heilo
Junior Member
Posts: 71
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Post by heilo on Apr 17, 2012 20:29:07 GMT
As title really. My daughter is doing her first year showing first ridden. She can sometimes keep but most of time not especially in canter. Her hands often flap if she is kicking or not paying attention.
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snowflake
Happy to help....a lot
Posts: 13,399
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Post by snowflake on Apr 17, 2012 20:46:22 GMT
Lessons, lessons, lessons! FR is a crucial stage, & I used to be bad, very "washing line" reins! I had a LR pony where I needed to take up contact because she would 'snatch' the reins, so I learnt there but I improved by having lunge lessons, where you can concentrate on yourself. What also helps if you say, 'feel' along the reins for the pony's mouth. So yes lessons!
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heilo
Junior Member
Posts: 71
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Post by heilo on Apr 17, 2012 21:15:09 GMT
Not sure where to get her lessons. She does not like me teaching her and the person she gets lessons from does not work on it just her position
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Post by nia2311 on Apr 18, 2012 14:59:07 GMT
Not sure where to get her lessons. She does not like me teaching her and the person she gets lessons from does not work on it just her position I would change instructors! A good instructor will work on all aspects of your daughter's riding and horsemanship. Position is important, but not the only aspect. Speak to the instructor about your concerns about her hands, but if he/she has not noticed it, or addressed it, I would be finding someone else. You can find the names of local BHS registered instructors on the BHS website, but the best thing is recommendation by word of mouth. You could put an ad on here in the "wanted" section, state the area you live in and the type of showing you are wanting instruction in, and I am SURE plenty of people will have recommendations. My son has a problem with washing line reins, we have put knots in his reins and bought ones with one side rubber for showing, and we have found these measures have improved his hand position. Obviously you have to take the knots out for showing, but you could put some discreet thread round the reins for the first couple of shows to indicate where her hands should stay. I really think it something that comes with practice and experience and lots of children starting FR have this issue. |
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Post by desktop on Apr 18, 2012 15:08:31 GMT
Not sure where to get her lessons. She does not like me teaching her and the person she gets lessons from does not work on it just her position  Find a new instructor then, a good instructor should concentrate on the whole package not just on the horse/pony  |
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heilo
Junior Member
Posts: 71
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Post by heilo on Apr 18, 2012 18:06:07 GMT
Ok think I will post a wanted ad. We had a bit of a break through today, she kept her hands a still her with enough contact for a outline, most of the time
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Post by stormy007 on Apr 18, 2012 18:20:18 GMT
we use a dressage instuctor for my 5yr old daughter and this pays off
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Post by rubydoo on Apr 18, 2012 18:22:16 GMT
my kids hate it when i try to teach them !
you could try the rubber reins that have coloured pannels ? if there still around ! than you can say take up a contact (red ) and walk on a long rein (blue) for example .
i would get a bhs instructor that is good at teaching kids , try a lesson or 2 and if there not right move on to another . they should be asking what you want to acheive from lessons.
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heilo
Junior Member
Posts: 71
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Post by heilo on Apr 18, 2012 18:32:57 GMT
we use a dressage instuctor for my 5yr old daughter and this pays off The annoying thing is I am a dressage instructor. One of the problems is she hates listening to me, she talks back and goes in a huff when I try. I then get very frustrated with her. I thinks part of her problem is though she is only 8 she in puberty so makes her more like a teenager. I will try a different instructor. She did well tonight because she actually listened to me which is a rare occurrence. |
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Post by nia2311 on Apr 18, 2012 19:49:29 GMT
we use a dressage instuctor for my 5yr old daughter and this pays off The annoying thing is I am a dressage instructor. One of the problems is she hates listening to me, she talks back and goes in a huff when I try. I then get very frustrated with her. I thinks part of her problem is though she is only 8 she in puberty so makes her more like a teenager. I will try a different instructor. She did well tonight because she actually listened to me which is a rare occurrence. Two things - number one, teaching your kids is generally a recipe for getting cross with each other and rarely works, as children have such a different relationship with a parent than with a teacher, so I would give up trying to teach yourself. Two - if you are a dressage instructor, surely you would appreciate that the current instructor should be addressing all riding aspects, including hand position, to be teaching effectively? Do you have any instructor contacts through your own network or through a professional body that you belong to? It sounds to me like you are wasting money on an instructor who is not looking at the "whole package." Also echo Jaimie - the instructor must be experienced teaching children, as techniques used will be different than adults who can concentrate for longer, and who can see "the bigger picture." Ask any future instructor if you can speak to existing clients to see the progress made with their kids, for example. Good luck in finding someone! |
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heilo
Junior Member
Posts: 71
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Post by heilo on Apr 18, 2012 21:23:33 GMT
Yes I know she should be getting the whole package but she is the best option on the yard. The other dressage riders in area are expensive. It's just difficult and more expensive to travel to instructor. However if it's the best for my daughter then I shall do it
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Post by carrie17491 on Apr 18, 2012 22:05:04 GMT
However if it's the best for my daughter then I shall do it How lovely to hear  |
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Post by sageandonion on Apr 19, 2012 10:35:51 GMT
I think the majority of little child slot into the perfect position which I envy until we start asking them to concentrate on this and that and then it goes to pot. I am also unsure of the value of too many form lessons for a little one (this coming from the one that is always declaring lessons, lesson). Little children have such limited concentration and any form of anxiety about getting it right can be negative.
So I would say hacking on the lead, going up and down terrain with a balance strap for security. Races and trot poles in the school, games, round the world and just about anything that is fun, including pony club, and which the child uses their natural balance. Their centre of gravity is different from an adults and is constantly changing as they grow. This is why a child with a good position one mouth can be all over the place the next.
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heilo
Junior Member
Posts: 71
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Post by heilo on Apr 20, 2012 17:54:42 GMT
I think the majority of little child slot into the perfect position which I envy until we start asking them to concentrate on this and that and then it goes to pot. I am also unsure of the value of too many form lessons for a little one (this coming from the one that is always declaring lessons, lesson). Little children have such limited concentration and any form of anxiety about getting it right can be negative. So I would say hacking on the lead, going up and down terrain with a balance strap for security. Races and trot poles in the school, games, round the world and just about anything that is fun, including pony club, and which the child uses their natural balance. Their centre of gravity is different from an adults and is constantly changing as they grow. This is why a child with a good position one mouth can be all over the place the next. I didn't realise that with children growing could cause balance problems so thanks. She goes hacking on beach too off lead, we don't have much terrain changes, she does jumping and pony club and all the fun things as I don't want to make it boring for her. |
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kew
Junior Member
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Post by kew on Apr 22, 2012 19:25:36 GMT
We found a fantastic instructor through a BYRDS training session - she now teaches my 9 year old daughter privately and the difference in her riding in 6 months is unbelievable.
They do mostly flat work but also do some jumps to keep it fun. My daughter learns loads, works hard but is grinning from ear to ear throughout the lesson. Can't ask for more.
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heilo
Junior Member
Posts: 71
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Post by heilo on Apr 24, 2012 22:24:42 GMT
Sounds great, again there are none close by. My daughter has done some BYRDS and got her fledgling squad badge and certificate |
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Post by watchbank on Apr 25, 2012 7:56:42 GMT
Lol bless her i used to have the washing line rein syndrome and my mum always taught me to keep my hands pressed down infront of the saddle and never to remove them and it worked for us
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heilo
Junior Member
Posts: 71
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Post by heilo on Apr 25, 2012 12:23:43 GMT
I've been trying that and it working a bit but she is then tipping forward it's like a vicious circle.
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Post by watchbank on Apr 25, 2012 14:43:13 GMT
I've been trying that and it working a bit but she is then tipping forward it's like a vicious circle. does she ride better with her hands a bit higher than the saddle then? i only usually keep my hands flat down when im coming up the sides but sometimes i need to rise them by a an inch or so.. its totally acceptable at her age though shes just a little one im sure the judge will understand, we have all been there!! |
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Post by stormy007 on Apr 26, 2012 6:52:12 GMT
The annoying thing is I am a dressage instructor. One of the problems is she hates listening to me, she talks back and goes in a huff when I try. I then get very frustrated with her. I thinks part of her problem is though she is only 8 she in puberty so makes her more like a teenager. I will try a different instructor. She did well tonight because she actually listened to me which is a rare occurrence. my daughter is doing really well she off lr for the last year ,won many county shows ,scoring a high dressage mark and jumping 2ft 6 course,give up teaching her yourself as it does not work ,lol i know , Two things - number one, teaching your kids is generally a recipe for getting cross with each other and rarely works, as children have such a different relationship with a parent than with a teacher, so I would give up trying to teach yourself. Two - if you are a dressage instructor, surely you would appreciate that the current instructor should be addressing all riding aspects, including hand position, to be teaching effectively? Do you have any instructor contacts through your own network or through a professional body that you belong to? It sounds to me like you are wasting money on an instructor who is not looking at the "whole package." Also echo Jaimie - the instructor must be experienced teaching children, as techniques used will be different than adults who can concentrate for longer, and who can see "the bigger picture." Ask any future instructor if you can speak to existing clients to see the progress made with their kids, for example. Good luck in finding someone! |
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Post by stormy007 on Apr 26, 2012 6:56:23 GMT
make it fun for her,we go for gallops etc ,my daughter has been off lr for a year now ,and doing well county level ,walk trot,canter,and loves to gallop,and jumping a coutrse off 2ft 6,doing well in dressage to,i do not push her to do none off this ,she scream at me when i tell her to cool pony off say he not finished ,they never listen to mums lol,
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heilo
Junior Member
Posts: 71
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Post by heilo on Apr 26, 2012 19:50:57 GMT
I've been trying that and it working a bit but she is then tipping forward it's like a vicious circle. does she ride better with her hands a bit higher than the saddle then? i only usually keep my hands flat down when im coming up the sides but sometimes i need to rise them by a an inch or so.. its totally acceptable at her age though shes just a little one im sure the judge will understand, we have all been there!! She sits taller when hands higher but they wobble about more so she actually is nicer for her pony when her hands are down and she is tipped slightly forward. Stormy I let her do what she finds fun as much as possible. It is awful when I try to teach her but I'm glad I'm not the only one  Thanks all for the advice |
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Find a new instructor then, a good instructor should concentrate on the whole package not just on the horse/pony 
