Just a little update and probably a few questions!

[SarahC]

Hi all!

Been a while since I last posted an update on me and Spangly so.....

Canter is LOADS better! For those that don't know, I suddenly developed a huge problem with the transition to canter and the more I stressed about it, the worse it got. I've now dropped 2 holes down on my stirrups and the whole canter thing has now started to get much better (after a ton of hard work!). We manage a reasonable transition to canter about 8 times out of 10 now instead of 3 times! Ok, so still not brilliant and the transitions are still only reasonable, but I'm not confusing her so much now and we are actually GETTING the canter. We're also getting lovely controlled canters on 20mtr circles, her balance has really come on leaps and bounds (she wasn't ready for this before as she used to 'scramble' around due to her (and possibly my) lack of balance).

I've also started doing leg yielding with her, which she picked up straight away! But, I've noticed that although she crosses over with her front and hindlegs, moving freely forwards, she is crooked. In the respect that her quarters are always to the inside of the school so we are on an angle. Should I be using my outside rein to control her quarters a little and straighten up? Also, she isn't flexing to the inside...should she be? If so, should I be using my inside rein to create this?

She has been slightly spooky, but boy am I coping better with this now!! A couple of weeks ago, we did some gymkana games in the school and she loved it! Talk about turn on a sixpence! I can't remember going so fast, with so much confidence since I was about 12 (a very long time ago!). Halt to canter was certainly no problem for her!!

Anyway, thats about the latest...and any answers to my leg yielding questions would be appreciated!!

S

[vjoy23]

No help on the leg yielding I'm afraid just wanted to say I'm glad to hear you're having fun together. Hows the hacking going now?

[katefarmer]

It sounds as though she's going over the shoulder and not really giving you a proper leg yield. She should be flexed a little to the inside (if she's not, I can't imagine she's crossing and engaging her hindquarters correctly). You outside rein can be used to lift the outside shoulder back in - but the most important thing is getting the inside hindleg really moving away from your leg laterally.

There are lots of ways of doing this. I like to start it off from the ground - have a look at http://www.harmony-project.net/skin.asp?user=katefarmer&tab=weblogs&fid=0&nextdate=9%2F4%2F2003+7%3A24%3A51+AM&direction=n&bflag=#july03 under "one rein stop". This shows you how to start generating lateral movement on the ground, then moving it up to the saddle. It's like the "baby big picture book" for the horse - all the moves are very exaggerated - but this makes it easy for the horse to understand, and as soon as you get this working and it's easy to refine it.

Once you have the hindquarters "listening", go back to the leg yield, and start it off in walk. Start by leg yielding from the three-quarter line back to the wall of the school. Come off the track just past A or C, and keep the bend that turn gives you. This will be enough. Then, as the inside hindleg comes off the ground, put your inside leg on to step the hindquarters across. I say start in walk because it's much easier to get the timing right when it's slow. Really work on getting your leg in time with the inside hind so you're putting the pressure on as the leg leaves the ground. This will make the horse light and responsive. (The ground and one-rein-stop exercises will help you get the timing too!) When it's working well in both directions, take it up to trot, and do the same.

Good luck!

Kate
www.harmony-project.net

[SarahC]

Hows the hacking going now?
Thanks vjoy...I'm afraid we're all confined to the yard at the moment (long story), so not able to hack out which is a real shame as I'd really started to get my confidence up with it. We're hoping to be 'allowed out' again in the middle of September.

Thanks for the info katefarmer, thats really helped. Someone told me to time the push with my inside leg when the belly is swinging away as this means the inside hind is lifting. Is this correct?
Also, how do you flex to the inside?
Come off the track just past A or C, and keep the bend that turn gives you. This will be enough
Aaah...I've been working along the 3/4 line and pushing over to the track, but when I make the turn, i've been straightening her up before starting the leg yield. I'll try keeping the bend though! Never thought of that!

S

[Pudding]

Gymkhana games are so much fun if you have confidence issues......you spend so much time laughing, concentrating on not droppping that potato and enjoying yourself, you forget why you were nervous in the first place........I love them for that reason......and I'm 41 and love getting stuck in with the kids LOL......although I cheat whenever possible :p

X

[katefarmer]

Someone told me to time the push with my inside leg when the belly is swinging away as this means the inside hind is lifting. Is this correct?
S

That's right. You'll also feel it in your seat - as the hind leg comes up, that side of the back dips a little.

Have fun with it!

kate
www.harmony-project.net

[NoviceNic]

Nice to hear you are having fun.