[AutumnAttic]

Autumn walks, trots, and canters both ways. She gives to the bit and has nice transitions. But thats it. Its just around the arena, or in a field, not in excercises.She doesnt know leg pressures, but im trying to teach her. Any tips would be great.

My question is whats next? What do I do now? Whats the step I should work on first? What are some excersises I should start doing or start teaching her ?

[Dancinglite]

You must realize that work on the walk, trot and canter never ceases. You must continue to mold and beautify these gaits as all further training is based on the improvement of them.

There are variations within each gait that will make the horse more supple and responsive. A truly responsive horse is one where the thrust is evenly loaded and the impulsion is fully active against the forehand. This requires that the hindquarters are so attuned to the forehand that the longitudinal flexion can be seen as a straight line with the hind legs travelling very close together and in a direct line with the forelegs.

Once this has been achieved then training in the lateral exercises can be accomplished very easily.

This will include shoulder fore//shoulder-in//leg-yields//turns on the forehand and haunches//pirouettes and travers ( half-pass).

[GriffinsGirl]

Teach her to listen to your seat as an aid and definitely start doing lots of lateral work as soon as possible. If you're having trouble with it, is there a trainer you can find to help you out a bit? I usually train alone too, but when I get to stages like where you are at where I'm ready to take it to the next level, but I"m not sure how, I always try to take a clinic or get a couple of lessons to help point me in the right direction.

[Shotgun93]

Like DL said, training never really stops. There is so much you can expand on in just doing the basic gaits.
Also, like she said, work on lots of lateral bending and flexion, sidepassing, shoulder-in, travare, ect. Also, work a lot on backing, teaching the horse to have his weight more on his hind.
I start to teach leg yields on the ground. I spend time teaching the horse to move off pressure on the ground first by doing lots of yielding the hindquarters and forequarters, and sidepassing. Then, when you ask while riding, it makes that much more sense to them.

[Asfaloth]

What do you plan to use your horse for? For trail horses I teach them to neck rein and move away from leg and to listen to mey seat right on the trail. I love to use really winding up and down kinds of trail wher you ar constantly making turns and switchbacks. It really makes the horse tune in to you when you are using your seat and legs throughout the whole ride. The owners of the horse I ride love the results. Have even had my own horse to the point of being able to canter these trails on a loose rein and another learned flying lead changes this way. Training never stops always reenforce your aids and work on your horses skills. Even older horses benefit from this.

[belle4]

DL,

That was an excellent post. We have been working on walk, trot, and canter for 5 years with Joe. That part of riding never ends. It can always get better.

[QHGirl]

My horse is what others would call "finished"... but I never believe a horse is ever completely finished. I am constantly teaching him something new, refreshing what he was tought, you name it and he is always working.

Focus what you want to teach the horse and find some good books to show you new steps and even visit clinics if you can on that subject to try new ideas!!!!

[JumpsxGlory]

Flat work, flat work, and more flat work! It's the key to eveything you will be doing and with good solid flat work under your belt the rest will be much easier than just working on flat work and on something else at the same time. One step at a time is best. make sure you chnage it up though. Get her bending by doing LOTS of small circles and even some 20mm ones, serpintines, figure eights, and crossing the diagnole so she doesn't get bored. This will teach her proper bending and will begin to teach her to move away from pressure. You need to get her moving forward willingly and she needs to learn how to listen to your seat. Everything is done with your seat and legs. Half halts, bending, everything comes from your seat and legs.

I suggest getting some videos and books to help you teach her and to help teach yourself. The learnign never ends. Even top notch Olympic riders and Olympic level horses have more to learn and there is always room for improvement everywhere.

[JumpsxGlory]

Oh yea, and like others have said teaching lateral work will help teach Autumn to move away from pressure. Dressage is the base to ALL English diciplines. That is why it is suggested that riders start off at Dressage. It teaches proper training for both horse and rider no matter what dicipline you are doing. Start off at the ground with lateral work and move up to the saddle once she grasps the cpncept. I suggest getting Dressage videos and/or books to show you the proper movement for the horse while doing Leg yields, shoulder ins, turn on the forehand, turn on the haunches, and other lateral movements.

[my_cadbury]

Guys this is a really good thread, i am sort of in the same position, but still working on the basics, and soon enough i will be up to this level where i need to start something new. I will start with a trainer to help me 'install' the aids etc so i can start with lateral work, at least that way you know you are teaching your horse properly, and they con offer advice when you are going wrong. I also agree that flatwork is never overdone, keep at those transitions, and mix it up by adding the new things you have learnt. Good luck with the next phase of your learning!!