Post by Calaminty Jane on Mar 11, 2013 18:53:05 GMT -5
A nice warm up you can do in 10-15 minutes before you ride or exercises you can do on a trail walk if the footing isn’t good enough to ride yet.
Carol
A horse knows us more intimately then we know ourselves.
You may want to print these out and save a few copies to slip into a pocket when you go out to play with your horse.
Remember to do both sides with every exercise. If one side is much better …. Start with the bad side, then go to the better side and end with the bad side so you do twice as much on the bad side. Begin exercises 1,2 and 3 in leading position. When good, try the same exercises in the 1st sending position at the ribs.
ON THE GROUND
Leading your horse: When leading you are slightly in front of the drive line. Just were the neck meets the shoulder.
Sending your horse: When sending you are behind the drive line. First at the ribs, then hip and finally you are one rein driving from just behind your horse but always a sticks distance off to the side.
1. Speeds with in the gait at a walk and then a trot.
2. Inside turns and outside turns. Turn your head… turn your shoulders. In the beginning, on outside turns you may have to raise your outside hand like a stop sign to push the eye if your horse doesn’t follow your suggestion of head and shoulders.
3. Stopping and backing from the shoulder traveling down the fence. Don’t stop without your horse.
4. Send on a circle. Back your horse up and step the shoulder over then send on a circle. Leg yield out a few strides and back on the circle, first by pushing the shoulder out then back on the circle Next push the ribs out just a stride or 2 then… back on the circle. Your rein hand turns and lifts slightly as though you where turning a key in a lock. This is what your rein would do when riding.
5. Send along the fence. The fence becomes your outside rein.
6. Leg Yield Allow the horse to come off the fence a few strides and leg yield him back. Remember, just a few strides.
7. Follow the Feel exercise. Be sure to try to get lateral flexion first, then “kiss” to move the horse’s feet. Should be done slowly without the horse anticipating or rushing.
UNDER SADDLE
Finding your horses natural rhythm in each gait. Practicing changing gait without changing speed or rhythm. Practicing walk – canter –walk transitions is the easiest way to explain to your horse that a change of gait does not mean a change of speed. Walk … 3 strides canter… walk….3 strides canter etc.
Carol
A horse knows us more intimately then we know ourselves.
You may want to print these out and save a few copies to slip into a pocket when you go out to play with your horse.
Remember to do both sides with every exercise. If one side is much better …. Start with the bad side, then go to the better side and end with the bad side so you do twice as much on the bad side. Begin exercises 1,2 and 3 in leading position. When good, try the same exercises in the 1st sending position at the ribs.
ON THE GROUND
Leading your horse: When leading you are slightly in front of the drive line. Just were the neck meets the shoulder.
Sending your horse: When sending you are behind the drive line. First at the ribs, then hip and finally you are one rein driving from just behind your horse but always a sticks distance off to the side.
1. Speeds with in the gait at a walk and then a trot.
2. Inside turns and outside turns. Turn your head… turn your shoulders. In the beginning, on outside turns you may have to raise your outside hand like a stop sign to push the eye if your horse doesn’t follow your suggestion of head and shoulders.
3. Stopping and backing from the shoulder traveling down the fence. Don’t stop without your horse.
4. Send on a circle. Back your horse up and step the shoulder over then send on a circle. Leg yield out a few strides and back on the circle, first by pushing the shoulder out then back on the circle Next push the ribs out just a stride or 2 then… back on the circle. Your rein hand turns and lifts slightly as though you where turning a key in a lock. This is what your rein would do when riding.
5. Send along the fence. The fence becomes your outside rein.
6. Leg Yield Allow the horse to come off the fence a few strides and leg yield him back. Remember, just a few strides.
7. Follow the Feel exercise. Be sure to try to get lateral flexion first, then “kiss” to move the horse’s feet. Should be done slowly without the horse anticipating or rushing.
UNDER SADDLE
Finding your horses natural rhythm in each gait. Practicing changing gait without changing speed or rhythm. Practicing walk – canter –walk transitions is the easiest way to explain to your horse that a change of gait does not mean a change of speed. Walk … 3 strides canter… walk….3 strides canter etc.