Nice Outline/On the Bit

[marchhare2006]

Hello,

I seem to forever be hearing about riding a horse in an outline or on the bit but I've never been able to do it (except once by accident!). I know that the outline comes from making a horse work from behind, but even when I have a horse really working and tracking up, they still mostly seem to go around with their head in the air! My instructor tells me to 'ask her to lower her head' but I don't know how!

The other day I was riding my sister's horse who has been being schooled by an instructor recently and is apparently able to work in an outline quite well, but you wouldn't know it from the way she was going with me! Where do I start?

[Sammii]

I'm not too sure myself to be honest, i am always being told by Red's old owners that for the 9 years they had him they were never able to get him on the bit or to rein back. Since i have had him in the past what 6 months, i've managed to accomplish both of these without even realising it!

Could someone who knows tell me if i'm right to say that you use your "4th finger" (your engagement and wedding ring fingers) to apply pressure to your horse's mouth to get it to drop it's head?

[RaThEr_Be_RiDiN]

short and sweet advice: transitions transitions transitons !

[Lucyad]

I started a thread on this in training of the horse last week, it got loads of really helpful replies. Have a look and if you cant find it, click on my name and you can get a list of previous posts and/or threads.

[vciky]

Hi there,

It is a real minefield this 'on the bit' business. Many people get so fixated with working on the bit / in an outline without really knowing the importance why or how or being done correctly! (myself included TBH)

After a lot of reading and lessons based on the classical style, here is what I have learnt:p
For a horse to be working truely in an outline, he must be using his hindlegs in a powerful way, tracking up and with his back 'rounded'
The reason why it is GOOD for a horse to work in this way is because with his back rounded it is very strong and much more abale to take a riders wieght. Think of a bridge construction - the rounded top part of a bridge gives it its strength. To work like this the horse must also engage its abdominal muscles in order for the back to round. In theory when the horse rounds its back, the neck automatically arches with the poll being at the highest point.

Where it goes wrong is lack of understanding of how important it is for the horse to be working 'through' i.e from back to front. Some people get so fixed on the head position that they fiddle / use contraptions etc in order to bring the horses head down. This is a false outline as the back is generally hollow, the back legs are not tracking up and therefore the horse is not working properly.

To ask for an outline - well this is the difficult bit LOL!! How I ask is to warm up thoroughly concentrating on rythum and impulsion and lots of transitions!!. The contact needs to be steady and consistent on the outside rein and on the inside rein I give little squeezes to ask for some flexion. I find it easiest to work on circles to start off with. The leg should remain on so the impulsion is not lost and you should aim for a consistent rythym. Once the horse starts to soften you also should soften your contact as a reward - But dont give the contact away!!! Arrrgggghhhh - this is the bit I struggle with - consistency!

You can also take your hands a little wider and lower to start off with to 'show' the horse what you are asking, but again be careful you are not pulling him into it! The correct outline will differ with each horse dependent upon the stage of training, and as it is hard work for the horse giving plenty of breaks on a long rein will help to prevent your horse becoming over tired and stiff.

You can also practice exercises such as giving the inside rein to make sure the horse inst leaning or to work round and down (NOT ROlkur:eek: ) Which encourages the horse to really stretch through the back and will improve his suppleness and strength.

My Mare, being a friesian, has quite a high head carriage so we are doing lots of stretching work to help he relax through the back and neck. This is her at a recent competition, you can see she still needs to relax a bit but still a big improvement from head right up in the air LOL!.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a269/Vicky_Whitlock/antsjetest.png

This is at a Training day - you can see her neck is much more relaxed and looks longer - I wish I could do this more often!!!
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a269/Vicky_Whitlock/antsje.jpg

[Darcys-girl]

After 18 months of hard work I have finally managed to get my boy on the bit. It is not good to ask with your 4th finger especially in a dressage test easly noticed. You need to ask with your legs. Once the horse is working well and is flexable (if you do lots of circles while leg yielding so you cover 2-3 tracks to get flex your horse should start to think about bringing his/ her hind legs under him/ her take time with this practice over a month or so) you can start to ask for the horse to bring the hind legs under the body by taking up contact and pushing the horse into your hands with your lower leg but use your seat/ body aids (i.e sit up and brace your upper body) for stop at the same time. This does take time to perfect so your horse understands it does not mean tank off round the school with head in the air!! (Happend to many so many times). Your horse should start to drop his/ her head after a couple of sessions. Start in walk and then move through the rest of the paces gradually it is a lot to ask for your horse to change its body very fast.
Have fun!:)

[jenren!!]

Well i wouldnt say there is a particular 'method' of getting a horse 'on the bit'. It depends on the horse. The principles are however the same, the horse must be working from behind first. I would write an essay on why but a cup of tea would be in order to help but the kettle isnt boiled :rolleyes:...anyway, with my horse, she is quite argumentative so you cant go ragging at her mouth or see-sawing, doesnt work. Instead, if i squeeze with my legs and half-halt on my outside rein, she flexes well. However, if i use my legs she tends to come into a natural outline. She never used to do. This is because i have done lots of transitions, circling and general schooling and she has developed a nice topline. This makes it alot easier for her to flex so i dont have to encourage her. You have to work on the back end. Some horses dont get the jist and even though they are working from behind they dont know they are meant to flex and dont know they are finally able to do it. They cant read our minds remember. This is where gentle encouraging with the outside rein comes in.

Just remember some horses find it very hard to do it whether they are developed or not. Some have weak conformation and have been schooled in a way where muscles have been developed in the wrong places. Your horse will tell you what works only a good rider will feel this and adapt their methods to suit the horse.

I hope this helps :)

Jenny xx

[Herbie's mummy]

Hiya :)
Yes lots of transitions :)
also as you are holding the reins wiggle your fingers, engorging the head to go down , but not toooooo much, when the horse does as it is told give a little on your reins so she gets rewarded :)
There is a bit called the wilkie snaffle, while it IS still a snaffle it gives a slight bit of poll preassure, engorging the head to go down
It looks like this:
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/sophiesgorgeguinnies/acacacac.jpg

BUT do not rush into any thing take it slow :)
It does take a while but the results are good :D

[Skyhuntress]

I'll try to give you a visual image.


First of all, you are on the right path in at least saying that you know the energy needs to come from the hind. Many riders seem to think its from the hands, and its the furthest thing from the truth. HOWEVER, with a green horse who has never done this, your hands and contact with the bit are most definately needed.

When I was clinicing with one of the dressage trainers, he told the girl to think of the bit and contact as a flexible wall. It needs to bend and flex with the horse, but it needs to be THERE as a barrier that is forever present. When you're riding, ride with a medium contact and kind of ...spunge the reins. You don't want to be see-sawing, but you want to have a nice, even contact that keeps the horse active and forward but in check that he's not running.

Transitions are wonderful. Keep in mind though, again, that you need to ride a transition from the hind end. You can't just pull on the reins.

Also remember that this is probably a new thing for him too-if he can get it for 3-4 strides, praise him! :)