tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3646588157055965553.post8663562982935533485..comments2023-06-30T04:21:06.756-07:00Comments on Diary of a Young Horse: Some progressSuziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18404367535441835295noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3646588157055965553.post-90331355680902505412008-01-01T13:17:00.000-08:002008-01-01T13:17:00.000-08:00I will have a think about this. I only ever canter...I will have a think about this. I only ever canter her in a light seat, and I try to make my trot/canter transitions in a light seat. I hadn't really thought about doing this at other times, but I will experiment a little. Thank you.<BR/><BR/>With regards to the dressage stallions, I hate seeing young horses forced into an advanced outline too early. I have no doubt that some horses bred for dressage just have a fantastically natural ability to go like that - I've witnessed it myself when we were breaking a youngster at my old boss' yard. As soon as he had a rider on he was in an outline, trotting around like a dressage horse. You would have thought he was twice his actual age. I don't mind seeing youngsters worked in an outline - it's the only way a horse can truly carry a rider without putting a strain on his back, but what I hate is seeing youngsters pulled up into an advanced position. Most of the horses prepared for auctions are ridden like this: head very high and lots of extension. These horses then have to go right back to basics before they can go correctly.Suziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18404367535441835295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3646588157055965553.post-89147145115328768132007-12-31T11:03:00.000-08:002007-12-31T11:03:00.000-08:00Happy New Year :) A little thought on riding Echo ...Happy New Year :) <BR/>A little thought on riding Echo and your current little blips with speed...I know dressage horses are generally trained differently than show jumpers but here is what I would suggest...Maybe try shortening your stirrups and ride her in a more 'off the back' seat - like a two-point seat or simply fold a little forward and take your weight off her back. I am not saying you are doing something wrong now but seeing she is only three years old she might be telling you that her muscles are not yet ready for the upright dressage position you seem to ride her in. When I worked with young stallions they were ridden in a sort of two point seat/light seat only for the first 6 to 8 months (almost up until they were 4.5 years old) and only then we would lenghten the stirrups and sit deeper. Maybe try to go into two point during transitions which will encourage her to work over the back and offer it more readily. <BR/>On my youngsters I used to take them out hacking and trotted them for a while in two-point of half seat on a stretched contact (connected that is - not loose rein) - they loved it! and were much more supple to school later.<BR/>Like you said she most likely isn't in pain but maybe just 'feeling the overall strain' of training. <BR/>If you hold good contact and ride forward with energy your folded position shouldn't make her go on the forehand.<BR/>Anyway, I might be completaly off the mark here but that is how I have been taught. I am only learning about this dressage malarky now :) <BR/><BR/>This is a bit off topic but while at Olympia I saw a presentation of 3 year old stallions from Warendorf - all ridden in a deep, dressage seat looking like Novice champions. I was really shocked to see that :(Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14036104794835542928noreply@blogger.com