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Post by outoftheblue on Jan 2, 2012 13:42:36 GMT 1
Would you be able to ride bareback - at least sometimes? Mary Wanless (Ride with the Mind etc) has some useful stuff to say on badly fitting saddles and ho to correct the damage they do. Otherwise - dare I suggest it on here??? we cured one pony with a loss of back musacle by using a Passoa.
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Post by sophieandmaisie on Jan 2, 2012 17:14:41 GMT 1
This book (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tug-War-Classical-%2522Modern%2522-Dressage/dp/0851319505/ref=sr_1_10?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1325520479&sr=1-10) might help, talks about five stages of training etc. My instructor always tells me a horse will work in an outline when they are ready to, I have noticed when my horse is working correctly behind and pushing forwards she becomes lighter in my hand (she can be very heavy on her forehand) and has a couple of times gone into a nice outline herself. I was at a Dressage competition a month or so ago, and one rider was forcing a horse into an outline so much he was practically sawing at its mouth and all the horse could do was rear and buck! I also had a lesson with a EE instructor, that really worked on my position in my EE saddle (weirdest thing to sit in the first few times) and Maisie really lifted up through her withers which might help!
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Post by sophieandmaisie on Jan 2, 2012 17:17:00 GMT 1
I see nothing wrong with a passoa, everything in moderation! even if its just a walk! There was an amazing difference in Maisie from a 5 min walk each way in one, worked from behind a lot easier!
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nomdeac
Intermediate Poster
Posts: 177
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Post by nomdeac on Jan 2, 2012 19:13:17 GMT 1
Hi Suzzii, I am not classically trained at all but have been closely involved in top class showing for a life time. It is vital that all show horses go in an outline and I have always been told that the first step to getting an outline is to get your horse going forward happily. I think you have been doing exactly the right thing having him going long and low as then he will be able to develop the his back muscles. I've seen so many disasters in showing where people have followed the pull and kick method which others on the yard have recommended. All that creates is an animal which will pull your arms out and worse. Good luck.
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suzii
Novice Poster
Posts: 47
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Post by suzii on Jan 3, 2012 0:34:47 GMT 1
outoftheblue, I don't think I can ride him bareback as I would then be sitting directly onto his Spine. I have had Kay Humphries to fit his saddle and am pretty sure he is much comfier in it (we had some thermal images taken and these showed the saddle as having perfectly even pressure) I also put the saddle back a lot more than I used to, which gives him more room to move.
I have a pessoa, I only use it very lightly for now but I might think about increasing it (very slowly obviously) I am very interested in Mary's techniques, I need to get one of her books really.
sophieandmaisie, somebody else recommended an EE instructor to me, the closest to me is about 60 miles away but the things she promises sound very good! I have been thinking about the German scales of training and I think they actually make a lot of sense. Putting Rhythm and Suppleness before even thinking about Contact and Impulsion sounds like good advice - I think the horse can build muscle that way before you ask them into a contact.
Thanks for the encouragement nomdeac, I just keep hoping I'm doing the right thing!
At the moment Sprite loves to stretch down (I think it is a nice release for his back) He had some treatment from Gavin Schofield (osteopath) and now feels as though he is lifting through his back quite nicely. The only problem is getting that hind end 'engaged' but I think that maybe this will just take time? I am also worried about asking him to collect up at all and to lift his head incase it causes tension in his neck and back - any thoughts?
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Post by nich on Jan 3, 2012 9:35:58 GMT 1
Hi Suzii, I think you are dead right about using the saddle, bareback riding can put a lot of pressure on the back - and if you are using Kay then no worries IMHO!! Can you long line? I have been having lessons from Annabelle Harling who comes on here, to help my horse do some schooling work without my weight. Moving on to long lining over poles and jumps, plus hacking up our lovely Chiltern Hills should really help.
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nomdeac
Intermediate Poster
Posts: 177
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Post by nomdeac on Jan 3, 2012 18:32:02 GMT 1
I honestly thing time will help him track up and use his backend more. You could do some lateral work too to help him carry himself. However I do thing that 'steady away' and only doing asking him to do a very little each time is the key. Just let him build and build in small bitesized achievements. Don't let others put you off.
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suzii
Novice Poster
Posts: 47
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Post by suzii on Jan 3, 2012 23:15:30 GMT 1
Ah great, thanks both of you. I am hoping it is just time. I was looking at some photos of him taken yesterday compared to some a year or so ago and he definitely has more of a backend and more neck, its just that pesky back, but as you say this is going to take time I think. I do a form of long lining but with one line (deffo not lunging) as weirdly Sprite is more forward on one line rather than two. Although when we are practicing things that require more steering than running around the arena I put two lines on.
Nich I have just realised you are near me - where exactly are you then?
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Post by nich on Jan 4, 2012 9:18:57 GMT 1
I'm between Wycombe and Amersham Suzi, where are you?
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suzii
Novice Poster
Posts: 47
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Post by suzii on Jan 4, 2012 23:22:33 GMT 1
Aylesbury, not far at all then Are there many other IHers around do you know? Would be cool to have a meetup or something... Although this probably isn't the thread to talk about it on!
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