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Discussion on Advice needed.
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Member:
Kthorse
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Posted on Monday, Sep 8, 2003 - 10:00 am:
I have been having a problem with my 6 year old arabian. When starting to canter (sometimes), or trotting downhill (slight down hill) or when nervous he will hollow his back making him unbalanced. This in turn causes him to buck. I always get his head up to stop the bucking using one rein. Then send him farward at a slower more balanced pace. My friend told me to keep him moving forward and not to slow the pace, but that is really hard if you are on a down hill slope and your horse is trying to get his head down. I feel like I will be over his head in a second. Does anyone have tips on keeping his back rounded and keeping him relaxed so he does not tense in these conditions. In the ring we are fine. Its when out trail riding . We are training for a beginner hunt and I want him to learn to use his body to his advantage. I know he only bucks in pain. I feel the change in his movement the minute the head goes up. He hollows his back, moves uncomfortable then bucks. He is young this is his first year out doing this. I have worked him only at the walk and trot and occasional cantor up untill 6 months ago when his body filled out enough to handle more work. He is 7 in November he was a slow develpoer.
thank you for any advise.
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Member:
Hwood
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Posted on Monday, Sep 8, 2003 - 10:22 am:
Katrina,
Teaching a horse to round his back and developing the muscle associated with that takes lots of time and effort.
One exercise that helps develop the haunches under and rounded back position is backing your horse uphill . . . After backing, always go forward. You won't want to do so much of the backing that he becomes sore or frustrated, but working on it for 10-15 minutes a day will help the horse balance himself more on his hinds . . . then when coming downhill, he will be able to more easily get his haunches under himself for balance.
Also, any time you are riding you can teach the deep give to the bit, which will help the horse become more flexible in his shoulders . . .as those neck muscles soften and as the back muscles get stronger, the horse won't feel such a need to throw up his head.
Holly
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Member:
Kthorse
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Posted on Monday, Sep 8, 2003 - 10:48 am:
Holly thats wonderful advice. I have been backing, but never thought of doing it up hill. Thankyou. I will definatly take your advice.
What do you mean by deep give to the bit?
I currently ride him on trails etc, with a DR Cook bridle which he absolutly loves. I have been using this for about 6 months. I use the aids the same as with the snaffle, however he is more relaxed with this bridle. I use his snaffle in the arena every now and again. He gives to the bit nicely.
thank you again Holly
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Member:
Hwood
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Posted on Monday, Sep 8, 2003 - 1:16 pm:
Katrina,
I'm not familiar with a Dr. Cook bridle . . . but since you say it is like a snaffle (meaning without shanks, correct?) then it should work for the deep gives.
Clinton Anderson uses the deep give technique . . . With one hand on the center of your reins (on the buckle, if using English reins) pull the reins to your chest, and with the other hand, reach down as far as you can on one rein (without bending too far forward and putting yourself off balance) and bring your hand to your hip . . . and hold until the horse breaks at the poll and takes pressure off the rein by touching his nose/chin to your pant leg or just in front on the girth. DrOP THE REIN IMMEDIATELY when the horse gives . . . and then wait a couple of seconds and switch hands and repeat on the other side . . . The horse may not understand the first few times, but it doesn't take long (well, maybe a hundred times or so) before the horse is giving nose to girth as he sees your hand coming down the rein. This maneuver can also be combined with a leg cue to the flank to cue the horse to step under and over on his hind legs (disengaging the hind quarters) which is also a suppling exercise that teaches the horse to put his body and your cues all together. . . . You may already do the gives to the bit . . . I have found the deep gives to be very beneficial for a stiff horse or one who wants to throw up his head.
Best wishes,
Holly
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Member:
Kthorse
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Posted on Monday, Sep 8, 2003 - 8:44 pm:
The dr cook bridle is a bitless bridle that pushs the horses head rather than pulls it. Its gentle like a halter. I will be able to do the deep gives as you describe with this bridle. I also like to put him back in the snaffle every now and again. Your description is great . I will definatly try the deep gives. Thank you so much. much appreciated.
Katrina
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Member:
Micheleh
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Posted on Wednesday, Oct 8, 2003 - 3:54 pm:
Katrina, be sure you have his stifles checked out. Bucking at the trot, when taking a canter, and when going downhill are all indicative of stifle issues. I'm going through it now with one of my 4 year olds who is bucking because of stifle problems.
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Member:
Kthorse
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Posted on Wednesday, Oct 8, 2003 - 9:03 pm:
Hi Michele,
Yes he does have stifle stiffness in his right hind hock. He has had this most of his life. When I first got him the barn I was at said this horse will never amount to anything. Hard work will make him lame, etc etc. I have been doing tons of suppling, leg yeilds, and teaching him to bring his legs under. Since I posted he has been so much improved. I also give him the rein when asking for a canter depart, which has helped tremendously. I had been unconsiously holding him a little to tight with the leading rein( to stop the buck). However I was making the problem worse. Exsample when asking for a canter leading with the right leg I give him his right rein then
do leg aids and say canter, taking the presure off( he is great with word comands. Now he knows I am not going to constrict the rein. Later I will go back with regular contact.I did not relize I unconsiously did this until I read and read and read till I found something that makes sense. yippee its working. I just have to not think about bucking as I guess I must have made a lot of things worse. I supple him for at least 20 minutes and boy its helping. I am trying to strenghten the weaker hock( Weaker side) and it seems to help alot. The vet s that checked him out over the 2 years I have owned him said that its slight arthritis. My work with him s helping more than the suppliments etc. I wont trot or canter downhills any more or do anything that will agrivate it. After 20 minutes he is loose and ready to do anything you ask. He still does an occasional buck the I go back and loosen him up more then do work to bring his back legs under him which balances him more and makes him happy and comfortable. I got him when he was 4. He is now 6 going on 7. He is the sort of horse that will do anything to please you so I knew the bucking was do to pain or discomfort. He is teaching me. All my other horses never hd any problems. This is my first challenge and he is turning out to be the best horse I have ever owned. If my balance is off for a second his ears go back. What a wonderful teacher. How I love my little arab.
Thanks for your reply
Katrina
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Member:
Kckohles
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Posted on Thursday, Oct 9, 2003 - 1:49 am:
Hi Katrina,
I am glad to hear that the situation is improving, one thing you might consider is that the first step of the canter is in the hindquarters. So if you horse is taking a left lead the first foot to strike in the lead is the right hind and in the right lead it is the left hind. So your horse might be communicating that you have too much of your weight on that hind leg for him to reach it far enough under the belly to canter, which using a buck will lift you right off of there.  I also had an Arab help me with this, she is a beautiful but little horse, so in the transition she would tell me if I was weighting the hind-quarters too much or the forehand, which with her it is a very narrow place to be out of the way in.
Just a thought,
KIM
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Member:
Kthorse
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Posted on Thursday, Oct 9, 2003 - 7:15 am:
Thanks Kim I will check for that.
Katrina
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