[angels3]

So i'm trying to get my horse to be collected/ rounded (same thing??) but I don't know if i'm doing it correctly. I do lots of walk trot canter transitions, but im also doing something called the rocking horse (when you back the horse 4 strides and make hime walk forward 4 strides) and he seems to start working his hind end more. But im also tightening my inside rein to turn his head to the inside. Am I doing the right things or should I be doing something else

[Showrider]

I think it really depends on the training of the horse since every horse I get on seems to have a different 'way' to work properly on the bit. Also different instructors teach different ways to get a horse collected.. I don't really think theres a textbook method anymore.

The general idea is using your legs to squeeze while firmly holding your inside rein, then 'giving and taking' with your outside rein. This works for most horses I've ridden anyways. If not that, instead of holding one rein, use your legs still to drive the horse forward but give and take with each rein- right hand forward, left hand back etc etc. Like a seesaw action. Don't rattle the heck out of your horses teeth tho, just give and take until he rounds up and then relax your hands.

I'm no instructor but its what works for me and what I've been taught Good luck!

[allison finch]

PLEASE...no "see-saw" motion!

Frame and collection are NOT created with your hand pulling back on the horses mouth. It is created by moving your horse FORWARD through your leg into the bridle. Any "see-sawing" will only back your horse out of the bridle again. You want your horse to trust that outside rein and seek to move into that rein. That will help him bend and balance better. If you keep jerking that outside rein, it will move the horse onto the inside rein causing it to become too heavy on the inside shoulder. This will decrease the bend and balance.

Move him into a steady, kind outside rein and keep him forward and more forward into a contact.


BTW, see-sawing is a shortcut to an improper frame. One that creates an "artificial frame". That said, subtle small half halts may be useful, but not in any rhythmic constantly nagging manner.

[Gutter_Doll]

Collection is nothing more than backing off your hands and moving foreward off your legs.
When the horse has a great GO button
And an excellent STOP and backup button,

collection is just putting them together.
You get those things by a lot of bending, lateral flextion, leg yeilding, and transitions.

[angels3]

These are the clearest definitions on how to do this..Thanks guys you don't know how long I look and they say a bunch of stuff on what collection is but not how to get it so thanks

[MysticRealm]

IF you can sit the trot properly that can help a great deal in putting them together. It also helps you figure out when they are working properly as they get easier to sit the better they are working through their backs.
I was riding my green horse yesterday and he has such a BIG lofty trot that I often shy away from doing sitting trot but I forced myself to yesterday and after 10 minutes I could easily sit the trot cause his back was lifted and he had become more connected.
(Of course just sitting the trot on a floppy rein as your horse plods along won't help but if you are working on getting the horse to collect then sitting the trot can help)