's excellent at moving backwards - all I have to do is say 'back' and off he goes! But I tried that when riding him and I got nothing.

The second question is regarding cantering - I know the aids - ask on a bend, outside leg behind the girth, inside on the girth etc etc, but I don't seem able to make my aids clear enough for him, and although we get there eventually, its not spot on, and I feel like I'm confusing him. Or maybe he just doesn't want to canter! (I do wonder about this since when I asked for canter the first time he put in a little buck for me, but I did get it eventually). I do feel like I'm not giving him clear aids though - any advice for making it a little clearer to him? I had this problem with Zip, my old loan horse, which makes me think its my problem, not Tally's.

Other than that, things are going brilliantly! I went out on a hack the other day, my YO came with me on foot to make me feel more confident, and while out, a Jaguar (fighter plane, not animal!) came roaring over really low, made sooooo much noise, and Tally didn't flinch! We also came head on with 3 tractors in all, and he was so laid back!

Anyway, if anyone has any suggestions regarding rein back, and my confusing canter aids, then I'd be most grateful :)

Thanks!

Jo

[Drummers mum]

I'm going to be no use at all here but I just wanted to say I'm glad things are going well and you are having fun! :D

Regards canter, it is my ongoing problem with Drummer but all of it is my fault. Make sure you aren't throwing your reins away so all the energy goes out the front door. Try a half halt just before to make sure he has enough spring in his step! If he doesn't get it first time calmly circle and try again.

Can you ask your YO to watch you, she might see whats going wrong.

See, told you I'd be no help!

[MadMumInKent]

Thanks Em :) Yes, I'll ask the YO to watch me next time - unfortunately she wasn't around yesterday when I was riding.

I was looking forward to giving Tally some pampering this morning, I bought some new shampoo for greys, a conditioner for his mane and tail, but its chucking it down, so I'll leave him to become even more filthy in his field ;) Hopefully it will clear up by this evening.

[eventerbabe]

why not book some lessons? i couldn't really say what was wrong with your aids without having seen you ride. please don't get obsessed with outlines. its not the be all and end all. its much more important that the horses "engine" (back end) is working properly and that he isn't hollowing or resisting.

as for rein back, you need to be squeezing very gently with both legs slightly behind the girth and have lightened your seat slightly. your hands are there purely to prevent any forward motion. you should aim for a gentle squeeze on each reverse step. and remember, you want each pair of diagonal legs, so to speak!, stepping back together, you don't want a disorganised shuffle. good luck! :)

[Trewsers]

CAn't offer any advice on rein back or cantering (cos I'm not brilliant at cantering myself :p ) but just wanted to say how glad I am for you that its going well - sounds like you're doing fine. Tally sounds like he's just the right horse for you :D By the way, echo about getting some lessons if you can - OH and I have lessons twice a week and its really helping us as we've not had our horses that long.

[*toHorse&Away*]

Glad is going well for you.

Your Horse mag had a good article on cantering this month (or was it last month - I was a bit late getting it) - you might want to check out the exercises.

Good luck :D

[horseyrose]

Glad things are going so well with Tally, he sounds great! :D As eventerbabe said don't worry too much about outline, work on getting him forwards and stepping through properly and it will come. Your rein back aids sound pretty much right, again eventerbabe has clarified them very well.

I think getting your YO to watch is a very good idea, it can be quite tricky to know what's going on from the saddle. It's hard to advise about canter without seeing you but here are a few pointers:
- Make sure you're asking from a nice active trot
- If you don't get the canter, go back to rising trot, rebalance and then ask again in the next corner. Don't let the trot rush.
- Keep an even contact so that you contain the energy
- Could you be tipping forwards? This is something I'm terrible for and it makes the transition a lot harder (and pushes the horse on to his forehand). Have you tried walk to canter? I find it a lot easier (and it proves that the problem lies with me!)
- Could he just be being lazy? Does he canter out on hacks? If you ascertain that you are applying the aids clearly enough and not doing anything to prevent the transition then you can tap him up with a stick.

I've really rambled on, hope this helps a bit!

[MadMumInKent]

Thanks for all your pointers :)

I have had the most amazing evening with Tally! When I got to the yard, the YO saw me and came out, and watched me ride. She saw where I was having trouble, said my aids weren't definate enough, and I'm letting him get away with murder, he was basically taking the P big time! He put in another couple of bucks this evening when I tried to get a canter out of him.

Then she asked if she could ride him, and she rode him beautifully! I was amazed, it was so lovely to watch. He was doing a lovely extended trot, he was in a wonderful outline, she got him to canter really well, she did some leg yielding on him, rein back, all kinds of stuff, she said he's lovely to ride. He's a really clever little horse, he's got the knowledge, its just making him use it.

So then I had another ride on him, took all her tips to heart, and he went lovely for me :) I got him to rein back, I got canter from walk, canter from trot... I came home with a massive grin on my face :) I am really going to work on this with him, make sure I don't let him take the mickey anymore, really school him and make him use his brain, and even get to grips with some dressage on him.

I can't believe how much FUN THIS IS!!! :D :D Its like all of a sudden I'm starting to understand him! :)

I'm aiming to get our partnership to a level where we can do some little local shows by the end of the year :eek:

[DITZ]

i was going to offer you some solutions but looks like you figured it out.

Glad its going well for you both and that you are enjoying it.

[Cool Rider]

well done sounds like a fab lesson :)

[horseyrose]

Fantastic!! I love reading your posts, you always sound so happy!

[MadMumInKent]

Thankyou everyone, and thankyou HorseyRose - I AM happy :) Its a mixture of a life long dream coming true, and having a thing of my own, my own interest, if you see what I mean. I go to the yard, and all my worries and stresses of the day just melt away.

[Kanuma]

well done on sorting your problems! i find that natives do take the P if they think they can get aeay with it!!
sounds like you have a good YO as well.
goodluck with tally

[*toHorse&Away*]

Aw, thats lovely
I go to the yard, and all my worries and stresses of the day just melt away.

Glad you have found the solution. Smart horses can be just too smart at times - if they know all the clever stuff, they know how to, as you put it - take the "p" as well ;)
Sounds like a smashing fella.
You are doing wonders!!! :D

[cazrider]

Fantastic its going so well Madmum :D

I too have a lovely native who takes the P, and also have issues with canter, so I have read with interest people's ideas on here. :)

[NoviceNic]

Brilliant Mad Mum. Tally sounds like Captain, he knows his stuff but will be lazy if allowed. I can rarely get Captain to canter on the correct leg so we have learnt the art of flying changes. Absolutely amazing feeling. I thought he was putting in little bucks until I noticed he was then on the correct leg. Could Tally be doing the same???