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| Discussion on Training 101 | |
| Author | Message |
| Member: maggienm |
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| Member: terrido |
Posted on Friday, Sep 12, 2008 - 6:16 pm: Well it may be a lengthy explanation in here. Are there videos to take you step by step in training for english riding styles? I have no idea, though would think there must be somewhere. Course whether they are basic enough to understand is another story. Ok, to begin with - contact. This is such an elusive thing anyway at first. As you are discovering. I think any horse can learn contact and to stay in contact and be light, soft, regardless of previous training, Just may take a bit longer is all. Ok first, you don't want the horse to end up leaning into your hands all the time. So having her already know to give to pressure is probably a good thing. I would start to teach her to stretch forward on a longeline. Use a cavesson not a bridle/bit though. This way you can teach her to move forward and the stretch will happen. I could probably write a small book on how to accomplish this! haha Seriously if you want these details because you do not understand how to make this happen, email me privately. Once you have her understanding that she can move forward and stretch out and down then you can try to encourage from within the saddle. At first you will want to accomplish this without 'contact' being contact, if that makes any sense. What I have been taught to do with a green horse is to fix my hands at all times. I position them and never move them from that spot. Of course rein length must be adjusted according to the work being asked, etc. You can link little fingers around a grab strap, you can rest against the pommel, etc. just find a position that's correct and comfy and keep your hands there. This will help the horse believe it or not. They can then find that comfort spot and relax. this then becomes the beginnings of contact. From here being able to have a fixed hand, allow rein out and have horse follow the bit down in a stretched manner, this is hat you are after to begin with. If you can give your hands forward and downward and the horse follows, she is "on contact". To gain more contact from this point, I begin at halt. Again this would take a small book to explain in detail. The other piece you asked about was the half halt. if your half halts are not coming through on one side then she is stiff, tense and blocking you. I would concentrate on that side initially then during every work session. I use KM's method to begin half halts. To have them come through fully and correctly they come through your seat. And again to explain in detail would be a small book! haha As to keeping contact, that of course takes time. She will have it and lose it, that's normal especially at first. Again riding with a fixed hand should help her (and you) maintain contact a bit better. What you are looking for is more self carriage though, again, you do not want her to lean into your hands. She must be well on your aids, very forward, "in front of your leg", etc. or you'll be carrying her with your hands. She's too large for you to hold up! haha Her job is to carry herself and you. A small bit of wisdom for you from a very wise horseman: "on the bit" happens when poll is relaxed; the poll is directly connected to the hocks. The more active the hocks, the more the poll relaxes. (my trainer, Don Paulhus) Anyway Lori, if you would like the details, just email me. |
| Member: lhenning |
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| Member: maggienm |
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