Bouncy Ride!
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Jazzyjeff
20 Oct 2008 09:52
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I ride a 16 1hh who has a lovely floaty action. The problem is that when we compete this action is increased, and he pushes me up high out of the saddle, and evades any of my aids. For everyone else it's lovely to look at, but for me on his back I struggle to get his attention, and get him moving forward instead of up! Anyone with any training tips, or in a similar predicament?
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dizzy
21 Oct 2008 06:10
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Hi there. I used to have a very similar horse myself - I used to need a little lie down after I'd ridden him! The first thing I can suggest is to make sure your stirrups are not too long - I used to ride mine a hole shorter than on any other horse so that I could stay in balance.
the next thing is that when you train him at home make sure he's really responsive to your leg - do lots of moving him on and back in trot and canter so that you keep him guessing. You can even do that within a movement such as shoulder in or leg yield. The other thing you need to make sure you can do is find ways of relaxing him at home when you are riding him so that you can do that at a show - it seems at a show they get a little tense so then get higher. Stretching on a long rein in the trot is useful.
Does this help at all?
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Jazzyjeff
21 Oct 2008 10:12
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Thanks for your comments. I have found that riding him with rowel spurs, does help to get him to move forward. However, sometimes he can be too forward, but if I don't use them I can't get him to move at all. It's a vicious circle!
We have used leg yield in lessons, as my instructor says in helps to engage his back end (I'm sure if I knew what that meant, I'd agree!) However, his walk is short and tense, and I can't get him to lengthen his stride and stretch to the floor. I am dabbling in some prelim tests as I've never done dressage before. I find that trying to remember the test, and deal with his exaggerated action, leaves me absolutely nakered after 5 mins!
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Emsy99
21 Oct 2008 22:21
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I think you need to think of influencing him with your body more than using your legs! I have an idle horse but by the same token it's very easy to rush him out of his natural rhythm. Also, I'm small and he's big! I have experimented and found that if I 'walk his back with my seat', ie. in walk, move him by moving my seat bones and lifting in a walking sort of action and, as I do this, lifting my rib cage, then I am moving him in a fluid way and that he really responds to. Likewise, if you are in half and wanting to move off in walk, then before you do anything, move the cheek bone of your bottom forward (and lift with your ribcage)on the side he will take his first step. You need to play with it. But think of leading him with your body and not kicking. I think it will also help you to absorb his big action. Don't be overly dependant on your teacher, also try to intuit the best solution yourself by experimenting.
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rush60
06 Nov 2008 21:02
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I am new to dressage also and have about the opposite problem. My horse gets so flat in his movements. He also gets slow when I get tense. The result is a very slow flat walk and trot. I get exhausted just trying to keep him going. He has competed mostly in Western events and also Hunter Under saddle. I have been trying to get him moving in a more supple elastic was with a faster longer stride. At home taking him out in the open does the trick but it is not transferring to the arena yet.
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milsky
07 Nov 2008 16:42
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Is it possible that as he gets tense and his action becomes higher, that you become tense also, which transfers back to him, creating a vicious circle? What we've got to remember whenever we have a problem with our horse is - 'Is it coming from me? Is it something I'm doing?'
I remember riding a horse who 'bounced' every time we turned across the diagonal in canter becasue she was anticipating a difficult movement at the other side! She would almost catapult me out of the saddle! I had to learn to think past the next movement, and try to stay ultra relaxed as we turned across.
Does he do it as soon as he's at a show or just in the test? Maybe taking him to a few shows to school would be a good idea, without the pressure of riding a test, you may both then be able to find a way of coping with the 'Bounce'.
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