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Discussion on Forward!
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Wednesday, Jul 26, 2006 - 1:48 pm:
You all have such wonderful insight, I was wondering if you could give some tips to obtaining forwardness and relaxation. I'm thinking half halts are out of the question for right now if I want to establish forward first, but I also want him to relax doing it.
For me, it would be on a horse who hasn't been ridden in two years, and I am barely training level, so I only need the basics ... But advice for down the road I think would benefit a lot of members 
Thanks!
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Member:
Jojo15
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Posted on Wednesday, Jul 26, 2006 - 2:25 pm:
Sometimes all it takes is you to move your body with the body of the horse. If that makes sense. but as if you are kind of pushing him along. without using leg aids or rein aids. THEN, if you up that pace with your body, the horse body should follow and keep up with your movements. but i'm not sure if its a natural thing a horse would know, or if this is something that you would have train a horse. i used to close my eyes and feel the horse moving along, it helped give me a better attunement to him... and all sorts of lunge line exercises with you on his back, but neither of you worrying about where you're going is great. just have someone help with the line... things like taking your hands off the reins and feet out of the stirrup to really let him feel you on top and vice versa...its a gelling thing...
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Member:
Stevens
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Posted on Wednesday, Jul 26, 2006 - 3:09 pm:
I use trail rides for forward and relaxed. We trot down the trail with me trying to keep my posting slow and not "chase" him, yet keep him round. Getting out of the arena helps him think forward.
Granted our "trail" is more like a chute, being fenced on both sides, about 15-20 feet wide so it's still relatively secure. Except for the occasional loose dog and bagpiper!
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Wednesday, Jul 26, 2006 - 3:35 pm:
Jojo, thank you for reminding me about closing my eyes! I forgot about that! That will help a lot...I'll get one of my friends to hold the line for me.
I'm thinking I'll have to hold a whip...just hold it... and off we'll go, but then I'd have to achieve relaxation ...
Chris, I agree that trail rides would be ideal...but not for him yet... he's the type of horse that spooks big at quiet...but give him chaos and he falls asleep... lol... however, that just may work later on, thanks!
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Member:
Canter
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Posted on Wednesday, Jul 26, 2006 - 4:16 pm:
Aileen, make sure you're not gripping with your thighs, that will slow down any forward motion as well. For forward, I like working in large spaces and for relaxation, I like circles. So, when my mare is not relaxed & we're having a lazy day, I'll start her out moving energetically forward in the arena, using the whole space. As she maintains forward (usually after a few reminders), I'll then turn her into big circles until she starts to relax and soften in her back, poll & jaw. If at any time during the circleing, she loses forward, back to the rail we go and I push on again. Also, if you are sitting the trot, start posting when you want forward - that helps too.
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Member:
Christos
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Posted on Wednesday, Jul 26, 2006 - 5:45 pm:
Ok, then, let's start from the very beginning.
Lesson 1: Don't look at the horse
We'll never again look at the horse when riding. Promise?
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Member:
Amara
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Posted on Wednesday, Jul 26, 2006 - 6:11 pm:
aileen, before i start thinking about "fixing" the horse i might start thinking about making sure the rider was doing everything right... so many times i've had people come to me and say they couldnt get their horse to move "forward", but when i adjusted their position, the horse was just fine...
what exactly are you dealing with?
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Wednesday, Jul 26, 2006 - 6:40 pm:
Fran, thank you much! I hope I'm not gripping! Good advice for me, thank you.
Christos... lol...I can't promise that! It's ingrained!!! But I promise I will TRY not to look at my horse ever again when riding I do know this is key for me, thanks for the reminder
Melissa, I'm dealing with a horse that was not "classicaly trained", he was btv a LOT, draw reins, crank/spank. I'm going to try to "restart" him correctly and hopefully eliminate his old mindset, and hopefully get and keep him sound til he's 40 He was doing up to third level movements, he may still have it in him, but I don't know.
He's 13, paint/arabian cross. He's hurt for so long, I just know it will be a challenge for me to get and keep forward with him at least for a while.
I'm very critical of myself and well, honestly, my trainer wants me to get another horse and sell him...so I want to do this on my own at first, then shock her with how well we're doing.
I have a picture of him and I at home, I'll try to post it tonight, just to give you an idea... I know my seat needs work, and I need to relax...
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Member:
Amara
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Posted on Wednesday, Jul 26, 2006 - 6:57 pm:
when i get a horse that has been badly trained like yours, i try to forget all about "dressage" per se, and just ride... long rein, head anywhere, just let the horse go... i'll go for a kind of "fake forward impulsion" (as the horse wont be using his hindquarters properly), just so i can get the horse to get his mind off what was once done...depends on the horse how long i'll do this... if i do have one i can trail ride then i might just go play around for quite awhile... if the horse doesnt trail ride and gets distracted easily or needs to be kept somewhat together, i'll try to get just a basic "hunter frame" until i feel like the horse has some confidence and comfort in himself... i might put the horse in the RP to help him free up ( but not lunge on line if possible so as to give horse more free movement)...
using your body correctly so as to not interfere will be critical, because this type of horse is probably very very tight in his back and will lock up very quickly...(big reason why he wont move forward)...
even tho long and low to get him to loosen up would be very beneficial physically, i worry more about the mental with these horses... sometimes they are so soured to dressage that i try to get them to forget dressage, even tho truly all training is "Dressage"
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Member:
Canter
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Posted on Wednesday, Jul 26, 2006 - 7:54 pm:
"Don't look at the horse..." Reminds me of a clinic I took a few years back. I had, and still have, the bad habit of looking down (and it truly IS amazing to me how much looking up helps the horse). Anyway, the clinician said to me, after reminding me for the 100th time to not look down: "Look up!! I have yet to see a horses head fall off, so there's no need to worry about it...and for $#@^%$@# sake, if the head does fall off, there's not a darn thing you can do about it!!"
We got a good laugh out of that one. Unfortunately, it's one (of many) bad habits I've found difficult to completely get rid of
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Wednesday, Jul 26, 2006 - 9:44 pm:
Thanks Melissa! His back does lock up, probably why his back hurts and his hocks have djd (xrays on the 4th and more than likely injections)... I will give this a shot, probably more like a hunter frame at first tho as you said...
Fran, that was great 
Trainer said to me more than once, basically the same as yours but a different part of the body "if the horse DrOps out from under you, I'll let you know" Do you think Christos can see us ride from Greece??
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Member:
Kthorse
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Posted on Wednesday, Jul 26, 2006 - 10:20 pm:
Aileen about the trail riding thing. I think its really important. If you have a horse that you don't feel comfortable with on the trail why not take him for a walk out on the trails like a dog. I did for months in the beginning. Mine thought he was going to die out in the big scary woods. at least 3 times a week I would walk him like my dog. Eventually he started relaxing and one day he was exceptionally calm and I hopped up on his back and rode a bit. Then hopped off and walked home. I did this until I felt confident in his ability to handle scary things. I also took a tape recorder or sang songs whatever. I still sing (not well) nursery rhymes when there is something around. Like the bear I saw the other day. Its a great stress breaker and a bonding thing. Do you have a place you can do that. I truly think that this is an extremely important part of any riding or training
It will help with the forward and relaxation
Katrina
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Member:
Canderso
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Posted on Thursday, Jul 27, 2006 - 9:09 am:
Two things come to mind:
1) don't mess with the walk until you are 100% certain of what you are doing.
2) Forward isn't faster. Forward is keeping the same rhythm (and cadence) while asking the horse to step 'bigger' and more underneath himself.
Lots of ideas already on how to get the bigger step.... but to keep the rhythm, try counting it out to yourself (not too loud, though, because folks will think you are a lunatic...).
I have found it really settles me as a rider, so naturally it helps settle the horse too. Because you ride to the rhythm, the horse rides to the rhythm. There are a ton of extra benefits too...
You will be surprised how doing this makes you really sensitive to the horse's rhythm. When you know the horse's natural rhythm, you immediately know when the horse is working correctly. This also helps with figuring out lameness (emphasis in rhythm = lameness) and figuring out which music works best if you are designing a freestyle!!!
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Member:
Ajudson1
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Posted on Thursday, Jul 27, 2006 - 9:31 am:
I second Katrina idea of going for walks. I always do this with a new horse, or a youngster. Later, with a youngster, I go to ground driving all over. Great exercise for me too!
Awhile back someone suggested the book "Secure Seat: The art of staying on Your HOrse and Learning Feel" The book says to move your hips like you are "pedaling a bike back wards" at the walk.
It does make a big difference! Both of my horses kinda sighed and relaxed when I CORRECTLY did that movement. Not saying there are not other ways but this will help.
I think most of us get the best response when we kinda start day dreaming and then we relax our seat and lower back and are moving freely with the horse. It's when we try to be aware of correct this, correct that, that we are tense and keep the horse tense.
You might also try leaning back and putting your hand on his rump. Just keep him walking, sing, what ever. Rub him all over his rump, come back and rub him on his neck, withers. Just let him wander around the arena (only do this in an enclosed area) on a relaxed rein, no steering. See if that helps. Keep your legs very relaxed.
It may take an hour a day for a few weeks til he just walks relaxed but be patient.
Good luck
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Thursday, Jul 27, 2006 - 10:50 am:
Thanks Katrina and Angie, I will try that, there is a trail loop right by my house ... but give me a few weeks first to get his mind back on me again. I want to be sure he'll do what I ask while not at home...it's been a LONG while and the last few times I worked him he had quite the attitude, whether it's pain or not, I won't know til next week.
Cheryl, lol... I don't think I'll ever be 100% sure of what I'm doing but I get your point He does have a great walk...I'm careful to keep the reins at an appropriate length and not shorten them at all... I've been trying to drive him into the reins with little to no success (wants to keep his head btv).
I think what Melissa suggested (and Christos on another thread suggested) will work for him and in short time I hope. I'll just play with him for a while... except of course I'll want to be sure that he doesn't get me off his back... might even put a western saddle on him for awhile.
Your counting suggestion is GREAT... it will keep my mind off his antics
Angie, I do pet him all over while in the saddle, mostly because the first time I did it he gave a start...so now I do it all the time I'm also going to keep doing exercises on him. I stopped because he would get so tense with me moving all around in the saddle while he was moving (only did them at the halt)... but after reading the great responses, I think I'll keep doing it. He'll get used to it, he's a smart boy
What I think I'm getting from all of you is that instead of forward first, I should get him to relax first (and ME too). Thanks again to all, truly appreciate your time
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Member:
Christos
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Posted on Saturday, Jul 29, 2006 - 4:38 pm:
Since you report increased confidence in the horse not going anywhere from under you while you're not watching, I think it is time for...
Lesson number 2: Statues are poor riders
That means that you should not try to hold your hands, legs or anything else totally immobile. Let them move a bit with the horse.
And don't freeze when you're scared. Being scared is ok, freezing is not. A frozen, stiff rider is a first class excuse for a horse to act up. Don't provide that excuse. Keep moving with him.
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Saturday, Jul 29, 2006 - 5:31 pm:
LOL, THAT I can do I have been told that I have a nice following seat... I'm MUCH more relaxed on the mare whether she spooks or not, I guess I trust her more than my horse... How do you build up trust in your horse? I trust him on the ground explicitly, but not in the saddle... something's missing, but I don't know what. I know we've gone over this before, off to read my other thread...
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Member:
Christos
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Posted on Saturday, Jul 29, 2006 - 5:49 pm:
It is trust in yourself that does the trick, Aileen. If you can trust yourself, the horse will trust you and then you can trust the horse.
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Saturday, Jul 29, 2006 - 6:01 pm:
LOL Christos, this is so true...
I had a crazy ex boyfriend and Brave has been with me through it all... I'm still getting over the things the ex did to me, my counselor says the best thing I can do therapy-wise is to ride my horse and get some trust and confidence back in myself...
So now you're a counselor too
I just find it odd that I have it with the mare, but not with Brave... must be an association thing...
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Member:
Kthorse
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Posted on Saturday, Jul 29, 2006 - 8:09 pm:
The more often you ride him the better it will be. The better you know him the better the trust. Only lots of time spent with him and in the saddle will get you to trust him and know his every move and feeling. When you are with them so much you can anticipate every move, only then will you feel that trust you want to feel.
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Member:
Choney
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Posted on Saturday, Jul 29, 2006 - 9:34 pm:
I'm waiting patiently for lesson number three.
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Saturday, Jul 29, 2006 - 10:23 pm:
Cher, I love it... I think it's having trust in your horse? ... Christos??
Katrina, I do have that on the ground... he's very expressive and I can pretty much tell you what he's thinking all the time by his expression and his body language...he has yet to teach me patience...lol...that's next I guess...
I'm riding the mare again tomorrow, won't be riding him until after Friday...depending on the xrays, injections, etc...
Cheryl, I did the counting on the mare (Suzanne in another thread also mentioned the counting...so thank you too Suzanne )... it totally helped! Not only getting her forward, but it also helped to feel her footfalls, that has been evading me! Thank you!!!
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Member:
Sswiley
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Posted on Sunday, Jul 30, 2006 - 10:22 am:
A good way to get more forward and relaxed in the arena is to "pretend" your are on a trail. It is amazing how differently people ride on the trail. Especially if you are just looking for forward.
On the trail, you almost never look at you horse. Your are looking way ahead and at the scenery.
Your seat and your hands are relaxed and following.
It works equally well at all three gaits.
Another good mind frame for being a little apprehensive about what the horse is going to do;
Remember you are their teacher or parent, and they are a small child. If they are going to act out or become fearful, it is your job to be the benevolent teacher. It is amazing how they will look to us for comfort and direction if we are confident enough to give it. We are on their backs for a reason and that is not as a vunerable passenger. It is true that we both learn from each other but bottom line is, we are smarter and have more self-control (if we are in the right mindset).
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Member:
Christos
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Posted on Sunday, Jul 30, 2006 - 4:47 pm:
Sort of, Aileen. Trust in your horse, trust in your trainer, trust in yourself...too vague for a training method. What about...
Lesson 3: A seat you can trust
Feet in front of your seat, body behind your seat, hold the saddle with one hand. If you're not totally stiff, you can not fall from this position.
People lose their balance and fall because when things go wrong they instinctively lean forward and lift their feet off the stirrups, in a reflexive attempt to lower their weight closer to the ground.
A fine reflex when you lose your balance on foot, a very bad habit in the saddle.
It takes work to change this reflex.
Practice. Put your feet next to the horse's shoulders. Ride with your body so far back that you don't really see where you're going, your head almost touching the horse's croup.
Make a habit of bringing your body back and your feet in front of you whenever things feel fishy.
Once you change this reflex, there's no more need to trust your horse, me, yourself or anybody else.
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Member:
Christos
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Posted on Sunday, Jul 30, 2006 - 5:20 pm:
To save us from forgetting it, I would like to note that counting the horse's steps has many benefits that extend a long way.
From keeping your mind occupied and helping you relax, to judging jumping distances and knowing exactly how many steps are left to that %$#& letter in the dressage arena, it is also a nice tool to help understand extension and collection.
So do make an early habit of counting those steps and judging distances, it is a valuable tool.
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Sunday, Jul 30, 2006 - 7:25 pm:
This is great Christos Thank you
Brought another boarder in today.. a very strong haflinger... She will let me practice on him until I know what is going on with my guy so I will be using that "trust in your seat" lesson quite a bit I think!!
Can we go into more detail on the counting? I know we need to know where each foot is in order to aid correctly...but when to aid for each gait? Can we go over when and how to aid for Halt, walk, trot and canter?
I know all horses each have different "buttons" ... a little more forward leg here, back leg there... but I think I'll be able to put new buttons on my horse since it's been so long... or am I getting ahead of myself again?
Shelley, great post I will try that... and my friend said she would pony my guy on the little half hour loop around my house to get him out and forward... then I'll get on him once he's seen the sights ;)
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Member:
Maggienm
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Posted on Monday, Jul 31, 2006 - 12:36 am:
Christos, been practicing, lesson one-don't look at the horse, ran into the wall, oh you mean when you're on the horse....
statues? why would statues want to ride?
lesson three, good point, always check your lawn chair before you sit down, collapsing in a folding up lawn chair is not dignified.
So... can't wait for lesson four.
No really, these are great lessons, a seat you can trust goes perfectly with a new book I am reading on establishing a good seat.
Funny, been riding for 30ish years, some people even say I can stick, but there is still so much too learn.
What's lesson four?
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Member:
Christos
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Posted on Monday, Jul 31, 2006 - 3:24 am:
Yes, Aileen, we'll go into more detail about timing the aids with the horse's footfalls in preparation for third level and lateral work, in a couple of years .
For now, just count the steps. It is part of...
Lesson 4: Tempo
Establish a basic rhythm in the horse. This may be, for instance, 50 steps/min walk, 75 steps/min trot, 100 steps/min canter.
There is no ideal tempo, it depends on the horse's temperament, size and conformation. Experiment a bit to find the tempo he prefers and stick to it.
This tempo should never change. We'll change the length of stride later on, but the tempo stays the same.
As important as this is for developing the horse's balance, it is even more important for your own development as a rider.
You can not work in improving your seat if the tempo varies all the time, it feels like riding two-three different horses at the same time.
The easiest way to stabilise the tempo is a brisk regular gait, where the sequence of footfalls is definite and clear.
The horse does not know which speed you prefer, so he will experiment a bit by speeding up or slowing down. Add leg briefly if the gait slows down to vague and irregular or rein if it speeds up to fast and irregular. Be as quiet as possible when he is working on a definite, clear gait, so he understands what you want.
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Member:
Christos
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Posted on Monday, Jul 31, 2006 - 3:50 am:
Aileen, transitions depend more on the regularity of the gaits than on timing.
Teach your horse one walk, one trot and one canter only, to start with. Tempo !
Once tempo is established, however and whenever you ask, he will go from the trot he knows you like to the canter he knows you like and vice versa.
If his trot is good and his canter is good, the transition will be good too. Do not bother with timing yet !
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Member:
Canderso
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Posted on Monday, Jul 31, 2006 - 7:13 am:
Remember each horse has its own natural tempo. You need to find this tempo (at each working gait) and then ride to it.
You know you are there because suddenly things get easy - you don't have to work so hard, the horse feels like it is settling and steering suddenly gets much easier.
You can be mechanical about finding and riding to tempo if you want - have a groundperson use an electronic metronome and call out the beats per minute (bpm). Once you know the bpm, you can set the metronome and keep it beeping in your pocket when you ride.
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Monday, Jul 31, 2006 - 10:37 am:
Christos, lol... it would be awesome if I could get there in a couple of years, but I highly doubt it!!!
Tempo lesson totally makes sense Should I establish tempo on the ground first? I was starting to get it for one or two circles at a time on the lunge, but then he broke down again...
I think getting and keeping his correct tempo will take a loooonnnnngggg time...
Cheryl, you said...
"You know you are there because suddenly things get easy - you don't have to work so hard, the horse feels like it is settling and steering suddenly gets much easier."
Is this also throughness? Is this also a goal with getting tempo?
A metronome sounds like it would help me a LOT... where can I get one?
This thread is helping me so much!!! THANK YOU!
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Member:
Sswiley
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Posted on Monday, Jul 31, 2006 - 12:03 pm:
Had another thought while riding my gelding last nite. His walk tends to be very "stuck", mostly before he has had a chance to warm up. One way I have found to get him stepping out more, without nagging him with my legs, is to take a very light contact. It seems to be something for him to reach for and it results in him stepping under in an attempt to follow (?) it. Not sure exactly the mechanism here, maybe someone else on this site knows what I am talking about and why it works.
It is not a full contact like the one I use after he is warmed up and working. It is more like a "carrot-on-a-stick" contact.
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Member:
Canderso
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Posted on Monday, Jul 31, 2006 - 12:34 pm:
Hi Aileen
No, this is not throughness. Throughness comes after forward, relaxation, contact and straightness are all established.
I THINK it is mostly relaxation, but whatever... it is a good thing. And you can find it certainly at the trot in one ride (with a good ground person).
As for the metronome, I got my from a a 'real' music store (one that sells music instruments and sheet music and such). Note I never actually used it though.
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Monday, Jul 31, 2006 - 12:50 pm:
Shelley, funny you say this...I was riding him a few weeks ago with a friend on no contact, my friend said to take some contact, I did but not much, and he licked and chewed and totally relaxed... so I don't know why, but your post makes sense to me!
Cheryl, Oh boy...this is gonna be a long journey for me ... lol... so throughness is the ultimate goal? Now I'm wondering if I ever had the mare through...maybe we were just in her tempo...
I think I will have a couple of good riders able to help me from time to time... so that will be good until my horse and I get to the point where we can shock my coach with how wonderfully relaxed and rhythmic we are I'll be happy just to get to this point with my horse!
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Member:
Canderso
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Posted on Monday, Jul 31, 2006 - 3:48 pm:
Hi Aileen,
If you want to know more about the Training Scale, get Walter Zettl's book "Dressage in Harmony". (We have a discussion on this book elsewhere on the website.)
According to Mr Zettl, the goal of training a horse is to achieve harmony.
The book will also answer many of the training questions you may have.
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Member:
Christos
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Posted on Monday, Jul 31, 2006 - 5:20 pm:
Cheryl is right, "Dressage in Harmony" is one of the finest books on Dressage.
However, what is important with this and every other book on Dressage is to actually study the introduction and the first chapters !
Too many people skip the first chapters in an eternal quest to find those "advanced" tricks that will make them great riders in a few months. They unnecessarily torture themselves for a long time, reaching the point of believing that no significant progress can be made in two years !
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Monday, Jul 31, 2006 - 6:38 pm:
Understood, thank you!
I will reread the introductions and first few chapters of my books, but for some reason I don't think I'm going to find a chapter on how to stick on my horse so I don't have to trust him
I do remember them mentioning footfalls, but not going into detail, or I just didn't understand that I could just count as I rode and it would click will look again.
You both have helped me so much, I guess I'm probably one of those people that it takes a few different ways of hearing it to understand.
I must say tho, my coach didn't mention these things to me!!
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Member:
Christos
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Posted on Tuesday, Aug 1, 2006 - 9:02 am:
You are right, Aileen, you will not find stickability instructions in German books.
But you can find all the information you want in the US.
There are several people there who regularly display how they can stick on any freaked out animal. Watch them carefully, ask them, search for information. How do they do it ?
Just by watching a couple of videos, you'll quickly observe that they just put their feet forward, their body back and they hold with one hand while they keep their body flexible. Not much more than that, really.
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Member:
Green007
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Posted on Tuesday, Aug 1, 2006 - 9:28 am:
Stickability = saddle-tite and full seat breeches or chaps. Excellent for stickability on a truly rank horse.
PS - ever notice that rodeo riders' legs fly up and down every time a horse bucks? They are leaning back and gluing their bottoms right into that saddle! Sure, putting your heels down helps, especially if you "bounce" when you ride and further aggravate your horse, but nothing works quite like plugging your butt into the saddle. grabbing a neck strap and sitting up/leaning back, just as tall as you can!
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Tuesday, Aug 1, 2006 - 10:27 am:
Thanks again, Christos
Debbie, I'm going to pull out my full seats He's not rank, persay, just very powerful!
Does leaning back also ask for forward? It sounds like this would be good for both getting him forward to quit being silly AND to help me stay in the saddle Thanks!
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Member:
Green007
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Posted on Tuesday, Aug 1, 2006 - 10:51 am:
Well, if he won't go forward, and then he suddenly leaps forward when you get after him, you still need to sit up tall with butt in saddle, hand on buck strap and legs forward. If he is "behind the leg" and through your corrections a forward explosion unseats you, then you do need to sit more lightly to encourage "forward" while still being prepared for the explosion by sinking those heels down, getting your legs out in front of you, and preparing to ride out the storm.
Full seat breechees are very helpful because you can sit lightly enough to encourage the forwardness yet still "stick" if he gives you much more than you wanted.
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Tuesday, Aug 1, 2006 - 11:08 am:
Ah! Got it... thanks!!
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Member:
Christos
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Posted on Tuesday, Aug 1, 2006 - 11:54 am:
No, not a neckstrap. Grab the saddle.
Grabbing a neckstrap does not prevent your body from being thrown forward or sideways.
Grab the saddle by putting your fingers under the gullet and pressing your palm against the pommel.
That's another reason for the gullet to be as wide as your fist and two fingers higher than the horse's spine, so you can grab it easily. Saving the horse's back is a good thing, but saving yourself is no less important.
Yes, leaning back sends the horse forward. It also adds weight on his "lower" back, which makes it difficult for him to arch it and put his hind legs under for a good leap.
When you want the horse to jump, you lean a bit forward and lighten your seat. When you don't, you lean backwards and put all your weight in the saddle.
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Member:
Green007
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Posted on Tuesday, Aug 1, 2006 - 12:14 pm:
What Christos said is even better!
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Member:
Dtranch
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Posted on Tuesday, Aug 1, 2006 - 12:26 pm:
I have a 1" wide by 20" long leather strap looped through the gullet making about a 6" diameter loop for a handle. When it hits the fan, grab hold lean back and spur you one.
Sorry ... rodeo lingo.
DT
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Member:
Christos
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Posted on Tuesday, Aug 1, 2006 - 1:08 pm:
The loop Dennis describes is very practical. But make sure the breastplate rings are not attached to the saddle with cotter pins or any other flimsy way, I've found myself on the ground still holding that loop  .
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Member:
Sswiley
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Posted on Tuesday, Aug 1, 2006 - 1:31 pm:
OK, you guys have me confused. Dennis, are you talking about a makeshift "bucking strap"? like the kind you can buy for the kids and it hooks to the "D"s of an english saddle? A lot of dressage riders use these now.
I do a similar thing with unused DrOp nose bands if I need one in a pinch. Instead of hooking to "D"s I use the "D"s that attach to the stirrup bars. It basically gives you a double thickness piece of leather to hold on to. The problem with me is I cant remember to use it !! I am too busy trying to ride the horse with both hands.
These days if I think I am going to get a bit of a "ride" I use my jumping saddle and my deerskin breeches. Wish I rode western some days. That horn looks like it comes in awfully handy sometimes.
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Tuesday, Aug 1, 2006 - 1:39 pm:
Thanks all!
I do have a western with latigo straps and a HORN. I'll be using that for awhile until he relaxes
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Member:
Kthorse
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Posted on Tuesday, Aug 1, 2006 - 1:40 pm:
Dennis is that the bucking strap. You can buy them pretty cheap. I have one and have yet to still put it on my new saddle. I dont use it for bucking anymore thank goodness that part of our life is over . It has a lot of other great uses also. hanging stuff off it etc etc. I really wish I had it today. I hooked a water bottle at the top of my crupper (my saddle slips on his shoulders with our steep hills) right by the saddle while I was tacking up so I would not forget it. Guess what I forgot I put it there. Anyway I was cantering along in the woods and he started acting like a deer fly was bothering him. I stopped and looked behind. Low and behold the water bottle was hanging under his tail banging and swinging along. OM Gosh. It could have been a disaster , My poor sweet horse
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Member:
Dtranch
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Posted on Tuesday, Aug 1, 2006 - 2:50 pm:
A bucking strap it is ....
Can be quite useful for a lot of things, but does make a great handle when needed. KT, you avoided a potential "ride" on that one lol. Unfortunately, been there, done that. Not exactly the same thing, but equally as foolish. Green horse, first time with saddle bags. Only fastened one side of saddle bag, so you can guess what happened.
One other thing regarding sticking ... using the seat is absolutely correct. The more you squeeze your legs to hang on, the more you are pushed up and forward, which is exactly the wrong place to be on a "bucker"
DT
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Tuesday, Aug 1, 2006 - 4:10 pm:
Thanks Dennis, he's more of a "jump to the side 10 feet, stop, and piaffe" kind of guy, but I'm sure what you said about not gripping with the legs still fits Especially when I try to get him forward from the piaffe, this is when I'm afraid of what he'll do. In the past, I've just gotten off, walked him around, then got on again...
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Member:
Kthorse
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Posted on Tuesday, Aug 1, 2006 - 7:09 pm:
Dennis It sure could have been worse. I am laughing to myself now as I think of this water bottle swinging under his tail banging into his butt. What was I thinking. Years ago when he was green well I dont even want to think about it. Sometimes I think we are lucky to live to tell our stories.
Katrina
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