|
Post by jodievn on Aug 3, 2009 15:59:06 GMT
My friends daughter has a fell pony who is 5 years old she goes on the bit in walk and whilst standing she is currently in a wilkie any advice on maybe a different bit?
|
|
|
Post by bowditchblobs on Aug 4, 2009 14:26:02 GMT
Work, work, work im afriad, there is no point yanking his head in with a stronger bit, [not that im implying you would!] fells arent designed to plop down on the bit, a well known fell judge was quoted as saying he doesnt expect a hairy to go on the bit like a sp and how he hates to see them forced in an outline. I came straight off a sp on to a novice fell,-what a difference- i have regular lessons and it has taken alot of work to get him going- mine gets bored easily so i dont school to oftern for too long. Good luck, you will get there. PS you have the best breed there is lol. ;D
|
|
|
Post by jodievn on Aug 4, 2009 15:21:33 GMT
Thank-you very much for you advice i think lessons might be a good idea!!
|
|
|
Post by bethanyy on Aug 4, 2009 17:17:54 GMT
Yep i would definatley recommend lessons!! At least then if the pony still wont come down then your instructor could suggest a training aid to help. As bowditchblobs said, it is just hard work and 100% effort all the time!!
|
|
|
Post by chatterbox on Aug 4, 2009 20:10:18 GMT
We have the same problem a young coloured who doesnt think his neck is able to bend that way unless he's in halt but I just know we will get there with lots of schooling just in very small doses, maybe twice a week for 20 mins in the school and try to persue the rest while hacking, Good luck and I hope ours gets there too x
|
|
|
Post by cassie30 on Aug 4, 2009 20:41:44 GMT
Chatterbox if your young coloured isn't used to working that way then maybe it is due to the fact his neck cant comfortably bend that way? Agree lots of schooling combined with regular lessons hard hard work, but short periods out hacking or they will get bored with their out of school work too.
|
|
|
Post by trader on Aug 5, 2009 7:24:10 GMT
Yep i would definatley recommend lessons!! At least then if the pony still wont come down then your instructor could suggest a training aid to help. As bowditchblobs said, it is just hard work and 100% effort all the time!! You shouldnt need a training aid on a baby, I hate it when you see people lunging youngsters with their heads pinned in with side reins, you need to get them going forward and balanced first before pinning their heads to their chests. If this pony isnt used to working in an outline it will take some time and a lot of hard work to change their muscle structure to allow them to work from behind which will then naturally encourage working on a correct outline I would suggest lessons though as its not always easy to see what you are doing wrong (if anything) You also say the pony goes on the bit whilst standing, in my opinion thats not working on the bit but just having its head pulled in, sorry
|
|
|
Post by Guestless on Aug 5, 2009 10:47:43 GMT
Definitely lessons and lots and lots of transitions. IME you won't get a Fell properly on the bit until he/she is going forward with a good rhythmn and on the right bend. You CAN pull their heads in from the front, but it isn't going to be correct and you need to think about the pony working from behind - once that happens, the rest usually falls into place.
|
|
|
Post by bethanyy on Aug 5, 2009 12:15:53 GMT
Yep i would definatley recommend lessons!! At least then if the pony still wont come down then your instructor could suggest a training aid to help. As bowditchblobs said, it is just hard work and 100% effort all the time!! You shouldnt need a training aid on a baby, I hate it when you see people lunging youngsters with their heads pinned in with side reins, you need to get them going forward and balanced first before pinning their heads to their chests. I didnt say you need to use one, I said your instructor could SUGGEST therefore, it is their opinion if they think the pony needs it or not. Some people agree with them, others such as yourself do not, its just personal preference.
|
|
|
Post by cassie30 on Aug 5, 2009 12:17:55 GMT
None of them should need one really, there is no substitute for hard, hard work.
|
|
|
Post by trader on Aug 5, 2009 12:36:01 GMT
None of them should need one really, there is no substitute for hard, hard work. Well said, there is a woman on our yard that has been lunging her 3 year old in side reins that are so tight the poor pony cannot move, she does it with her older horse which is bad enough, but all she is managing to do with her youngster is ruin it, its such a shame
|
|
|
Post by cassie30 on Aug 5, 2009 12:54:08 GMT
Well it is true, they are unecessary 99 per cent of the time, if not more. Too many in a rush to get babies out, they dont look as good at 4 as they do at 6 or 7 so why rush? Well, they shouldn't look as good anyway!
|
|
|
Post by bowditchblobs on Aug 5, 2009 18:59:13 GMT
I tried a pessoa on mine he hated hated it, went all stiff and didnt track up, but the sps i had went excellent in it. I find pole work good with the fell, we use them all the time in my lessons. So many exercises you can do, my favorite is a pole on each short side two on the long sides of the school, and two on both diaginals [sp?] then you can trot/canter round large come across each diaginal and practise tranistions ie cantering before a pole or after, and changing the rein etc- great fun! Dont count the striding out before the poles though let them work their feet out for them selves.
Another one is poles on a 20 or 10 metre circle fanning out[well spaced out on outside of the circle and narrow on the inside] , trot round it leg yeilding in and out.
All these exercises get them looking where they are going and using their hind legs properley. My instructor events so she finds pole work invaluable- she hates gagets too!
|
|
|
Post by sammy1667 on Aug 5, 2009 21:51:57 GMT
reading through your posts, and sounds in very similar position to what i was in with my 15.1 palomino mare. Never came onto the bit and was very hollow!
I have had many instructors and many lessons all telling me to try this and try that, also telling me that she was argumentative and stroppy!!!!!!!
It wasn't until i found i good instructor that i realised where i was going wrong!
She said that until a horse understands how to lift its shoulder and step through with the hind leg the you will never get correct flexation and bend! And you can never progress onto other things! Its like building foundations!
I spent 3 hours over the 2 days repeating the same exercise until my horse finally understood what was being asked!
We can not physically get them to use there hind leg or lift there shoulder all we can do is give them the space and encourage it!
Not once did my mare get bored or argumentative, but what she was actually doing was saying mum i dont understand!!! But because i was consistant and didn't change my way of asking her or repeating a million different exercises, once she finally realised what was being asked she soften and relaxed and was so light it was like saying awwww thats what you wanted! I was always soft with my hands and it was never forced!!!!
Now that she understands what is being asked and she knows how to step through correctly with her hind leg she is a piece of cake to get on the bit!!!
Consistency is the key!! Good Luck!!! x
|
|
|
Post by fox111 on Aug 8, 2009 12:42:35 GMT
completly agree guestless, babies should find a natural outline and when working correctly from their hocks will learn to carry themselves.
"Chatterbox if your young coloured isn't used to working that way then maybe it is due to the fact his neck cant comfortably bend that way?"
Not sure agree If he can hold an outling when standing he should be able to carry himself anyother time, i would concentrate on making sure he is moving forward and engaging behind, then ask him. If he's chucking his head up look into his teeth extra, lampus. You prob already done this but my friend has a wb dressage horse and has teeth check every 3months due to her age 5yrs, she wasnt being consistant so pammy hutton sent her to her dentist and they took 3 little teeth out and now alls well but she is altra sensitive prob would bother any other pony!!
My coloured eventer (cobx) carries himself beautifully (at elementry) but he's not the easiest ie finds down transitions hard and can run through them, bigger horses def more dificult.
sammy you talk alot of sense!! you obviously know your horse very well.
|
|
|
Post by sophieandcallum on Aug 17, 2009 13:34:17 GMT
This is interesting to read as I would like my highland to go on the bit but certainly not forcing it! I think have a pony in a forced outline is alot worse than one who pokes his nose! My boy is always well placed in ridden classes even above those in outlines so am just waiting for it all to slot into place, so I know how you feel ;D but I wouldn't worry too much. If he works from his hind quarters and is forward I don't see why an outline is a must! My pony, as soon as he goes into trot pokes his nose ;D but he has a lovely trot so why does it matter Sammy thats interesting what you are saying, we are planning on getting some good quality lessons over winter to prepare for scary open classes next year!
|
|
|
Post by crimson on Aug 17, 2009 20:02:17 GMT
Sammy, where are you based? I am looking for a good instructor for this winter....
|
|
|
Post by sammy1667 on Aug 17, 2009 20:58:26 GMT
I am based in hampshire!
|
|
|
Post by crimson on Aug 18, 2009 21:08:50 GMT
Bugger.
I am in Lancashire! A bit too much of a trek methinks!
|
|
kayjayem
Happy to help....a lot
Posts: 10,046
|
Post by kayjayem on Aug 18, 2009 21:28:12 GMT
I find an Abbot Davies Balancing rein invaluable with stiff horses who don't know they can bend. It is not fixed and very mild but keeps a constant contact and suggest the outline and evens out slightly stiff rider error. Sometimes a stiff horse results in a stiff rider and then battle begins!
|
|
robyn
Junior Member
Posts: 147
|
Post by robyn on Aug 29, 2009 20:20:29 GMT
I have found that lots of circles and non-stop trotting works fantasticlly. He will drop onto the bit when a bit tired, but keep him moving actively with a gentle squeeze (not sawing!) on the inside rein (outside rein keep still and consistant) and as soon as he drops, BIG rewards. I find that I have to be very vocal when my lad drops, otherwise he doesn't quite understand, but I give him a pat on the neck and a "good boy!", ask him to hold it for a few strides, then let him back out again. At the moment I am finding that 20 minutes of asking him to drop onto the bit are much much tougher than an hour of our 'old schooling' and so keep sessions short and sweet. He has also started to foam at the mouth,a nice amount but not too much. Here are some pictures. The first is how he tends to start sessions: and then after 20 minutes of staying in trot, changing the rein and lots of circles: It is VERY hard work, but I get so chuffed when he does it that it's definitly worth it lol Good luck!
|
|