Practicing alone

Mirya R · Yearling

Practicing alone

Gary Stuart · Well Schooled

What are you doing when you are on your own?

Mirya R · Yearling

Basically, just what we practiced in the last lesson, but she still seems bored.

Barnmouser Ash · Grand Prix

Hi Mirya! Welcome to the forums and congrats on getting your first horse! It's a very exciting experience :)

To be honest and entirely helpful about how to keep your horse's mind active and engaged, we'd need to know more about what you train in, what kind of things your trainer schools you in, etc. But in general you can make it a habit to take what your trainer teaches you and try to modify it into different forms. For example, if your trainer wants you to work on your horses agility and learning how to control strides before jumps, you could set up some gridwork at home. You can modify jumps to look flashy and scary, or set up new obstacles like small oxers. Always keep in mind the safety of yourself and your horse, and remember not to push her or yourself past your comfort zone.

If you get really bored at home, try setting up fun obstacles like bridges, pool noodles with ribbons (I can't remember what they're called but its an archway you can walk under that has ribbons and stuff hanging down. It really tests how much your horse trusts you and is willing to take on new obstacles!), or take up a new activity like gymkhana or teach her tricks.

:) Hope you have fun with your (relatively) new horse. Stay safe and ride on!
Cheers

Mirya R · Yearling

Thanks for your advice! Getting a horse is an exciting experience!

I started doing smaller jumps in the summer, and have basically been improving my position over the jumps since them. I'll try your idea of the obstacles like bridges and pool noodles, see what my coach has under her sleeve.

I don't think her last owner did much with tricks with Indy, of course I will. Her last owner is at a much higher level than me, so that might explain some of the boredom.

In my flat classes, I'm working alot on timing, preparation and giving subtle aids while keeping my position. Me and my mare specifically need to work on pace controll at the canter and going more on the bit. She likes to think she's a racehorse sometimes and stick her nose out.

Thanks again for your advice!

Barnmouser Ash · Grand Prix

:) That sounds like a good plan! You can also work on things like improving her balance, which will help with stride control. There are a lot of various techniques you can use to help build up her muscle in her hindquarters as well as topline. I'm sure she's not lacking a ton of muscle as you said she's "been there and done that", but it can never help to build up and improve balance. This could also help with her pushing on your hands and breaking frame. She might be doing this because she's unbalanced and lacks the physical muscle to hold herself in a really balanced manner. Things like leg yields, working with shoulders in or shoulders out on the rail, side passing, and rollbacks will all help improve her balance and build muscle so she can collect up and hold herself more properly. These will add some spice to your flatwork and should help level her out some so that she is more comfortable moving into your pressure, rather than trying to get ahead of it.

If you're looking to *really* further her performance and build up her balance, I suggest checking out Jean Luc Cornille's Science of Motion. His videos will help you understand the difference between a truly "forward" moving horse, and a horse that is just moving quickly.

Anyway, I hope this helps some, and don't hesitate to ask any questions you may have. :) Can't wait to hear about your successes!

Mirya R · Yearling

Thank you so much for the great advice, I'll keep that all in mind for when I ride her. I'll check out Jean Luc Cornille's videos aswell!

I'll try some more leg yeilds and shoulders in and out on the rail. I didn't think about her balance when I was wondering how to get her morein frame and pace controll, but it makes sense.

Yesterday, I got into frame, and it was so cool!!

I'll keep you posted on how we've been doing, and if I have some more questions!

Thank you!

Kairen Jamieson · Yearling

You can be inventive with pole work to keep boredom at bay.

Placing 4 poles on a 20 metre circle spaced for trot or canter will not only break the bordom it will challenge your riding as you try to stay in the centre...or on an outside line.

Placing trotting poleson the zig zag or surpintine while riding for the centre will not only help develop the eye....but keeps you focusing on flexion changes, leg/seat aids while working this one.

Cantering poles while working on distances to them will also help develop rythym and the eye.

You can also place two poles beside each other and work on roll backs at the trot/canter without having to worry about a fence....this will improve your corners and eye coming off a tight turn too.

All these should keep you and your girl from getting bored.

Eclipse · Yearling

To keep your horse interested and to keep her on her toes. Go from like leg yeild to back up to canter to walk and just jeep everything mixed up. And make different shapes that may not be typical.

Also to get your horse turning and in control you could do a three loop serpentine with simple lead changes and focusing on balancing around the turns. The turns would also keep her slower too.

Mirya R · Yearling

I'm so excited to ride her tonight!

I'm going to try a bunch of these great ideas, this should help alot!

Thank you so much for the advice!

I'll tell you how it went when I get back from the barn!

Barnmouser Ash · Grand Prix

:) Best of luck Mirya! Can't wait to hear how it goes for you!

Eventing101 · Well Schooled

for leg yielding, what i do is set poles on the ground, spaced enough apart so your horse can legyield through them. so what you do after you set those up is you try to have her legyield through the space in between the poles, i find that that really helped my leg yeilding!

knitty · Yearling

Pole work is a favourite of mine. It keeps the minds of both horse and rider engaged without the added pressure of an obstacle.

Michelle Synnot · Yearling

Hey there..

I've got both the 101 jumping and 101 dressage exercises books and they are great for flat work ideas, they have all kinds of stuff in there from beginner to advanced.. check it out..

http://www.amazon.com/101-Dressage-Exercises-Horse-Rider/dp/1580175953/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1296678165&sr=1-1

Mirya R · Yearling

So the reason I have not posted anything in so long is because I have been waiting for something to happen. So I have been consistently doing all sizes if circles, serpintines, and leg yeilding and finally, after doing very slow sitting trot serpintines about 5 times in each direction, she finally, tucked her nose in and we stayed like that for a really long time, just slow sitting trot serpintines. Then I tried posting and had to do the whole thing over again. But that is definety a major inprovement in my mind from "wannabee race-horse" to "I'm-going-to-cooperate-for-half-an-hour-than-be-done-for-the-rest-of-the-week"
So basically I have been waiting for signs os improvement, plus my own laziness to where off, to post something.

Thank you all again for the advice, it is staring to show.

deb · Well Schooled

Hi

I have never been in this position... I started my career on a horse that I had to rebreak... and my next horse was a green three year old. One had broken a girls arm, and the other was a rig, and had gone through three experienced trainers and 'broken' up all three pretty badly (I will add that this was not known to me until after I had bought the horse-- I am not that crazy! So unlike what I should have done and gone with an experienced horse when I knew almost nothing... I went the wrong way... and went with difficult and unexperienced... you on the other hand are going the right way... and I might add the way I always told my students to go!!!
So the suggestions I had for them, and you... if you are jumping... do lots of grids that are a challenge to you and the mare, spend lots of ground time with your horse... she will love it and you and will be tollerant of the times when she is board... and bring treats if she loves them... don't be shy of stopping in the middle of the warm up, or warm down and offer a small treat of some kind (as long as she isn't too hot)... that is always a real kick for a horse.. green or experienced... and my fav. go on lots of hacks... horses of all diciplines and any level of experience enjoy this... plus it makes them even more bomb proof... and a buddy in the ring is another thing horses love... other than that think of one other thing... horses don't mind easy days either... and to your horse you are an easy day... kind of like doing easy math a couple of days a week... in a heavy course. take care deb

Mirya R · Yearling

Thank you for the advice, I hope your horses don't cause too much trouble for you! I'll keep the treats in mind next time I ride. Unfortunately the trails at the barn I board my horse at are not ideal, but when we do go out, she loves it. I'll try to arrange one of my friends to ride with me when I'm practicing. I think Indy has lots of easy days to kill, so that won't be a problem. I do have more experienced riders riding her though, so that is good.

Thanks again for the advice!

Deborah Hopkins · Yearling

If you want to change things up a bit for you and your horse, go online and print off some training level (or higher) dressage tests.
Memorize the pattern, then try it out next time you ride. You could look for westerns patterns to ride as well. Your horse won't know what's coming next, and you'll be busy remembering what your next movement is supposed to be.

Mirya R · Yearling

My coach has mentioned trying her out in a western saddle, said it would be good for her. I'll ask her about it.

kschmittendorf · Well Schooled

Don't forget that ground work is a great way to establish your trust and respect with your horse and a fun way to do different things! You don't always have to ride to train both your horse and yourself!

sedonasilver · Advanced

Maybe she is arena stale? Imagine how boring going to school could be if all you ever did was sit in class and do the same things that you can do with your eyes closed over and over and over.... Remember how exciting it was just to be allowed to have a class outside, or somewhere different?

Too many people get caught in the trap of schooling only in the arena and never venturing out except for shows.

While its important to mix up your schooling, its equally important to let your horse relax and be ridden without being forced to 'tune out' from the same old boring exercises.

Ride out!! Have fun!! You can still practice your schooling exercises on the trails/in a paddock if you want, but it'll wake your mare up a bit - give her a change of scenery :)

Mirya R · Yearling

I'll ask my coach if I can ride outside, I've never really ridden in the snow before.

Mirya R · Yearling

Yeah, I was thinking about doing some halter work with her, but its been cold, and all I want to do when I get to the barn is warm up!

sedonasilver · Advanced

Oooh its winter out there huh? Brrrrr! Riding in snow - now thats likely to be an experience I'll never encounter here in Western Australia :S Good luck :)

Barbara F · Grand Prix

Hey Sedona, I'm very jealous of your warm weather. It's minus 4 today in Toronto and we are all excited that is will warm up to 9 degrees in a few days!

sedonasilver · Advanced

Haha 9 degress? i'm cold just thinking about it! You poor thing, Barbara!

We had a minimum of 24 degrees celcius last night - it was nearly impossible to sleep :S Plus I went riding yesterday evening and Lorenzo looked at me like i was crazy when i walked in to the stables with his saddle ... "Wait, you expect me to WORK in this??" We swam around the arena in the humidity :S

Mirya R · Yearling

Its been freezing over here! I was at the barn all day yesterday and came home consuming large quantities of hot drinks and taking a long hot shower! I wouldn't mind hanging out in Western Australia right about now! And just to torture us it was really warm and fantastic for one day, then went right back down! though, you have to say, galloping through the snow is lots of fun when you get the chance.