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Veteran
Posts: 264
 
| Unfortunately I have created a horse that depends on his rider to keep his body correct.  Didn't realize how many bad habits I've created until attending a clinic that really pushed the horse to work by themselves. Talk about an eye opener.
This horse is not a natural stopper, I've always had to push him into the bridle and ride with my seat to get on his hind end. That being said, he now relies on me to be correct. Ive been hauling him to get lessons with a trainer who pushes the one rein stop and counter arc. Unfortunately it just doesn't seem to make a difference. Every day I'm working on this, on the ground, on trail, in the arena, on pattern, off pattern. I don't see a change. The moment I leave him alone, the shoulder drops and the front end gets heavy. He will go looking for the contact which causes him to be even more off balance.
I feel that after a couple months we should have progressed and we haven't. Are there any other exercises or suggestions that you have had success with for the over dependent horse? |
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 A Barrel Of Monkeys
Posts: 12972
  
Location: Texas | I'm not sure what you are asking, and why a horse is supposed to work without contact? I don't think I see a problem here.  |
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 Horsey Gene Carrier
Posts: 1888
Location: LaBelle, Florida | It can take awhile to fix the problem. I created a problem with a stallion I used to own, he would get behind the bit. I mistakenly thought I had to teach him head set by lots of round pen work with reins tied to set his head.
Took a little over a year of riding in a correction bit to fix it. And then after that, I still had to be careful of how much pressure I put on him or he would tuck that nose right to his chest. |
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Regular
Posts: 81
| I really like Clinton Anderson's fundamental cd set for something like this. He does a really good job of showing exercises that ensure the horse is going to the destination you want him to go the most directly and then calmly redirects them if they decide to go off on their own.
My suggestion would be to start back at a walk, point and direct where you'd like to go... if he veers - pick him up and turn him in circles a different direction. Then progress to a trot, and so on.
As far as over collecting to where their nose goes to their chest and can get super front end heavy - I have a 3 year old that does the same thing and it can get very very obnoxious. With her - when I am walking, trotting, loping (or whatever) I work on a loose rein by whenever she speeds up sitting in my saddle and making her stop. If she stops on her front end I try not to get too worked up about it and work on the hind end in a separate exercise. It helps a lot to stay off the bit by teaching them speed control. This is a very slow process but very very helpful.
In separate exercises I work on hind end exercise. Lots of backing, lots of walking a long the fence and stepping over...
In my case my mare grew a LOT in the last year and I attribute most of her issues to being young and uncoordinated. Maybe that is your case? Also - I wouldn't discount a trip to the vet. He might be sore on his hind end for some reason? Maybe have his teeth looked at? He might be getting sores in his mouth that will make him less responsive to the bit.
Patience Patience Patience! I love Clinton's saying "frustration begins when knowledge ends." If you are getting frustrated stop, take a minute to research another approach. A big lesson I had to learn was to not let my frustration cause huge amounts of excess work later from that one bad day. :-) |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12837
| My suggestion is to look at your seat. First of all make sure that your saddle is not too small can get your feet in front of you. so that you Make sure that you not lean into the barrel as you turn |
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  Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | You need to transfer his energy to hind end.. lots of half halts but you dont get heavy yourself in your seat.. you stay balanced and upright..your core muscles will help transiton him back... do trot canter transitions or walk trot walk .. but you must use half halts and must use your core muscles.. ask release ask release . You give him something to lean on he will get heavy .do some lunge lessons with out stirrups and hands.. feel your horse to get your body correctly sitting balanced..
also lateral work will help him get his hind more active.
dont ride the front end..ride his hind.. contact is good just not heavy and you also dont want horse avoiding the bit or behind ..
Edited by Bibliafarm 2016-12-20 8:38 AM
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 The Worst Seller Ever
Posts: 4138
Location: Oklahoma | You have to teach him to think on his own. Use verbal commands, then add the seat, then add the pull. I have always said that many get too into body control and forget that horses have to be able to think and react on their own for the fastest times. As riders we are there to help, not have total control. After he starts reacting to the visual aids, start taking those away too.
If you are trying to help him on the pattern, i would set up visual aids for a few days/weeks. Ride him a few time through at a trot and place him where you want at the visual aids, then start taking some of your help away. Dont use your foot, or hands at one place, sit but dont pul on the bit at another. Let his memory take over.
That is how I try to "un-break" them when I start tehm on the pattern. I can always go back and put buttons back if I need them. Taking them away is the hardest part.
Edited by clover girl 2016-12-20 10:13 AM
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | If he's not heavy and leaning on your hands, I don't see where seeking contact is a problem. I wasn't taught to throw my horses away on a loose rein, I learned to ride and train more in a dressage/englishy style. Balance and lightness is encouraged through body work, and this all starts by riding from back to front, but working in the bridle is a part of that. |
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| Bet you a dollar that your stirrups are too long by about four inches and that you aren't putting your weight on your outside hip and sitting up in a turn. If you have to focus to be correct you're in a bind without even realizing it.
You need to be correct automatically without thinking about it and your horse will follow suit. You should always have some contact with your horse, and your horse should always be broke enough to handle the speeds you're asking him for.
That said, I wasn't having problems, then got dared by a way better barrel racer than me to pull my stirrups up about four inches, even though officially for western riding, they were at the correct length. Holy wow, game changed. Took some getting used to, but I don't get thrown forward anymore. She's getting a free lunch the next time I see her!!! |
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