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Post by intsrt on Jan 2, 2010 17:43:35 GMT
Hello Can anyone please give me some advice on how to correct a horse that likes to go 'low' or on the forehand (not strong or heavy) but burrys head.... any particular bits that are good for correcting this??? and to help encourage them to put there bums under them and sit up... having a bit of trouble in canter the most as finding it hard to sit on my own arse and lift. any advice would be greatly appritiatced. thanks guys
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Post by sageandonion on Jan 2, 2010 20:06:05 GMT
hello,
Have had and corrected this problem. Use a simple snaffle and definitely steer well clear of a wilkie (which can cause this problem in the first place). Do not ask for flexion but ride up and forward, slowing within and through the paces with your seat, give the rein if necessary and tell pony/horse to carry himself. The moment your pony starts to 'go down', change your pace. You may feel you are riding as if you don't know how to ride, if so you are probably doing the right thing. He is actually depending on you to do his job as well.
Loads of transitions, circles, suppling in the school. Hack over all sorts of terrain, preferably in the walk to start. Jumping is great to lift the front. When lunging, often lunge without any side reins at all and if you do use side reins reasonably loose and attached to the higher loops on your roller.
It might feel horrible to start but persevere, it will take about three months at least to build the correct muscle.
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halfpass
Happy to help....a lot
Return of the Dame
Posts: 12,964
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Post by halfpass on Jan 2, 2010 21:12:11 GMT
Forget trying to use bits to solve this problem as it will only make your horse get heavier in the hand, as S&O has said lots of transitions + start to teach lateral movements, so that the horse is bringing the hind legs more under it, don't hold onto the front end with a fixed hand, keep the fingers soft and think of riding up and forward, if it is doing it mainly in canter it is not using it's hind legs, but pulling it's self along with it's front legs, I would say you need to work more on the trot to get that balanced and more together, do you not have an instructor that can help?
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Post by hacklover on Jan 2, 2010 21:37:12 GMT
i quite agree. ride forward and with a soft hand and the horse will come up. lots of transitions and half halts. they will encourage the hinds under. pole work and half halt before you go around the corner to them. keep riding forward. kick on!!
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Post by intsrt on Jan 2, 2010 21:50:15 GMT
thanks for all the comments... totally agree with them all... i spend 99.9% of the work in trot and walk.. add the odd canter in but like you say the walk and trot needs to be balanced before the canter can be... you cant run before you can walk.. but i just feel these are fine , i am not a heavy handed rider at all, constantly pushin forward and giving and taking and allowing him to carry himself but he just likes his head low. i think... its gym time for me, stregthen my self up too.
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Post by sageandonion on Jan 3, 2010 8:35:09 GMT
Definitely up the gym for a nice strong core, you feel like you are cantering a bull without a head! You want to keep yourself upright and strong through your core. Try cantering in very short bursts.
Oh, start your canter at 'X', not in the corner and be ready to tap with the whip, you want that canter immediately, not two strides later. Pony will automatically drop his head lowever in the corner which you don't want (try it you will see that happen) so you would make your trot tranisition in the corner (riding forward into trot). Further tip, your pony might give you a bit of a hump when you ask for canter at 'X' as because of the way he is built right now, it will be quite hard for him and he wants that corner and the fence for support. So stick your butt well in the saddle.
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Post by lils on Jan 3, 2010 8:50:11 GMT
Sage and Onion. have a Karma for such a clear desciption.
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Post by fox111 on Jan 4, 2010 18:44:38 GMT
fab suggestions how old is the horse, he may also need outside rein to balance, do not over bit no matter what
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Post by sophieandcallum on Jan 6, 2010 1:50:32 GMT
Sounds exactly like the problem I had, and did everything S&O has suggested and it came right in the end, a few pony tantrums along the way but it did work
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Post by pointer on Jan 10, 2010 9:24:43 GMT
half halt half halt half halt Encourage the hind end to engage and keep him steady. Half halts are under used!!!!!!!! and under estimated It is important that your pony learns to carry itself and for you not to do the carrying
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Post by Artistic on Jan 11, 2010 20:51:06 GMT
And try lots of walk to canter. Walk a small circle and sit really tall yourself so that he's not leaning on you. You should thinking of leg yield away, pushing from inside leg into outside hand. Don't try to canter until the walk feels "springy" - you will know and it's no good trying from a dead walk. Give a couple of half halts to warn him, and to check he's in balance. Then very calmly and crisply, ask for canter with one clear outside leg sweeping aid, supporting with the inside leg. DON'T tip forward or throw the rein at him! You can then, equally calmly, come back to walk from the canter. Use your voice as praise. Repeat. Each one will get better and the canter should improve no end. Be sure to use both reins equally. good luck!
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Post by sophieandcallum on Jan 14, 2010 15:04:33 GMT
Totally agree artistic! I did lots of walk to canter transitions as artistic described, aswel as halt to trot then even managed a few halt to canter with clear transitions and no ifs or buts very clear in what I wanted and lots of praise when I got it lots of tantrums were had when this ridiculous request was asked of him but got there in the end Also lots of hill work...if you have any hills? Help to engage the hindquarters and work up some muscle, sand dunes did my boy the world of good and he loooved it!
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