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Discussion on Five years old and very Foreward
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Member:
5691
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Posted on Monday, May 19, 2008 - 7:25 pm:
Hello All,
I last wrote regarding a five year old we were considering buying that had had an injection of almond oil/iodine a year ago for a stifle lock episode. (See Iodine & almond oil Injection, March 3, 2008.) I will update that post, but to make a long story short, we purchased him on the 1st of April and have been just delighted with how he has been settling in to his new home.
After five years of riding and showing three different horses that have consistently had comments "need to be more forward", or "needs impulsion", we seem to have a youngster that has forward and impulsion in spades.
We have much to learn regarding the training of a youngster. We have a wonderful trainer (certified gold medalist) who is well versed and experienced in the training of young dressage horses who has been my daughter's trainer since she was 11 years old.(My daughter is 17) However, our trainer does not ride anymore since undergoing bilateral knee replacement surgery several years ago. Therefore, my daughter is doing all the riding/training herself and takes lessons twice a week with her trainer.
Here is her biggest challenge right now.. She takes Rouge out for a warmup walk on our half mile bridlepath for about 20-30 minutes to let him stretch his legs and to provide some conditioning trots for stifle managment and fitness. When she rides him in the arena, he is very willing to go forward and she works him on w/t transitions, lead transitions, serpentines and all the stuff that she needs to do for balance and responsiveness. She rides in the arena for about 30 minutes
The problem... She gives him frequent walk breaks (about a minute or two) and after a walk break, he just "launches" into whatever she asks him to do next. Its like the walk break recharges his batteries and when he is asked to go forward, it is not channeled into a smooth forward, but rather "launched". She doesn't want to discourage the forward, but she is not sure how to deal with all the energy that he exhibits after a walk break. Should she just ride the "launch" till he settles into what she asks or do you keep pulling up and re-asking till he does it less energetically?
He just turned 5 on the 23rd of April.. Still very young. Suggestions and guidance from any of you are solicited and welcome. If there are any suggestions for books on learning about training the young dressage horse, we would be eager to consider those suggestions as well.
We have only had him a short while.. We have started introducing him to the turnouts at our barn, so hopefully in the next month being able to play outside will help with his energy level. He came from a very calm, quiet, peaceful breeding farm to a very busy, energetic boarding barn with 80 horses and lots of activity which he seems to enjoy, but adds alot of stimulation which I would imagine adds to some overload..
Looking forward to your comments,
Smiles,
Debra
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Member:
canderso
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Posted on Tuesday, May 20, 2008 - 7:24 am:
Hi Debra,
It sounds like you have a really special horse there.
You asked "Should she just ride the "launch" till he settles into what she asks or do you keep pulling up and re-asking till he does it less energetically?"
My first and most important advice is to do what the trainer says. Stop reading now if the trainer has given advice.
But,if the trainer has said nothing, then, my guess is that this is a baby/balance thing. So your daughter needs to ride the launch until the horse settles. Though I am not suggesting a 'launch' is desirable, and keeping in mind there is a huge difference between forward and running, NEVER penalize forward!
She may want to think about preparing for the depart a little more (is she half halting before asking for the trot?), and maybe working on transitions within the walk and within the trot to help with balance. But balance takes time and strength to develop. Be patient.
Aren't babies fun?
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Member:
ekaufman
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Posted on Tuesday, May 20, 2008 - 12:16 pm:
Hi Debra,
If he knows a shoulder-in or a shoulder-fore, your daughter can use that to re-balance the walk before asking for trot or canter. So it would go something like this-- walk break, pick up reins (this transition from a "free" walk to a medium with contact is something that's worth a lot of points in the arena, and most horses will jig. I keep mine settled by thinking slow with my seat and forward with my hands for the first few strides). Then ask the horse for a nice relaxed shoulder-in at the walk (don't over-bend and keep the haunches straight). Only when he's established in that movement, ask for the trot/canter whatever.
Hope this helps.
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Member:
5691
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Posted on Tuesday, May 20, 2008 - 1:48 pm:
Hello CherylA and Elizabeth,
Thankyou for your thoughtful and insightful comments and suggestions. I know my daughter will check this site when she gets home, so I am sure there is food for thought as she heads out for the barn tonite.
This issue seems to be the "challenge of the last three days" and since we have a lesson tomorrow, I am sure it will be a topic of discussion between trainer and rider.. Part of the whole educational process for us is learning different ways to work with different issues. Our trainer is not the type of person who is threatened by suggestions from outside sources and often will incorporate her suggestions with what we bring to the table.
My daughter is an accomplished rider for her age, but the last three horses she has been riding and showing for other owners have been either huge (17.2) or older or a draft cross(Oldenburg/Clydesdale) or ridden during the week by multiple riders. She qualified two horses for Jr Championships and was Reserve Champion for her age group last year. However, all three horses were subject to the owners decisions to either be sold, moved or discontinue the sponsorship.
Rachael says she is needing to learn to adjust her riding to Rouge more than she realized. She has grown taller, she has recognized that she doesn't need to "push" with her legs and seat like she did with the other bigger, heavier horses. She says she feels like she has gone from a big heavy stationwagon to a snappy, revved up sportscar.. The joke we have is that Rouge was bought for BOTH Rachael and her trainer and this time they can put time, effort and $$$$ into a horse that will not be taken away.
When we bought her an older horse five years ago, I had no idea she would take to dressage like she has..Lordy, Lordy the learning curve!!! but we are having fun!!!!
Smiles,
Debra
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Member:
terrido
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Posted on Tuesday, May 20, 2008 - 3:58 pm:
Debra, absolutely you do not want to ever stop forward. This is a youngster so any forward offered should be encouraged, have her just ride what is given, worry about pretty later on.
Once he learns to balance himself, and she can help him do this, he'll probably not launch quite so much. Still once he's going, then she can bring him around the way she'd like. I always allow 'mistakes' and ride the 'mistake' more, then once the horse has relaxed into that 'mistake' I ask for what I really want. So for instance I ask the horse to trot and may get a really fast bolting-style trot, not what I thought of or wanted, but will just ride that fast trot until the horse relaxes into the stride, then I would half halt a bit to rebalance and regroup him, this will slow him a bit, but I always allow whatever is offered, then just try to guide it into what I am asking. If that makes any sense?
At his age and stage of learning, trying to hold him back will just create way too many problems in the future, allow him to make his mistakes, and help him find himself in them.
He sounds nice!!
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Member:
5691
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Posted on Wednesday, May 21, 2008 - 1:20 pm:
Hello,
As usual, this forum has been a source of welcome information and suggestions..
As predicted, my daughter did read the posts and then commented that all of you mirrored the advice that her trainer had given her the day before when she (our trainer) called to check up on the two of them.
Last evening she stated that her ride with Rouge was very enjoyable and that after a couple of initial "launches", he settled down and gave her a good ride in spite of the really windy conditions that we are having these last few days.
Terrie- We really enjoyed your suggestion to "ride what is given and worry about pretty later." He is so green that half halts, shoulder-ins and shoulder fores are all needing to be learned.
My daughter and her trainer did a great job on other people's horses for the last three years, but the responsibility of training and showing to the owners satisfaction added alot of stress and expectations that are now no longer a factor for the two of them to consider.
This summer is going to be the time to take off from showing and just concentrate on learning to ride her own horse. She will be working with our resident trainer for the second summer riding and working with several other horses ranging from Training level to 3rd..so I am sure she will be absorbing ideas all along.
Thanks for your time and suggestions...We are most appreciative
Smiles,
Debra
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Member:
terrido
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Posted on Wednesday, May 21, 2008 - 4:01 pm:
Time, she/they can take all the time it takes, no rush. It's best to progress at the horse's rate anyway. Slow and steady is always the best road imho. 
Half-halts can be and should be initially taught on the ground on longe. And yes for a young/very green horse shouldn't be moves like shoulder in, etc. If you need to slow him up just begin a circle. Otherwise ride what is offered, no matter what, ride his "mistakes" and then guide him back to what you want. You want him to make a turning to the right and he bulges off his left shoulder to the left? fine, go with it ask for more, when he relaxes into it then gently guide him back where you want.
Forward is what is needed, at first allow him to go forward when and as he needs, then guide him from there. Eventually the 'stop' the half halts, the brakes can be applied nicely and he won't give up all his forward. Because to ride dressage well you must have more forward than halt. Well halt IS a forward movement when ridden correctly, but you know what I mean I trust.
haha you want to hear the trainer say 'impulsion is NOT an issue with this horse' when he is ten! Always always always ride what is offered on a young/green horse. Never stifle what they want to give. Remember it's not easy for them to balance themselves yet and now we ask them to balance with us on them too.
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