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Post by luckyhorseshoepony on Feb 2, 2012 12:30:26 GMT
right then guys!! what things can i do to help my novice 4 year old lift his back and engage his hind quarters??
i have been doing lots of transitions, trot to halt, halt to trot and same in canter as well as doing a smaller downwards transition for 4-5 steps and the an upwards transition such as trot/walk/trot.....
this there anything else i can do?
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Post by sageandonion on Feb 2, 2012 13:41:46 GMT
Depending on the breed, type and maturity of your horse both in mind and in body, hack go over all types of safe ground and strengthen the muscles and bones. Do most of your work in walk and most of it on a hack.
IMO four is too young for unnatural engagement. Unnatural would be my term to describe schooling exercises whereas the horse will naturally engage himself on the hack to his ability and limitations due to his age but will not injure or stress himself, particularly his joints.
Indirect transitions are strenuous for a youngster, particularly the trot to halt, not good.
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Post by vikki85 on Feb 2, 2012 14:20:17 GMT
Again, depending on breed, maturity etc, if you have mastered leg yielding and he readily moves away from your leg, and he is flexing and bending round corners, etc, you could begin teaching him some basic lateral work such as shoulder-fore in walk, working towards shoulder-in, as this encourages them to step right under with their hind legs. He MAY be a little too young for this, if he's nearly 5 though I think you'd be ok with this exercise
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Post by GinaGeo on Feb 2, 2012 15:06:03 GMT
I agree with the above. Lots of hacking out, and working in a long, low and relaxed outline will encourage the swing through the back and the engagement of the hind quarters, without putting too much strain on him.
Is he a rising four years, or rising five?
That would make a a big difference for me. If rising four he should just be hacking out and learning about the world. He should of course be responive and have a nice soft mouth, but not necessarilly "on the bridle" but it in a more natural and strung out outline.
Use the tranisitions on hacks, just simple ones mainly out of walk. If he's older (rising five), and physically mature enough, then you could start introducing the basic lateral work, and spiralling circles.
I only started the more strenuous transitions, halt to canter, canter to walk etc etc with my horse last year, his eight year old year.
Good luck with him. It's so rewarding bringing babies on right. ;D
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sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
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Post by sarahp on Feb 2, 2012 15:10:12 GMT
Teaching leg yielding (in walk only, to start with) is easier on hacks than in a school. If you have the right width of paths a few steps from one side to the other is simple, they catch on much better than trying in a school.
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Post by sageandonion on Feb 2, 2012 15:54:35 GMT
However, if this is the four year old bargain you are advertising for sale, the one that was backed in January, then none of the afore mentioned lateral exercises are appropriate.
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Post by country girl on Feb 5, 2012 19:40:46 GMT
sounds like he need to develope his top line, and learn to balance and carry himself, loads of hacking up and down hill, some schling and lunging when he is stronger in hs back he will then be able to use his hind quaters and lift his back all 4/5 yrs are the same will not happen over night but will eventually
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Post by shellywell on Feb 8, 2012 13:17:53 GMT
Ground work! Walk him over raised poles FROM the ground. If he is just backed though then hack up and down hills, lots of fun, esp if you're looking to sell him as most people (certainly the people I know) would want a 4 year old that has been started correctly IE given time to mature mentally and come to terms with being ridden, going forwards freely (not held to a contact and "outline" as basically you will end up with a horse "breaking" at another point, usually in front of the wither as they are to immature enough to "lift" and create the engagement, buying a horse that has been forced means that you will have to take it right back to basics and that will take time and knowledge.)
THAT said, if this is a rising 5 year old that is now ready for serious work then all of the above, plus lunging long and low over poles, please build up to this though as it is hard work for horses. Have fun and let us know how you get on. x
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Post by shellywell on Feb 8, 2012 13:19:20 GMT
Should have mentioned, check your tack as the work that you have been doing should have produced some results.
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