Extensions

XmasAngel98 · 09-09-2003, 01:28 PM

Hi! Does anyone have any helpful hints on getting a horse to do good extensions? My mare moves out, but not to her full potential. I find myself really tightening my back and thighs. Any suggestions? Thanks!

Dawn · 09-09-2003, 03:56 PM

Will she on a lunge?

XmasAngel98 · 09-09-2003, 07:53 PM

Yes, she does them quite well on the lunge line along the long side of the arena. I know it's a rider problem, but I'm just not sure what to do to solve it. If only I was rich and could afford more lessons.... frown

Dawn · 09-09-2003, 07:57 PM

I was actually thinking more along the lines of saddle fit. Or possibly rider weight (not that I'm saying you weigh too much, lol just that the added weight might make it more difficult.)

Trigger_Boy · 09-10-2003, 04:32 PM

I have a 16 yearold gelding who is quite big for a QH he is 16.2
he has massive feet and he wasn't quite opening his strides for me...

What I did was use a method I worked out with some of my schooling kids..

Start off and ask your horse to extend its trot... ask the horse to go as fast as it can at a trot... do not let them lope, bring them down again if they do...

you'll know its an extended trot when you can barely post to it lol...

next do the same thng at a walk... have walking races with some fellow riders... ask the horse to walk as quick as possible... if they trot bring them down and back them up 4 steps and ask again...
soo th horse will learn its easyer to stretch out then to fight with you!

Good luck
Mike
horse Trainer & clinicain!

Dawn · 09-10-2003, 06:13 PM

That could possibly work, but if you just ask for a "fast" trot especially with children. You're likely to get that, a short, fast, choppy trot with no impulsion.

sparkels55 · 10-03-2003, 04:50 PM

I have the same problem with my gelding. He is a nice mover, goes down on the bit, round, but i want to get that leg extension in the trot, where it looks like they are almost floating. Or where they flick their leg out. Sometimes when i ask him to extend he just speeds up instead of lengthening his stride. Any Suggestions???
Thanks

Madeline · 10-03-2003, 05:08 PM

A good way to get an extended trot (at least this is the way the horses i ride are trained) alternate the pressure from one side to the other. so apply pressure with one leg/heal on one side and then do it on the other alternating. this usually gets them to extend. but like i said thats just the way the horses i ride are trained.

Horsebrat20 · 10-07-2003, 04:35 PM

I'm not sure if my horse is extending or not. Obviously it's not noticable like the dressage horses that "float" because my parents would be able to see that. All i know is she covers ground really fast and i can barly post. She also makes my legs swing all over the place when she does this. I almost feel like she's pacing or something. (she's a QH) I've never even felt pacing before so i shouldn't talk. Is she extending or is she just doing a choppy gait half canter half trot? When i want her to extend she usually canters instead of trots when i alternate the pressure on her sides. What do i do? Thanks.

Dawn · 10-07-2003, 04:47 PM

I can't tell you for sure, but it sounds as though she's just going fast and lacking impulsion and extension. An easy way to tell is to keep the beat of the strides. As you're moving out at a nice trot, notice the rhythm of the beats. When you ask for the extension, the rhythm should not change (get faster.) It should stay exactly the same. The legs will just extend further.

<small>[ October 07, 2003, 04:47 PM: Message edited by: Dawn ]</small>

09-09-2003, 01:28 PM	#1
XmasAngel98 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 705 Images: 44	Extensions Hi! Does anyone have any helpful hints on getting a horse to do good extensions? My mare moves out, but not to her full potential. I find myself really tightening my back and thighs. Any suggestions? Thanks! __________________ *In Memory of Red Cloud* (May 9, 1993-May 27, 2006) http://www.horsegroomingsupplies.com...loud_thumb.jpg

09-09-2003, 07:53 PM	#3
XmasAngel98 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 705 Images: 44	Yes, she does them quite well on the lunge line along the long side of the arena. I know it's a rider problem, but I'm just not sure what to do to solve it. If only I was rich and could afford more lessons.... frown __________________ *In Memory of Red Cloud* (May 9, 1993-May 27, 2006) http://www.horsegroomingsupplies.com...loud_thumb.jpg

10-07-2003, 04:35 PM	#9
Horsebrat20 Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: RI Posts: 1,629 Images: 43	I'm not sure if my horse is extending or not. Obviously it's not noticable like the dressage horses that "float" because my parents would be able to see that. All i know is she covers ground really fast and i can barly post. She also makes my legs swing all over the place when she does this. I almost feel like she's pacing or something. (she's a QH) I've never even felt pacing before so i shouldn't talk. Is she extending or is she just doing a choppy gait half canter half trot? When i want her to extend she usually canters instead of trots when i alternate the pressure on her sides. What do i do? Thanks. __________________ "The biggest enemy to the partnership of dressage is impatience and the human nature to dominate other creatures." Walter Zettl

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09-09-2003, 03:56 PM	#2
Dawn Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 31,484 Images: 1390	Will she on a lunge?

09-09-2003, 07:57 PM	#4
Dawn Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 31,484 Images: 1390	I was actually thinking more along the lines of saddle fit. Or possibly rider weight (not that I'm saying you weigh too much, lol just that the added weight might make it more difficult.)

09-10-2003, 04:32 PM	#5
Trigger_Boy Full Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cold Lake, Alberta Canada Posts: 54	I have a 16 yearold gelding who is quite big for a QH he is 16.2 he has massive feet and he wasn't quite opening his strides for me... What I did was use a method I worked out with some of my schooling kids.. Start off and ask your horse to extend its trot... ask the horse to go as fast as it can at a trot... do not let them lope, bring them down again if they do... you'll know its an extended trot when you can barely post to it lol... next do the same thng at a walk... have walking races with some fellow riders... ask the horse to walk as quick as possible... if they trot bring them down and back them up 4 steps and ask again... soo th horse will learn its easyer to stretch out then to fight with you! Good luck Mike horse Trainer & clinicain!

09-10-2003, 06:13 PM	#6
Dawn Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 31,484 Images: 1390	That could possibly work, but if you just ask for a "fast" trot especially with children. You're likely to get that, a short, fast, choppy trot with no impulsion.

10-03-2003, 04:50 PM	#7
sparkels55 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 331	I have the same problem with my gelding. He is a nice mover, goes down on the bit, round, but i want to get that leg extension in the trot, where it looks like they are almost floating. Or where they flick their leg out. Sometimes when i ask him to extend he just speeds up instead of lengthening his stride. Any Suggestions??? Thanks

10-03-2003, 05:08 PM	#8
Madeline Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: California Posts: 650	A good way to get an extended trot (at least this is the way the horses i ride are trained) alternate the pressure from one side to the other. so apply pressure with one leg/heal on one side and then do it on the other alternating. this usually gets them to extend. but like i said thats just the way the horses i ride are trained.

10-07-2003, 04:47 PM	#10
Dawn Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 31,484 Images: 1390	I can't tell you for sure, but it sounds as though she's just going fast and lacking impulsion and extension. An easy way to tell is to keep the beat of the strides. As you're moving out at a nice trot, notice the rhythm of the beats. When you ask for the extension, the rhythm should not change (get faster.) It should stay exactly the same. The legs will just extend further. <small>[ October 07, 2003, 04:47 PM: Message edited by: Dawn ]</small>