tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3646588157055965553.post8838377925961884584..comments2023-06-30T04:21:06.756-07:00Comments on Diary of a Young Horse: Bending!Suziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18404367535441835295noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3646588157055965553.post-74748507785840242312008-03-06T21:32:00.000-08:002008-03-06T21:32:00.000-08:00I agree with both dressagemom and jme although I h...I agree with both dressagemom and jme although I hadn't heard the term shoulder-fore before.Rising Rainbowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04239592070775412669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3646588157055965553.post-3901023250867139822008-03-06T16:45:00.000-08:002008-03-06T16:45:00.000-08:00Sounds like you are doing just fine. I agree with ...Sounds like you are doing just fine. I agree with the other comments. So there is nothing else to add except take your time and it will all fall into place.Grey Horse Mattershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05837575441967937196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3646588157055965553.post-34020194740634915822008-03-06T07:21:00.000-08:002008-03-06T07:21:00.000-08:00it sounds as if you are on the right track. just ...it sounds as if you are on the right track. just a thought: i have found that exaggerating the inside flexion, particularly just the neck, to achieve the outside rein connection can make the horses a bit defensive of their balance, and can result in the habit of losing either the hind end or the shoulder to the outside, particularly in transitions. <BR/><BR/>i usually school horses to take the outside rein like this: walk on a circle on a loose rein; adopt a 'turning seat' (inside leg at girth, outside slightly behind, inside seat-bone forward and weighted, outside slightly back, inside shoulder BACK, outside shoulder slightly forward to follow the rein being taken forward on that side); use the inside rein very lightly behind the wither to indicate direction as needed, otherwise, keep it slack. then, gently apply the inside leg, encouraging the horse to move her ribcage away from your leg. don’t worry if she drifts laterally – that’s the point!<BR/><BR/>as the horse begins to bend, resist the urge to take up the inside rein, but instead, allow the horse's slight bend to fill out the outside rein and keep a light, following contact on the outside only. Your outside rein will now limit the lateral drift. resist the temptation to use the outside leg aggressively to stop the circle getting bigger, but just hold it in a supporting position. You will control the circle by balancing the use of your inside leg and outside rein only.<BR/><BR/>you should be able to keep the horse on the circle and slightly bent using ONLY your seat position, your inside leg and outside rein. it sounds nuts, but it works. Obviously, you won’t ride this way forever, but it is a great learning exercise for your horse because it removes any unnecessary distractions or complications, and shows just how much you can do with minimal aids (i have a big, goofy warmblood who can now canter a perfectly balanced 10m circle with no inside rein if I want!) It takes a while, but stick with it, and quit for the day once you get it the first time or two… after that, it’s a great exercise to play with while you warm up at the walk, etc.<BR/><BR/>then, as you get further on with this, (i'd recommend always making your transitions on a curved track at the beginning) you can support the inside flexion with the inside rein when you go to make your canter-walk/trot transition while half-halting the outside rein to compress the frame, bring both hind legs under, and rebalance through the transition.<BR/><BR/>anyway, i hope all of that made sense. good luck with Echo. it sounds as if you both have a bright future ahead :-)jmehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04295140724737185132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3646588157055965553.post-5544374438922704802008-03-05T10:02:00.000-08:002008-03-05T10:02:00.000-08:00Try asking for shoulder-fore at the canter. Then ...Try asking for shoulder-fore at the canter. Then just as you approach the corner, still in shoulder-fore, ask for the downward transition. This way she will already be engaged and (hopefully) off of her forehand by doing shoulder-fore and the corner will help to slow her down so she doesn't run off at the trot. <BR/><BR/>She might not get it at first because this will put a lot of pressure on her inside hind and she might want to run from the pressure. She'll need to build it up, but using your corners and her body positioning will help you create nice downward transitions. <BR/><BR/>This is a nice short article about shoulder-fore - <BR/><BR/>http://www.equisearch.com/horses_riding_training/english/dressage/shoulderfore_030504/<BR/><BR/>Let me know if this helps!Dressage Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13741448152235721941noreply@blogger.com