Do You Ride Horses? V.4

[Licorice.]

It has been a bit since I posted here since I gave an update that I was leasing a horse. Anyways we tried neck roping today in the round pen and Hercules picked it up really quickly. My instructor thought that it would help with his under saddle work and that it would help our bond strengthen. I really enjoyed doing something new (and Hercules enjoyed it too) and in the spirit of no stirrup November worked on my bareback posting trot.

Now an open question for anyone: I have been struggling to get Hercules to collect his head in (having his nose parallel to the ground). He will do it with aids but we are trying to phase out the aids but whenever we start to phase them out he puts his head back up again. Without a bridle, he puts his head really far down but the goal was to get him to get into a correct collected form. I guess what I am asking is does anyone have any advice in training to get your horse into the correct form? He has come so far in the 8ish months that I have been leasing him and I want to see him continue to improve.

[goatihilator]

It has been a bit since I posted here since I gave an update that I was leasing a horse. Anyways we tried neck roping today in the round pen and Hercules picked it up really quickly. My instructor thought that it would help with his under saddle work and that it would help our bond strengthen. I really enjoyed doing something new (and Hercules enjoyed it too) and in the spirit of no stirrup November worked on my bareback posting trot.

Now an open question for anyone: I have been struggling to get Hercules to collect his head in (having his nose parallel to the ground). He will do it with aids but we are trying to phase out the aids but whenever we start to phase them out he puts his head back up again. Without a bridle, he puts his head really far down but the goal was to get him to get into a correct collected form. I guess what I am asking is does anyone have any advice in training to get your horse into the correct form? He has come so far in the 8ish months that I have been leasing him and I want to see him continue to improve.

Hi! So I'm new here but I know a bit about training collection and self-carriage.

I'm not sure how much dressage background and training Hercules and you have already had, but training for true self-carriage takes a lot of training and patience. You need to first focus on strengthening the back and haunches and rocking him back onto his haunches. In order to properly engage and obtain self-carriage, Hercules needs to be working from behind.

Can I ask which exercises you've been doing so far to work on collection and self-carriage?

[Licorice.]

It has been a bit since I posted here since I gave an update that I was leasing a horse. Anyways we tried neck roping today in the round pen and Hercules picked it up really quickly. My instructor thought that it would help with his under saddle work and that it would help our bond strengthen. I really enjoyed doing something new (and Hercules enjoyed it too) and in the spirit of no stirrup November worked on my bareback posting trot.

Now an open question for anyone: I have been struggling to get Hercules to collect his head in (having his nose parallel to the ground). He will do it with aids but we are trying to phase out the aids but whenever we start to phase them out he puts his head back up again. Without a bridle, he puts his head really far down but the goal was to get him to get into a correct collected form. I guess what I am asking is does anyone have any advice in training to get your horse into the correct form? He has come so far in the 8ish months that I have been leasing him and I want to see him continue to improve.

Hi! So I'm new here but I know a bit about training collection and self-carriage.

I'm not sure how much dressage background and training Hercules and you have already had, but training for true self-carriage takes a lot of training and patience. You need to first focus on strengthening the back and haunches and rocking him back onto his haunches. In order to properly engage and obtain self-carriage, Hercules needs to be working from behind.

Can I ask which exercises you've been doing so far to work on collection and self-carriage?

He has zero dressage background. He knows basic flatwork (walk, trot and canter) but other than that nothing. I have a strong English riding background (hunt seat) but no dressage for me.

I have been doing a lot of halting and backing to get him on his hindquarters

[Huggles]

It has been a bit since I posted here since I gave an update that I was leasing a horse. Anyways we tried neck roping today in the round pen and Hercules picked it up really quickly. My instructor thought that it would help with his under saddle work and that it would help our bond strengthen. I really enjoyed doing something new (and Hercules enjoyed it too) and in the spirit of no stirrup November worked on my bareback posting trot.

Now an open question for anyone: I have been struggling to get Hercules to collect his head in (having his nose parallel to the ground). He will do it with aids but we are trying to phase out the aids but whenever we start to phase them out he puts his head back up again. Without a bridle, he puts his head really far down but the goal was to get him to get into a correct collected form. I guess what I am asking is does anyone have any advice in training to get your horse into the correct form? He has come so far in the 8ish months that I have been leasing him and I want to see him continue to improve.

Him keeping his head low is the first step so great job, he is stretching and working his topline.
There is something called the classical pyramid of training and at the top of the pyramid is collection.

First thing to work on is rhythm. The tempo must be consistent and appropriate to the horse.

Next is suppleness which is achieved by relaxation, mental and physical. A horse’s physical and mental/emotional states often go hand in hand. Get the horse moving long and low fluently, able to move in either direction easily. The goal is to gradually increase your horses flexibility in all muscle groups.

Connection is having your horse on the bit. You are looking for contact in the reins. This means your horse is pushing into the bit looking and ready for aids.

Impulsion is referring to the energy coming from your horses hind which is their "engine". Their hind needs to be active and moved back onto their haunches. You can see this happening when the hind legs are stepping far underneath the body.

Straightness horses are naturally one sided like we are left and right handed. It is your job to manage the straightness by teaching leg yielding. You teach them to move out of straightness by having shoulders in or haunches in so you can correct it later on.

Finally the last step is collection "In simple terms, collection is achieved when the horse transfers more weight to their hindquarters, thus maintaining an uphill position, while on the bit. It requires self-carriage, lightness on the forehead, and engaged hindquarters. Every horse is capable of reaching some level of collection. It may be more challenging for some conformation types, but it can be achieved."

Ignore the head for a while. While working on these steps it is fine and encouraged for him to keep his head low and not in a pretty headset. That is building up muscle. It is difficult to maintain the high, collected neck because that requires much more work than long and low. Learn and read about classical methods in dressage. Dressage is not about fancy trots, piaffes etc. it is about collection. With proper form you can do those things which of course is the show, but it is about teaching the horse self carriage!

[Licorice.]

It has been a bit since I posted here since I gave an update that I was leasing a horse. Anyways we tried neck roping today in the round pen and Hercules picked it up really quickly. My instructor thought that it would help with his under saddle work and that it would help our bond strengthen. I really enjoyed doing something new (and Hercules enjoyed it too) and in the spirit of no stirrup November worked on my bareback posting trot.

Now an open question for anyone: I have been struggling to get Hercules to collect his head in (having his nose parallel to the ground). He will do it with aids but we are trying to phase out the aids but whenever we start to phase them out he puts his head back up again. Without a bridle, he puts his head really far down but the goal was to get him to get into a correct collected form. I guess what I am asking is does anyone have any advice in training to get your horse into the correct form? He has come so far in the 8ish months that I have been leasing him and I want to see him continue to improve.

Him keeping his head low is the first step so great job, he is stretching and working his topline.
There is something called the classical pyramid of training and at the top of the pyramid is collection.

First thing to work on is rhythm. The tempo must be consistent and appropriate to the horse.

Next is suppleness which is achieved by relaxation, mental and physical. A horse’s physical and mental/emotional states often go hand in hand. Get the horse moving long and low fluently, able to move in either direction easily. The goal is to gradually increase your horses flexibility in all muscle groups.

Connection is having your horse on the bit. You are looking for contact in the reins. This means your horse is pushing into the bit looking and ready for aids.

Impulsion is referring to the energy coming from your horses hind which is their "engine". Their hind needs to be active and moved back onto their haunches. You can see this happening when the hind legs are stepping far underneath the body.

Straightness horses are naturally one sided like we are left and right handed. It is your job to manage the straightness by teaching leg yielding. You teach them to move out of straightness by having shoulders in or haunches in so you can correct it later on.

Finally the last step is collection "In simple terms, collection is achieved when the horse transfers more weight to their hindquarters, thus maintaining an uphill position, while on the bit. It requires self-carriage, lightness on the forehead, and engaged hindquarters. Every horse is capable of reaching some level of collection. It may be more challenging for some conformation types, but it can be achieved."

Ignore the head for a while. While working on these steps it is fine and encouraged for him to keep his head low and not in a pretty headset. That is building up muscle. It is difficult to maintain the high, collected neck because that requires much more work than long and low. Learn and read about classical methods in dressage. Dressage is not about fancy trots, piaffes etc. it is about collection. With proper form you can do those things which of course is the show, but it is about teaching the horse self carriage!

thank you so much for all this wonderful advice!

[cultofcow]

Hello i’m new to this thread!!

I was originally a Hunter-Jumper with my green 5 yo OTTB, but my trainer found it best to switch to Jumper(speed and time class) and i’ve found it really hard to switch!!!

That being said, I do have a few questions;

1. My OTTB has actually discovered to completely ignore my leg after a jump so i’m never straight. how can i fix this?? (P.S. he’s fine with my leg just not after a jump)

2. I panic a lot when other people are in the arena with me (at home) when I have to jump because my horse does not get spooked easy but he knows how to spook other horses...

3. My trainer wants me to get of the outside rein, which i’ve developed a nasty habit of... if anyone has had this same habit, how did you break it??

That’s all, sorry if it’s long

[shezawomanoffame]

*this is for future plans maybe*

So my reg qh mare, fancy, is only 7 atm so we plan on doing this a bit later. But, when she's around 9-10 and she's at her peak of barrel racing, we hope to breed her!

Ive been trying to look around at studs just to see whats out there and i cant seem to really find any? Any suggestions?

*CAN NOT have any of these horses unless they are way far back in their pedigree*

^these are her papers btw

IMG_4714 2.JPG (221.38 KiB) Viewed 88 times

IMG_6623.JPG (315.33 KiB) Viewed 88 times

Screen Shot 2021-01-26 at 12.11.52 PM.png (69.74 KiB) Viewed 88 times

^this is her

i have no preference but i would like the stud to have earnings/winnings!

[beautifulglitter]

*this is for future plans maybe*

So my reg qh mare, fancy, is only 7 atm so we plan on doing this a bit later. But, when she's around 9-10 and she's at her peak of barrel racing, we hope to breed her!

Ive been trying to look around at studs just to see whats out there and i cant seem to really find any? Any suggestions?

-snip-

Not sure what your pricing/non-live coverage options are, but in my area (heavy agricultural/reining/roping/cutting) people go *wild* for Peptoboonsmal and his line. Pepto himself is on the pricy side, but you can use his name to find his descendants who are much cheaper/more geographically spread out (if he's anywhere in the line the owners are usually going to make sure you know it lol). He is a cutter/reiner, and his lines also seem to throw pretty colors. The Playgun/Playboy lines are also pretty big ones around here! They are also reining horses. I've also been seeing more of the Corona/Corona Cartel lines lately- he's a racer.

AQHA also has a stallion locator- I think Pink Buckle is specifically for barrel racers. Again not sure on your price range/location, but you might be able to find some good quality studs by just searching for stallion names you see come up frequently + your area if you aren't doing AI

[LissaJo]

*this is for future plans maybe*

So my reg qh mare, fancy, is only 7 atm so we plan on doing this a bit later. But, when she's around 9-10 and she's at her peak of barrel racing, we hope to breed her!

Ive been trying to look around at studs just to see whats out there and i cant seem to really find any? Any suggestions?

*CAN NOT have any of these horses unless they are way far back in their pedigree*

^these are her papers btw

IMG_4714 2.JPG

IMG_6623.JPG

Screen Shot 2021-01-26 at 12.11.52 PM.png

^this is her

i have no preference but i would like the stud to have earnings/winnings!

I'm loving the ASNY babies! Ain't Seen Nothin Yet has a lot of super nice babies running right now, including one who has beat several NFR horses.. my friend has a 4yo by him and she has been placing well in futures this year..

[MoonLesbian]

So I've been working with horses for the past six months as a stable hand at a nice show barn and I resisted taking lessons for a long time because the shifts are short and I don't get many of them, but the longer I'm out of college the more it's becoming apparent that I'm not going to get a job in the field I majored in (editing--every single job requires 3-5 years of experience and I don't have the energy for a job AND an internship for that long). Seeing as I already have a barn job, I think it might actually be more realistic to pursue a career with horses?

That being said, I know I'm not going to be taken very seriously if I don't ride, so I'm starting lessons in a couple weeks! I'm wary about spending so much when I have loans/insurance to pay but I'm still really excited. I also saw another barn hiring while I was looking for a lesson barn, so I applied there and hopefully I'll have two barn jobs on my resume + more hours.

So this is all just a really roundabout way of saying, what else can I do to further a horse career without going back to school/dropping huge amounts of money in general? I like being a stable hand, but I want to do more eventually--specifically I'd love to train horses, but I also wouldn't mind farrier work if my body can handle it (fibromyalgia and carpal tunnel kind of make it intimidating). My barn's farrier was working the other day and I was tempted to ask him if he does apprenticeships, but figured I should probably wait and see if I get hired at this other barn before trying to take something else on. Any advice?