[raceTHEwind13]

I've started working on transitions more to help my gelding use more of his hiney and get underneath himself. But I've just been doing them around on the rail and honestly I get bored going round and round on the rail. So if I'm losing focus I"m sure Buddy is to. So what other patterns can I incorporate my transitions into? I've tried doing them on a circle but our circles then end up becoming lumpy undistinguishable round things and his head immediately shoots up into the air and he hollows out his back. How can we fix that? Or what else could we do? Also are there any other exercises that would help him understand that impulsion and forwardness = good?

Thanks

[lenagirl]

I have the same problem. Sometimes I will put poles on the ground so she has to raise her legs more.....not sure if it helps. I know transitions are good for the horse so they work their hind end more. We have been working on collection for awhile so anything to get her to work the hind end the better for collection.
Anymore ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Kim

[JBandRio]

Get off the rail There is a whooooole ring there. Use it

Serpentines, figure 8's (both the lazy ones and the circular ones). Do a transition at the end of a leg yield out. Serpentine and as you come to the straight segment, leg yield in the direction from which you just came - can fit a lot more loops in a ring that way

Do a w/t transition as you come off a walking square corner.

Get out of the ring too - a wider open space is a natural aid to get a horse forward.

If his head is coming up, he's losing impulsion, so fix that with your leg (and back it up with a whip if necessary) - every time. Head up - forward aid.

[Outrider]

Originally Posted by raceTHEwind13

I've started working on transitions more to help my gelding use more of his hiney and get underneath himself. But I've just been doing them around on the rail and honestly I get bored going round and round on the rail. So if I'm losing focus I"m sure Buddy is to. So what other patterns can I incorporate my transitions into? I've tried doing them on a circle but our circles then end up becoming lumpy undistinguishable round things and his head immediately shoots up into the air and he hollows out his back. How can we fix that? Or what else could we do? Also are there any other exercises that would help him understand that impulsion and forwardness = good?

Thanks

JB is right. When I was boarding I figured I paid for the WHOLE ring, every little grain of dirt was paid for including all that stuff in the middle of the ring.

What I did to both wake up my horse and to get him thinking forward and on his rear end is a series of transitions that no one gait lasted longer than 6-10 strides. I myself did not know what I was going to do until I got there. In another post her I mentioned that it is the riders job to position the horse to do what is asked but after that has been achieved the next job is to RECOGNIZE when that position is right and act upon it.

For example you plan on doing a trot at the next corner coming up but the horse offers to you the right position and timing to do that trot 6 strides before you get there. The smart rider will take advantage and do it when offered (unless at a show but I am talking training here). The rider that waits until they get to where they plan to do the transition may be in the right position or may have lost the window and it is no longer there. If they force the transition it could (very likely) go wrong.

Now what did I just say have anything to do with what the OP asked for?

By moving from transition to transition and bending left or right with no designated "here is where I WILL do such and such" you (if you are taking note of what is being offered by your horse) realize that he becomes aware and more sensative to your aids and you are becoming aware that position "A" results in a better transition to trot or whatever. Using the whole arena allows you to not worry about where you are going just that you simply ask for say walk for 7 steps, then trot with a turn to a walk or maybe a shoulder in to maybe leg yield to trot then canter. As you go from transition to transition you should find that your horse starts to use himself better and becomes quicker on the aids.

The key to this exercise is that you only allow the horse to remain in the gait if it is up to a certain level of standard and if in that gait the quality deteriorates you switch before it gets bad thus not losing the possibilty of making a transition from a poor quality gait.

This actually becomes fun and what the rider learns from this bit of fun time is to recognize when the horse is right to do something and how to position the horse for the best response.

Whew, I think I wrote a book here.

[BriLeigh]

You have been given some excellent advice already. Remember even when doing a down transition to think UP. Don't let your horse just go downhill because you are going down in gaits.

Like already mentioned, there are a lot of things you can do that don't involve just going around on the rail. Try riding on the 2nd track, that will really test you and your horse to see if you can not only stay straight but balanced without the rail. Figure eights, serpentines, ground poles are a good one too.

You can do this on a circle or even a straight line but I prefer a circle. Come up to the poles at a walk. Right before you are at them ask for the trot and go over them. You can then either continue trotting or right after ask for a walk transition. Then go around and go at them again.

[Ms_Pigeon]

I also recommend ground poles for some variety. I like to place two poles a few strides apart and focus on halting precisely in the middle between them. As you get better, you can make it more challenging/interesting by closing the distance between the poles.

Trotting in, halting correctly, and trotting out of poles set for 1-2 canter strides definitely keeps my focus.

[Blue_rose2001]

Originally Posted by Outrider

What I did to both wake up my horse and to get him thinking forward and on his rear end is a series of transitions that no one gait lasted longer than 6-10 strides. I myself did not know what I was going to do until I got there. In another post her I mentioned that it is the riders job to position the horse to do what is asked but after that has been achieved the next job is to RECOGNIZE when that position is right and act upon it.

You have no idea the kind of light bulb that just went off in my head when I read this. THIS is my problem! I was doing a hunt seat equitation pattern the other day and they had it so small that by the time I got my horse to canter, I should have been trotting again. so I need to do shorter transitions. I was making mine WAY to long! Of course I didn't have anyone to educate me about those either. I was cantering for longer periods than I should have been. He needs to be willing to change gaits easier. DING DING DING wake up call to ME! Thanks!