Balance and stopping

sparkels55 · 02-12-2005, 06:48 AM

The ring I ride in is uneven and when I try to do a downward transition from the canter, it is very hard for him, taking him until the ground evens out along the straightaway. It is a little muddy too in the ring which makes it harder. I have been doing TONS of transitions and circles to get his balance better. What other exercizes could I do to help his downward transitions?

GeM · 02-12-2005, 08:02 AM

To me, it sounds like the arena is the problem, not your transitions.
I would have the arena dragged with a harrow. If it's hard for your horse to properly do a downward into your ring, there is an obvious arena problem.
If your transitions are ok and you have been doing 'tons' of them, get that ring fixed. It doesn't sound like a great place to ride...that uneven terrain and mud sounds horrible to me.

hunterrider08 · 02-12-2005, 03:17 PM

Unfortunately our ring has the same problem...can you ride better on the diagonal...or don't ask for the transition until you are closer to the level area...I would love to get my ring fixed but its a $$$ thing!!

sparkels55 · 02-12-2005, 03:42 PM

Yeah, its hard since I am just a boarder and can't get the ring fixed even if I had the money. I rode to a flatter field today which was a lot easier for him.

Paintlover · 02-13-2005, 07:27 AM

The Canter/trot transition is the hardest to do in any discipline. They usually get strung out and lug on the bit. What I did with Lou Lou was:
Walk; canter for 1-3 strides; walk
Then I graduated to:
halt;canter left lead one stride;halt; canter right lead one stride; halt.

It really taught her to get light with my hands and walk with energy.

02-12-2005, 06:48 AM	#1
sparkels55 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 331	Balance and stopping The ring I ride in is uneven and when I try to do a downward transition from the canter, it is very hard for him, taking him until the ground evens out along the straightaway. It is a little muddy too in the ring which makes it harder. I have been doing TONS of transitions and circles to get his balance better. What other exercizes could I do to help his downward transitions?

02-12-2005, 08:02 AM	#2
GeM Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 1,928 Images: 22	To me, it sounds like the arena is the problem, not your transitions. I would have the arena dragged with a harrow. If it's hard for your horse to properly do a downward into your ring, there is an obvious arena problem. If your transitions are ok and you have been doing 'tons' of them, get that ring fixed. It doesn't sound like a great place to ride...that uneven terrain and mud sounds horrible to me. __________________ Don't insult the aligator until after you cross the river.

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02-12-2005, 03:17 PM	#3
hunterrider08 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 463	Unfortunately our ring has the same problem...can you ride better on the diagonal...or don't ask for the transition until you are closer to the level area...I would love to get my ring fixed but its a $$$ thing!!

02-12-2005, 03:42 PM	#4
sparkels55 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 331	Yeah, its hard since I am just a boarder and can't get the ring fixed even if I had the money. I rode to a flatter field today which was a lot easier for him.

02-13-2005, 07:27 AM	#5
Paintlover Banned Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,575	The Canter/trot transition is the hardest to do in any discipline. They usually get strung out and lug on the bit. What I did with Lou Lou was: Walk; canter for 1-3 strides; walk Then I graduated to: halt;canter left lead one stride;halt; canter right lead one stride; halt. It really taught her to get light with my hands and walk with energy.