Getting his back legs to work

Painting Horses · #1 4th Jul 2007, 09:05 PM

The last show I was at the judge told me that Dartanion & I look really good and we work as a team but she said she wants him to get his back legs under him more. I wanted to ask how she would like me to do that? but she had another class so I didn't hold her up. I've been asking him to back up when ever we stop and I've done figure 8's circles and surpintines but I can't tell/ don't know if he is under him. Can someone tell me what to do to get his back legs under him? Thank you so much!!

vimto92 · #2 4th Jul 2007, 09:19 PM

You want lots of energy, but to contain the energy through the bridle if you get me, you need some give in the reins though and half halt is probably the best thing to do.

So lots of transitions, even if they are just for a stride... like trot-trot-trot-walk-trot, anything to make him use that rear end more effectively.

ETA Use polework to make him stretch and be careful with his back legs and improve his stride. Lateral work to engage rear end (leg yield, turn on the forehand etc)

Painting Horses · #3 4th Jul 2007, 09:58 PM

Thank you! We'll work on that today when it cools down . I found some pics of him. I'll post them and maybe YOU can tell me if he's got his back legs under him. I know I look horrible I don't know what I was doing. I'm not that bad a rider I swear lol

http://www.castroequestrian.com/phot...ewImage=256434

http://www.castroequestrian.com/phot...ewImage=256437

http://www.castroequestrian.com/phot...ewImage=256437

connieD · #4 4th Jul 2007, 10:33 PM

what a lovely boy!

photos are lovely, the only reason i can see she would say hes not going from behind is that he appears to not quite be tracking up and the triangle between his front legs is slightly larger than the rear one. if he goes forward a bit more that may improve, it certainly does not look bad, you make a lovely picture together!

ditto vimto92 - pole work will help as will using poles rased a few inches off the ground.

i use a pessoa when i lunge her and that has really encouraged her to bring her back end under her.

Painting Horses · #5 4th Jul 2007, 10:41 PM

[QUOTE] (ConnieD) what a lovely boy!

photos are lovely, it certainly does not look bad, you make a lovely picture together!

QUOTE]

*blush* you too nice! ty ty though! You have no idea how much this is helping us

. I don't feel so bad about my "beautiful" leading forward action is the pictures lol. Thank you again

thank you X a million... ok you get the idea lol

Rarah · #6 5th Jul 2007, 06:43 AM

This is something we're working on right now too.

A really good schooling exercise that I've been doing is to go round the school on the inside track. Rather than bend to go round the corners, you do a turn about the forehand, so your horse keeps her front limbs stationery and she just moves her hinds across to turn a right angle. We walk the short side of the arena, but trot the long side, go into trot IMMEDIATELY after the turn about the forehand we trot the long side of the school.

It really works for us. Logic goes off into trot like there's a giant spring under her because she's still concentrating on using her hinds and then she maintains it for the full long side of the school (back into walk for a few strides to do the whole thing again).

We still need to work on consistently maintaining that impulsion though

Painting Horses · #7 5th Jul 2007, 06:55 AM

It was REALLY hot out so I worked on me & him but gave him a break b/c of the heat. I worked on my shoulders (those pics are haunting me) and I we did REALLY well and he was doing a VERY nice trot. However he was bolting into the canter and tossing his head up each time I asked for the canter so we did some circles to get his head down. He did pretty well and we did troting surpin. and he did very well with that today we well . Thanx for the tips!!!