Hi,

I'm looking for help with a girl and horse that I train. I've been teaching them for about a month, and their main issue is getting the horse moving forward and being enthusiastic towards his work. He's an Irish Draught 6yo, who's had little schooling and only been hunted. The rider is pretty inexperienced and loses her confidence and determination very quickly.

I started just by telling her to use her legs less as she nagged with her feet a lot. To get a canter transition she was all over the place, throwing the horse off balance and flapping like a 4yo on a Shetland. Since we've been working on her walk and trot work, getting him to carry himself and her to be more relaxed, and knowing when to release the pressure from her legs and reins.

Anyway, after teaching her yesterday, I asked her to do half of a simple dressage test. It turned out she couldn't manage it even in a 40x60m arena, giving her plenty of time to sort herself out for transitions. I'm trying to get through to her that she's got to be more on the ball and ride him more, rather than sitting there until the last minute and thinking "oh damn I should have walked there". By the end of the lesson she was pretty upset about not accomplishing anything that lesson (please note, this has not happened frequently - I tend to get her confidence up by doing exercises I know the horse will respond well to, but also making her do things that point out hers and the horse's flaws, in order for her to progress).

Ultimately, she wants to jump, she she can't get a good canter transition (and right canter is at a complete loss, as he injured his off-fore about a year ago and since she's been too kind on the right rein for fear of hurting him) - he won't pick his feet up over coloured poles on the ground, has no respect for them or for what she's asking of him, and she can't balance herself in a half seat.

All of these we are both well aware of. I teach her once a week, and in the lessons she understand me and we progress, but in between lessons she doesn't seem to put into practise what we've learnt. We are based at the same yard, but are rarely up or riding at the same time. I've told her that if she has issues or needs help to come and ask me, but she rarely does. I'm determined to get her and her horse working, but I don't seem to be getting through to her that she has to help him. Because she is inexperienced (and I don't mean to sound rude, but she can be lazy) she's looking for other ways to make him feel good, like hunting or doing cross country training - although I've emphasised that they're not ready for this, I know she's still trying to jump him when I'm not there. I always hear about it as people know that I'm trying to help her, but she thinks that outside of lessons they're a different horse and rider.

Sorry for such an essay... I'm at a bit of a loose end. I've told her time and time again that Rome wasn't built in a day, that it'll take time and patience to get him up and running properly, but she just seems to give up unless she gets an instant result.

I've taught other people very similar, but not quite as ready to give up as soon as they reach the first hurdle.

Any advice, exercises, anything would be hugely appreciated. I'm hoping we'll sort out her canter transitions within the next 6 weeks - aiming and short and low goals to keep them both happy.

Thank you

xx

Others here will tell you-I'm normally the voice of negativity.
And here I go again;

Until that changes to SHES determined no exercise or words of wisdom from you, Us or a perfect stranger is going to change things.

Not everyone has or wants the discipline to be a competitive rider.
Maybe her glich in the horseworld is as a recreational rider.

Have the two of you actually sat down and talked, to see if your both on the same page.

Hi Torabella,

I'm kate and i'm new. Was reading your post with interest. I used to own an irish draught. They are notoriously difficult to get to go forward. I used a method taught to me by my trainer. I rode with two whips, one in each hand. I gave my horse the aid for trot and gave him a second to respond. I then began tapping simultaneously with both whips, increasing the intensity of taps until he went forward. As soon as he responded by going forward i stopped tapping and praised him. I only had to do this twice. After that, every time i gave the aid for trot he would respond immediately. I don't think, from reading your post that your client will be able to carry out this exercise effectively. So, if you do want to try it you might want to get on the horse yourself.

From your post, it sounds as though your client has no core strength and poor balance. I find that some rider's benefit from walk canter transitions before learning trot canter transitions as they are more able to keep their balance as they don't have to do sitting trot. You could try putting her on the lunge so that she can focus on her position and balance without having to focus on steering the horse as well. Sorry for waffling on and on and on ....just some thoughts ..

I googled this information.

1. Give one feather light squeeze with both calves.

2. Your horse must react instantly and eagerly. If he does not, DO NOT adjust your aid by repeating it or making it stronger. If you do, you are letting your horse train you!

3. Instead, correct him by chasing him forward. Before you actually correct your horse for a dull or non-existent reaction to your leg, consider his temperament. The easy-going fellow might need a few taps with the whip or a few bumps from your legs to send him forward.

But the sensitive soul might only need a brush with the whip to get the same reaction. The point is to get a clearly forward, hot-off-the-leg answer. You do not want to terrorize him.

Also, if your horse is the type that bucks when you use the whip, it is better to bump him with your legs instead. First of all, you do not want to get bucked off!

In addition, if he bucks, he is obviously not going forward, so he has missed the whole point of why you corrected him.

So, close both of your legs very lightly on his sides to ask for his version of a lengthening. If he does not respond, send him forward for eight or ten strides by tapping with the whip or giving him a couple of bumps with your legs.

Keep in mind that at this point, all you are looking for is some type of forward reaction. It doesn't necessarily have to be a pretty answer. It is fine if he puts his head up in the air and rushes off. None of those reactions matter in the beginning.

Your only goal when you start this process is to get some kind of enthusiastic answer that shows your horse is paying attention to you.

While you are sending him forward, maintain a light contact with his mouth, but do not give any rein aids. There is no point in using the reins if he's not thinking forward.

4. Once you have chased him forward, go back to a normal working trot. Ask for the lengthening again by RETESTING with a light leg aid. Retesting by closing both calves lightly is the most important step in the entire process. If you do not retest, your horse only becomes duller. That is because you have only taught him to go forward when he feels the whip or kicking. You have not taught him anything about reacting to a light leg aid unless you retest.

5. Accept nothing less than a 100% response.
If his reaction to your legs is better or pretty good but not wholeheartedly forward, repeat the whole process from the beginning until he makes a 100% effort.

6. When you RETEST, if he responds by immediately going forward energetically, praise generously. At this point it is still okay if he breaks into the canter when you do the retest. Later on, through repetition and reward, you can explain to him that you just want a lengthening in the trot. But for the moment, ANY forward reaction deserves to be rewarded.