Update on putting my Curly back in work...

xlilxonex · 11-07-2008, 05:14 PM

So...within the past week or so i've put my Curly back into work... And he's progressing great! He's pretty much had nothing major done with him for the past year or so...Rides here adn there, but mostly hanging out in the pasture with a few rides a month.. I've been doing a lot of dressage work with him and we've got turn on the forehand down pack from left to right, but he's a tad sticky from right to left but we're getting better with it...

Mainly it's just getting him fit, and getting him responsive. Not to focused on getting him tracking up 100% but he's starting to track up, collect and go on the bit and is getting close to 100% with downward transitions.. it's just taking me being forcefull with him...but I DO have a clinic on him the 15th? So i'll try to get pictures then!

Next goal with him is to get him bending 100% and get him really reaching out at the trot/canter and stop being sluggish... Then start working on simple lead changes and getting them down to one-stride rather then having to wait a few strides to re-balance him....

I hope to get pictures tomorrow?He's so cute though...haha seeing as he's grown his winter coat for the most part...

Auzzie Honey · 11-07-2008, 05:38 PM

Start off with your ground work .. turn on the forehand both directions, backing up, head raised and lowered, nose - to - side, yeilding etc .. You should be able to do all of this on the ground before asking it under saddle

When training, you should not be forcefull - if your horse doesn't understand, keep quietly asking him, or reposition him for him to understand. Example: reverses when trying to do turn on the forehand. Say 'no', halt, and ask again.

Transitions til your purple in the face will help with softer contact, and listening to you, response etc. Walk to halt, walk to backing up, trot to halt etc .. really depends where he's up to in his training. Dont nag or be hard on your hands - keep them up, together, and use your seat more than your hands.

Regards getting him responsive - if he doesn't move off your leg, ask twice/thrice, tell once. Carry a whip or crop - usually just carrying it works (they know you mean business .. but if they're genuinely frightened, do some desensitizing first). Don't nag with your legs, you dont want to do that, neither does your horse. I'd rather give one tap with the whip and get good results, than sit there nagging with my legs for ages and get a 'fine! I'll do it' result.

Getting fit takes time .. hills, hacking out, and your everyday kinda riding all plays a part. The key is to not over work him.

Sorry, it's a bit all over the place, am on my way out ..
Remember to work on one thing at a time .. if he's not responsive, you dont want to be doing lead changes. One step at a time

Good luck. Look forward to seeing piccies

xlilxonex · 11-07-2008, 06:46 PM

He knows what's he's doing, but he's stubborn and if you dont' ask right he needs to be forced to do it... So it's a matter of me being forcefull enough and asking just right... He's not the kind of horse that you keep nagging...if he doesn't respond right away you make him do it regardless fo what you ahve to do...

He's great with it on the ground, we're just working with it under-saddle... And he's improving, and does great when at a solid object but we're progressing majorly when he's standing still in the open.

He's responsive, but i'm just working on shortening response time, if that makes sense? Working mainly on canter to halt transitions and halt to canter transitions...Which will come with him getting fitter, as well as me.

xlilxonex · 11-08-2008, 08:00 AM

Question though...Impulsion. My guy severely lacks that. He's lazy, and fairly dead-sided in the sense that it takes spurs or a crop to get him to move and then it takes SO much leg to get him moving out... So would love suggestions on getting him to move out other then just having to get after him non-stop... Ground pole exercises? Even gymnastics with jumps would be welcome... Trying to achieve longer stride with impulsion then just making him go faster...

11-07-2008, 05:14 PM	#1
xlilxonex Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 3,315 Images: 24 Blog Entries: 1	Update on putting my Curly back in work... So...within the past week or so i've put my Curly back into work... And he's progressing great! He's pretty much had nothing major done with him for the past year or so...Rides here adn there, but mostly hanging out in the pasture with a few rides a month.. I've been doing a lot of dressage work with him and we've got turn on the forehand down pack from left to right, but he's a tad sticky from right to left but we're getting better with it... Mainly it's just getting him fit, and getting him responsive. Not to focused on getting him tracking up 100% but he's starting to track up, collect and go on the bit and is getting close to 100% with downward transitions.. it's just taking me being forcefull with him...but I DO have a clinic on him the 15th? So i'll try to get pictures then! Next goal with him is to get him bending 100% and get him really reaching out at the trot/canter and stop being sluggish... Then start working on simple lead changes and getting them down to one-stride rather then having to wait a few strides to re-balance him.... I hope to get pictures tomorrow?He's so cute though...haha seeing as he's grown his winter coat for the most part...

11-07-2008, 05:38 PM	#2
Auzzie Honey Senior Member+ Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: WA, Australia Posts: 1,011 Images: 11	Start off with your ground work .. turn on the forehand both directions, backing up, head raised and lowered, nose - to - side, yeilding etc .. You should be able to do all of this on the ground before asking it under saddle When training, you should not be forcefull - if your horse doesn't understand, keep quietly asking him, or reposition him for him to understand. Example: reverses when trying to do turn on the forehand. Say 'no', halt, and ask again. Transitions til your purple in the face will help with softer contact, and listening to you, response etc. Walk to halt, walk to backing up, trot to halt etc .. really depends where he's up to in his training. Dont nag or be hard on your hands - keep them up, together, and use your seat more than your hands. Regards getting him responsive - if he doesn't move off your leg, ask twice/thrice, tell once. Carry a whip or crop - usually just carrying it works (they know you mean business .. but if they're genuinely frightened, do some desensitizing first). Don't nag with your legs, you dont want to do that, neither does your horse. I'd rather give one tap with the whip and get good results, than sit there nagging with my legs for ages and get a 'fine! I'll do it' result. Getting fit takes time .. hills, hacking out, and your everyday kinda riding all plays a part. The key is to not over work him. Sorry, it's a bit all over the place, am on my way out .. Remember to work on one thing at a time .. if he's not responsive, you dont want to be doing lead changes. One step at a time Good luck. Look forward to seeing piccies __________________ Training Sessions -- interesting, challenging and achievable. Don't complicate it any more than that. xx Jess, Honey, Jeddai, Jock, Sambo & Buxton xx

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11-07-2008, 06:46 PM	#3
xlilxonex Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 3,315 Images: 24 Blog Entries: 1	He knows what's he's doing, but he's stubborn and if you dont' ask right he needs to be forced to do it... So it's a matter of me being forcefull enough and asking just right... He's not the kind of horse that you keep nagging...if he doesn't respond right away you make him do it regardless fo what you ahve to do... He's great with it on the ground, we're just working with it under-saddle... And he's improving, and does great when at a solid object but we're progressing majorly when he's standing still in the open. He's responsive, but i'm just working on shortening response time, if that makes sense? Working mainly on canter to halt transitions and halt to canter transitions...Which will come with him getting fitter, as well as me.

11-08-2008, 08:00 AM	#4
xlilxonex Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 3,315 Images: 24 Blog Entries: 1	Question though...Impulsion. My guy severely lacks that. He's lazy, and fairly dead-sided in the sense that it takes spurs or a crop to get him to move and then it takes SO much leg to get him moving out... So would love suggestions on getting him to move out other then just having to get after him non-stop... Ground pole exercises? Even gymnastics with jumps would be welcome... Trying to achieve longer stride with impulsion then just making him go faster...