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Fiorano
19 Jan 2012 11:23
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I have a lovely little 14.2hh mare who I've owned for two years now and is 6. She has turned out to be a bit of a superstar in the dressage. However, we have now moved up to competing at Novice level and as such needs to be more accepting of the bit. She can carry herself and often feels like she is working through but often, she will drop behind or above the bit and hollow. If I get one more judges comment about needs to be more accepting of the contact I think I will scream!!! Please, anyone, tips and advice very gratefully received.
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freya23
19 Jan 2012 20:11
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Although I am in no real position for this I will try and help!
With my pony I have to make sure she is going nice and forward at all times, by herself.
I also find that playing with the flexion/counter flexion in both trot and canter can really help to get her to hold the contact better.
I also do a lot of stretching and loosening at the start of a session as this seems to really make a lot of difference when I eventually pick her up. :)
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Fiorano
22 Jan 2012 21:59
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Thank You Freya, I took your advice and used the counter flexion to help her relax. She was a little resistant to it at first but when she 'gave' I gave and in the end we had some really nice work. :)
Will definately keep it up and hopefully, we won't make a complete fool of ourselves this coming weekend at our competion.
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freya23
23 Jan 2012 19:27
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Ah good, i am glad its worked for you to.
Good luck at your show!:)
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Horse Hero Guru
23 Jan 2012 19:57
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Hi Fiorano
I am sorry not to have replied before, but Freya has given you good advice. By using flexion and counter flexion you are not trying to force her to work to a fixed and rigid contact but are keeping everything flexible and forward going.
The important thing to remember the contact is two way, and that it is your hands that are holding the bit you want your pony to accept. Your pony is far more likely to accept a contact if it is soft, elastic and steady. If your pony is evading contact by dropping behind or above the bit then she is looking for any way she can to lose it, so you have to teach her to keep the contact by making it the most comfortable way for her to work.
Good luck at your competition
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Fiorano
23 Jan 2012 21:26
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Thank you Guru.
She is proving to be quite difficult with the contact but we are making steady progress. She is the sort of pony I can 'hold' in an outline but of course this is not a true outline working over her back, and as we are hoping to move up the dressage levels, she really does need to be more accepting of the contact. As she is built uphill, lengthening her neck is quite difficult.
Sorry, I'm rambling....lol
Thanks for the good wishes for the competition, I'm sure we will do well :)
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