FOLLOW UP TO SCHOOLING THE OLDER HORSE -
Well, everyone seemed to enjoy the last post, so I thought I would do a quick follow up with another TDS schoolmistress, Florence, also aged 21 years young.
I have lots of useful exercises for suppling and strengthening the horse's hind leg and core, but this one I like for also really helping to get an upward transition at the end of it that sits a little and pushes under more.
So, starting on the left rein, leg yield INWARDS from the track (corner marker 'H') off your right leg / right seatbone until you have gone about a third of the way across the school.
Then either halt or almost halt, do a turn on the forehand (or keep a little step going and ride a turn about the forehand) again from your right leg until you are once again facing 'H' and then leg yield back towards it.
I never mind if these are not quite perfect - the exercise still helps the horse (and the rider's co-ordination!)
Once you are at H, ride either a trot or canter transition and continue onto a 20m circle at 'C'.
Notice how the inside hindleg becomes deeply engaged and you will instantly notice the horse is in a better balance.
On your 20m circle, just before 'C', trot/walk and when you get to 'M' repeat the leg yield / turn on the forehand / leg yield back to M, this time all off your left leg. Then again, ride your transition and 20m circle.
Repeat a few times, and enjoy just how nice those transitions feel!
As I write, it is 5pm, and the January sun is just disappearing.
Hope is just around the corner....fit a ride in if you can, when you can - Spring is coming and all those 2025 goals need work!
Please send my two 'Matriarch's' of the riding school your love and adulation - I will be sure to pass on any cuddles!
SCHOOLING THE OLDER HORSE - a few thoughts...
I keep trying to get time to write something (anything!) that you might find useful in this dreary January weather.
It strikes me that so much is written or presented at demos etc, that assumes that if you are at the beginning of your dressage journey - then your horse is a 4 year old.
Now this might be true for some, but not for everyone.
I know so many riders who have an older horse that has perhaps come to them from having a different career - hacking, or a jumping home, and is starting now to do dressage at a later stage in their life.
Many horses are lacking suppleness, and for the older horse new to dressage this can certainly be the case.
Also, I think the strengthening and conditioning of the correct muscles is very important, as is the realisation that this takes time and no small amount of effort to achieve.
At the riding centre I own, many older horses come our way, and we are fortunate to be entrusted with them by their owners.
Quite often, they have been out of work, or hacking / ticking over only.
We begin with all the usual checks - physio, dentist, saddle fitter, and it can be later, really helpful to have some notes on what they have said.
A weak left hind can become the stronger one with work, and it is good to look back and see the progress we have made.
We also take photos from all angles, without tack, and video on both reins of the first session in the school.
As far as the conditioning goes, in hand walking in the 'bum bands' or long reining are so helpful, to begin to get topline strength without the weight of the rider.
Schooling sessions are kept short - 20 to 30 minutes, and formal lessons begin only with our most sympathetic of clients.
As far as suppleness goes, we use in hand lateral work, of course TRTmethod groundwork patterns, and also walking over poles.
Significant asymmetries are addressed by using lateral work and targeted polework exercises.
As the ridden work builds up t
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Getting a little stronger every day.
Gorgeous Quabri, truly a Saint of a horse - he listens so attentively and really tries hard.
#classicaldressagetraining
Working hard to find a new stability in the sitting trot...6th ride after 14 weeks off post injury. Thank you beautiful CJ, and of course, the amazing Stef Eardley
Love, love love teaching riders how their bodies' can have such a major effect on the way the horse goes.
Here, regular rider Celia, rides TDS schoolmistress Kia, and we are starting to work on how the backward phase of the inside seatbone in canter has the opportunity to connect with the inside hindleg and ask for more 'sit' or (hock bend to lower the croup).
Tricky on Kia, who at 20 years young, is capable of this, but would rather not if she can get around it. She prefers to canter quarters in, a way of avoiding the difficulty, and of course if we allow this, long term she will become less flexible as well as weaker - something to definitely avoid in an older horse.
So our seat quietly insists, in effect, almost a 'physiotherapy from on board' approach.
It is unusual to think of a backwards phase of the seat in canter, as everyone normally focuses on the forward swing of the hips - but it is there, between each of those forward swings, as a sort of forgotten (long lost?) cousin, who once you see and acknowledge, you end up noticing all the time!
Look out for it, feel it happening, and know that right there, that is your moment that you can influence the hindleg during the canter stride.
Getting good at this is part of what brings about collection - a really great feeling once you have it!
Happy cantering!
Coco the Explorer...
#PRE
#iberianhorses
#hacking
