No impulsion! PLEASE HELP!

Belladonna · 09-06-2006, 04:59 AM

My 9 year old mare has always been a lazy horse with her flat work. That was fine while i was still learning the refine the basic stuff, as i lacked confidence. But now i'm starting to show her and the thing i see repeated in dressage tests is lack of impulsion and the will to go forwards. Now i'm not crazy about dressage but it's getting really bad. And I was wondering if anyone could give me any tips on how to get her impulsion up. She has plenty of impulsion in the jumping ring and cross country course, but in a dressage arena she acts as she's never heard of impulsion before. Please help!

Just_me · 09-06-2006, 05:25 AM

I would try to do some cavaletti or pole work.

Place 4 poles or cavalettis in a rounded fan shape
like you see in the link:
http://www.peace-kids.org/pics/fan-shape.jpg

about 4 ft apart.

If your horse does better with a few inches more or less that is fine too.Now ride the row and change direction each time you come out.You basically ride a figure 8 with cavalettis.
Try to really drive the horse forward if you come into the row and stay with the rhythm and impulsion that you get as you come out.Use your whole body and leg.Don't let her get lazy and use a crop if you have to(just give him/her a pop on the hindquaters!).

Belladonna · 09-06-2006, 05:37 AM

kk thanx. I'll try that.

smitty · 09-06-2006, 05:57 AM

There are cetain things you can do to engage a horses hindquaters and make them use their back more. HOWEVER, it does not happen overnight. If she is weak in that area then she needs to build muscle up and in the process may be sore as a result until she gets strong enough (think of going to the gym after some time off and excerising your biceps...you may be sore the next day).
Anyway, before I give you a few exercises, also remember this. Not all horses were cut out to apply themselves in every discipline. My gelding started as a dressage horse and did not have the head for upper level dressage stuff. He is, however, a saint in the hunters and eq rings. That is just something to think about.

Work over poles, gymnastics of 18" fences, trotting uphills, work with draw or yoke reins (ON THE FLAT ONLY) will all build the muscle in the areas that are weak. You also need to be correctly asking the horse to engage his hind end and that means using your leg, seat and hand simutaneously.

JBandRio · 09-06-2006, 07:26 AM

Impulsion?
Training frustrations-green horse, not advancing. HELP!! Suggestions needed.?

JBandRio · 09-06-2006, 07:33 AM

I will have to politely disagree with smitty on the draw reins for this horse at this point

Absolutely, in the right hands, they can help show the horse the way. But, the horse has to be forward yet, and this one is not.

No draw reins, no side reins, no chambon, no vienna reins, no nothing on the head (besides the regular bridle/reins

)until this horse is forward

cassidy · 09-06-2006, 07:33 AM

now i find the best thing to get impulsion is to ride with it do some flat work an carry a shooling whip if your mare doesnt listen to your leg immediately back up your leg aids with a whip

this will help her get impulsion an wont make you have to kick her till there is no tomorrow

remember though impulsion is all good if it is used properly use it to get her rounded an into an outline rather than to make her go faster

GOOD LUCK

smitty · 09-06-2006, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBandRio

I will have to politely disagree with smitty on the draw reins for this horse at this point

Absolutely, in the right hands, they can help show the horse the way. But, the horse has to be forward yet, and this one is not.

No draw reins, no side reins, no chambon, no vienna reins, no nothing on the head (besides the regular bridle/reins

)until this horse is forward

OK (JB), I can see your point. I understand that the horse should be moving forward first with IMPULSION (which is the problem...). After much thought I do agree that these aids will "back the horse up" even further...
thank you for pointing that out.
I guess I was thinking more about the horse actually using his bum-back-and neck while moving forward and not actually the impulsion part.
My bad

. Once though, you have him going forward we can talk about that other stuff and like JB said, "In the right hands they can help show the horse the way"

Belladonna · 09-07-2006, 01:26 AM

I don't think she is weak in the muscles when i work her in a dressage arena because she is fine if you show her a jump. but step in a flat-work arena and omg... move to the left lane, so the fast horses can pass. I'll try your advice with the schooling whip. thanx.

09-06-2006, 04:59 AM	#1
Belladonna Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Aussie Aussie Aussie! Posts: 330 Images: 65	No impulsion! PLEASE HELP! My 9 year old mare has always been a lazy horse with her flat work. That was fine while i was still learning the refine the basic stuff, as i lacked confidence. But now i'm starting to show her and the thing i see repeated in dressage tests is lack of impulsion and the will to go forwards. Now i'm not crazy about dressage but it's getting really bad. And I was wondering if anyone could give me any tips on how to get her impulsion up. She has plenty of impulsion in the jumping ring and cross country course, but in a dressage arena she acts as she's never heard of impulsion before. Please help! __________________ "A good horse rider can hear their horse speak, a great horse rider can hear their horse whisper" - Monty Roberts

09-06-2006, 05:25 AM	#2
Just_me Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: europe-the wide wild world:-) Posts: 2,519 Images: 6	I would try to do some cavaletti or pole work. Place 4 poles or cavalettis in a rounded fan shape like you see in the link: http://www.peace-kids.org/pics/fan-shape.jpg about 4 ft apart. If your horse does better with a few inches more or less that is fine too.Now ride the row and change direction each time you come out.You basically ride a figure 8 with cavalettis. Try to really drive the horse forward if you come into the row and stay with the rhythm and impulsion that you get as you come out.Use your whole body and leg.Don't let her get lazy and use a crop if you have to(just give him/her a pop on the hindquaters!). __________________ ,.:+`The OnLy Place Where YoUr DreAms BecOme ImpoSsIble,Is In YoUr Own ThinKing`+:.,

09-06-2006, 05:37 AM	#3
Belladonna Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Aussie Aussie Aussie! Posts: 330 Images: 65	kk thanx. I'll try that. __________________ "A good horse rider can hear their horse speak, a great horse rider can hear their horse whisper" - Monty Roberts

09-06-2006, 05:57 AM	#4
smitty Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 966	Tips There are cetain things you can do to engage a horses hindquaters and make them use their back more. HOWEVER, it does not happen overnight. If she is weak in that area then she needs to build muscle up and in the process may be sore as a result until she gets strong enough (think of going to the gym after some time off and excerising your biceps...you may be sore the next day). Anyway, before I give you a few exercises, also remember this. Not all horses were cut out to apply themselves in every discipline. My gelding started as a dressage horse and did not have the head for upper level dressage stuff. He is, however, a saint in the hunters and eq rings. That is just something to think about. Work over poles, gymnastics of 18" fences, trotting uphills, work with draw or yoke reins (ON THE FLAT ONLY) will all build the muscle in the areas that are weak. You also need to be correctly asking the horse to engage his hind end and that means using your leg, seat and hand simutaneously.

09-06-2006, 07:26 AM	#5
JBandRio Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NC Posts: 32,000 Images: 196 Blog Entries: 12	Impulsion? Training frustrations-green horse, not advancing. HELP!! Suggestions needed.? __________________ - JB Acres, owned and operated by Dynamite animals. - It's a wonder horses as a whole don't just kill us all and be done with their misery. - Keep your voice soothing and low - even when things get western (buck1173)

09-06-2006, 07:33 AM	#6
JBandRio Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NC Posts: 32,000 Images: 196 Blog Entries: 12	I will have to politely disagree with smitty on the draw reins for this horse at this point Absolutely, in the right hands, they can help show the horse the way. But, the horse has to be forward yet, and this one is not. No draw reins, no side reins, no chambon, no vienna reins, no nothing on the head (besides the regular bridle/reins )until this horse is forward __________________ - JB Acres, owned and operated by Dynamite animals. - It's a wonder horses as a whole don't just kill us all and be done with their misery. - Keep your voice soothing and low - even when things get western (buck1173)

09-06-2006, 07:33 AM	#7
cassidy Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2004 Location: england - its sunny sometimes honest! Posts: 21,789 Images: 843	now i find the best thing to get impulsion is to ride with it do some flat work an carry a shooling whip if your mare doesnt listen to your leg immediately back up your leg aids with a whip this will help her get impulsion an wont make you have to kick her till there is no tomorrow remember though impulsion is all good if it is used properly use it to get her rounded an into an outline rather than to make her go faster GOOD LUCK __________________ bluebell , haribo , william & lil bill May your life be like toilet paper - Long and useful A horse doesn't care how much you know until he knows how much you care. - Pat Parelli http://www.freewebs.com/linz88055/myprofile.htm

09-07-2006, 01:26 AM	#9
Belladonna Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Aussie Aussie Aussie! Posts: 330 Images: 65	I don't think she is weak in the muscles when i work her in a dressage arena because she is fine if you show her a jump. but step in a flat-work arena and omg... move to the left lane, so the fast horses can pass. I'll try your advice with the schooling whip. thanx. __________________ "A good horse rider can hear their horse speak, a great horse rider can hear their horse whisper" - Monty Roberts

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