Doing things on a hack transffered into the arena!

[Lydia00]

I regullaly (sp?) school and hack my mare but i find that with some things, she can perform better on a hack than when im schooling her. This may be because she is enjoying her hack or because she prefers to work in open space but there are some things she does that i really cant get her to do! Like, if on a hack there is another horse infront and it is trotting fast, instead of cantering behind them, i will "hold" her so to speak and she will to an AMAZING extended trot! At my last yard (that had an olympic sized arena) i could sometimes get her to do it, but now that i have a 20x40 arena, she wont. Also (on hacks) she will do a lovely COLLECTED trot, so do you think its just the boringness of the arena that makes her just want to stay at basic paces? She's always on the bit and very well schooled but in the arena she does seem to 'swith off' but showing season is on its way and i would like her to look more 'interested'.

[Lydia00]

upity

[Lydia00]

and again ?

[donna]

My old horse could not get the hang of rein back or turn on the forehand in the school for ages, but could do them perfectly on hacks-I could open/close any gate on her. i used to think she could see the point when it was to get through the gate, but with the benefit of hindsight I realise I probably tried too hard in the school and got tense, which she was definately the type to react to, but was calm and confident doing it out and about.

[holi]

I understand that doing some of the more advanced movements (collection and extensions) requires a greater input of energy to the horse. Normally in the school the rider has to do this and often finds it difficult - when hacking and excited its coming from the horse so all you have to do is channel it rather than make it happen - does that make sense?

[emmab]

agree with holi, if your horse enjoys hacking, the energy you're trying and create in the school is already there, hence making the movements much easier.
p'raps put some jumps/obstacles around your arena to school around to make it appear more interesting?

[holi]

Yes I used to do this would a horse that was not forward going in the school - some schooling then a 'pop' and back to schooling. In fact a small jump on a circle is a very good exercise in control both for flat and jump work.

[mellymoo]

I bet she sees schooling as a pointless exercise! I know Hamish did, he would come to a standstill if we rode round the field, but as soon as we were out on the road he was full of energy and really excited!