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  Discussion on Conitioning my horse
Author Message
Member:
Maggienm

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 6, 2004 - 9:56 am:

I have been riding somewhat through the winter and am now picking up the frequency and duration of riding. I have switdhed disciplines from western to english. I have a coach and am learning dressage and jumping. My question is how long can I ask my horse to carry her head flexed and working off her haunches before she is going to be sore? She is learning as much as I am.
Member:
Chrism

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 6, 2004 - 5:36 pm:

Well, I break up my hour ride with frequent stretch/walk breaks for a couple of minutes and then resume. I don't really time when, it just feels like good moments to reward the horse with a break and consider the work and what I should plan next.

The key thing here is to make sure you have an "I am truly done" signal so the horse realizes that breaks don't signify you are done. Mine is to loosen the girth while astride a couple of holes, or give the young one a cube of sugar since I'm not wild about loosening a short dressage girth while astride her, yet.

If the horse starts to feel fussy or heavy in your hands, this may suggest she is ready for a break. However, don't let her think she is giving you the "break" signal by fussing, LOL. Do a break after something nice.

Cheers.

Cheers.
Member:
Dawn

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 13, 2004 - 1:42 pm:

Laurie Ann:

I am writing because I have had the same question about a thoroughbred ex-race horse that had never done any kind of collection and / or jumping work, and I have always relied on my trainer to help me in accessing what is too much or not enough in regard to my horse learning collection and impulsion. Unfortunately, I listened to my trainer when my gut told me that we were pushing too hard and now I have a horse with an acutely sore back for the last two months. He had remained rideable as long as we stopped asking for collection even after his initial injury but now he cannot hold a canter comfortably for more than two or three strides. I will be having my vet/chiropractor out tomorrow to access what we can do to heal him. It is always hard to know just how hard to push a horse, especially one like mine that is already very balanced but is always distracted, green and rather gangly. It's a catch-22 - if you push him too hard, you will have to stop and then start over again once he is able to. If you don't push hard enough, you will never "get anywhere" and the training will remain stagnant. My advice is to take it SLOW - the haunches and topline of a horse are usually the LAST area to build muscle when you are conditioning/reconditioning a horse. Try to listen to your horse - mine was trying to tell me, but my trainer thought he was just being "green" and "obstinate" and insisted on working him and jumping him in draw reins. Try to find exercises that will build your horse's hindquarters and back without you having to work so hard for it, such as hill work or low cavalettis. Think of the horse like you would yourself - if you have never lifted weights, you would have to take it slow and build up the amount that you can handle over time, and so it should be with your horse. And remember - if you push too hard and hurt your horse, it is not only his physical wellbeing that may suffer, but his mental wellbeing as well, since he will likely become resentful and resistant toward your riding. Also, you don't mention what type of western discipline that you were doing - pleasure, speed, trail - but try to access the differences in performance and body use that your horse will have to do in order to perform english, and you will know specifically what areas are his "weak points" to bring along carefully.
Member:
Christos

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 13, 2004 - 6:04 pm:

Laurie-Ann,
Let's say that I am your trainer, and I ask this board "How long should I demand Laurie-Ann to sit the trot on the Hannoverian before she goes numb?". How much do you think you'd improve in my hands if I was thinking that way?
I have never heard of training a dressage or jumping horse with a stopwatch.
To improve her overall condition, yes, you can ask a reliable trainer to build you an exercise table that will fit her.
But to improve her technique, no, I believe it is not possible and I think that your trainer should have explained these things already.
To make myself clear, more jumping does not improve jumping technique and more collection does not improve dressage performance. You have to go for quality, not quantity.
Take the exercises, whether jumping or dressage, one at a time. When she can solidly perform most of them, ask her to do them in well planned pairs. Slowly build it up to a flowing string of beautiful maneuvers.
Never forget to take short breaks between exercises so both you and her have time to realise what's happening. And never forget to reward every little attempt to improve, successful or not.
And please, always remember that the very question of "how long I can keep her collected before she goes sore" is, at least to me, scary!

All the best,
Christos


Member:
Kthorse

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 13, 2004 - 8:36 pm:

Cristos is correct. Correct body frame will come naturally without being forced. Once you teach your horse basic movements done smoothly and correctly. Leg yielding ,shoulder fore ,etc etc. one at a time. Teaching him to move each part seperatly .Your horse will begin to carry him selve in the frame you want without you ever doing anything. It should happen naturaly. It can take a while though. My horse has just started doing collected canters on the softest of reins. I never have even asked it of him but all the exersises and conditioning naturally have given him the strengh and ability to find out by himself he is able to do this. Its a magical feeling when your horse just gets it and what a beautiful horse to ride. Just my experience
Katrina
Member:
Sross

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 14, 2004 - 7:30 pm:

I check my horse's back before and after each ride to make sure there's no soreness.
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