Schooling alone vs in a lesson

kschmittendorf · Well Schooled

Schooling alone vs in a lesson

Barbara F · Grand Prix

Been there, done that!

My horse always goes better in my lesson becauase I ride better with my coach's input every step of the way.

Without the eyes on the ground it is so easy to fall back into the bad habits that we all have - and that our horses know so well.

If you are just starting dressage lessons, it could be possible that your horse is a bit sore with the work and that is why he is a bit resentful of doing it. A massage might do him wonders!

Now, back to you. On your own, start with the simple stuff. If you are just starting out learning to ride dressage, think about the scale of training when you are on your own and just try to accomplish one level at a time.

The scale of training is: Rhythm - Suppleness - Contact - Impulsion - Straightness Collection

The theory behind this is that you must have the first before you can attain the second, and so forth.

So don't be too hard on yourself. When you are on your own, just start by focusing on rhythm. Count to make sure there is the same "beat" between every stride, no matter what you are doing. Wait until you see how hard that is! Then, once you have a set, unchanging rhythm, try some transitions within the gaits while keeping a rhythm. That in itself is enough to keep you busy in between lessons!

Once you have established rhythm, you can move on to suppleness. Focus on round 20 metre circles, as opposed to those 21 metre ovals we all do sometimes. Focus on placing your serpentines exactly where you want them and changing the bend where you want to change it. Focus on improving the forward and back within the gaits. Even these simple exercises will give you a solid plan and something to focus on. You can continue to move on from there. :)

Oh a bit of food for thought: If your horse is heavy in your hands, it has to be fixed from behind. If you have a good coach, she/he will be able to help you with that!

Jackie Cochran · Advanced

Are you using your legs as much when riding alone as you do in the lesson?
It takes two to pull so when a horse I ride starts pulling I advance my hand and use my legs, alternating, using my leg as the horse's barrel swings away from it. When I feel the horse's hind end working more I then re-establish contact (more leg) and ride on contact until the horse starts leaning again.
It may take some work until your horse is strong enough to reliably keep good contact.

Sonia · Well Schooled

I've been going through this with my young gelding and what I began to realize is that I was relying on my coach or other eyes on the ground to point out what I wasn't doing. I realized that I didn't know how to 'listen' to my horse. I've really had to take a look at myself and think about what I'm doing and react or be proactive into what he's going to do. We are now having better schooling sessions on our own.

It was a huge eye opening experience for me but in the end it will make me a better rider and him a better horse!

kschmittendorf · Well Schooled

So I have another question now. How often should I school him? I ride 6 days a week (am very lucky to be able to do that!) and on the weekends we trail ride or I will do ground work with him. I vary the ground work, not just lunge line, but jumping him over small jumps, teaching him to put one foot on a log or just step over with two feet and side pass. We lesson on Mondays and then during the week schooling. Should I vary where we school ( I have access to both arena and 40 acres of cleared pasture) or vary how often and just hack around the pasture in between schooling? I don't want him to get bored or arena sour.

Jackie Cochran · Advanced

Gee, you lucky lady! You get to ride 6 days a week.
My first, and after sleeping on it second reaction is to ask your horse what he is up to doing that day. Personally I would take full advantage of the 40 acre pasture. I presume that your lesson is in the ring. Depending on what your horse says I would only do one more time a week riding in the ring.
In the pasture you have enough room to really work on the three speeds of each gait, slow, medium, and fast. Right now I think it would be better not to try and collect too much, but the three speeds exercise in the pasture without collection will give you a good basis for whatever you want to do later. It helps with the longitudinal suppleness of your horse, and it gives him training to come back when you ask him to. If he is still insisting on leaning on your hands out in the pasture experiment with slack rein riding and make him carry his own head. Just remember that the faster your horse goes the more support he will seek from your hand, and that with the slower gaits you want lighter contact. Try to find some hills too, going up and down hill is a great exercise to supple and strengthen the hind legs. Build up slowly.
If you work hard one day take it easy the next day or two because at first, he will probably be sore. After a few months of regular training this will be less of an issue.
Training a horse is never ending, and absolute perfection never comes. Learn to value the moments in which your horse is perfect, but do not expect perfection all the time thereafter. Just because he did it perfectly yesterday does not mean that he is capable of perfection today. Be patient.