I had a lesson Saturday morning and a few rides since. Skate has been a good boy, as usual. He actually came trotting up to me in the pasture the other day : ) Nevermind that it's because I am now his treat-dispenser...let me just pretend its because we're bonding! Now, if I can just get him to come to the gate when I call. I've always wanted a horse that would do that.
As a result of that video and my flapping reins, I decided that I would try taking much stronger contact and see how Skate responds. I tried it during my lesson and voila, there's our solution! He didn't like the featherlight contact I had been using...by taking a strong (to me) and steady contact, he settled down quite a bit. He's still not magically through and using his butt/back, but he is no longer giraffing his head...he has limited his evasion to moments of btv. That's easily cured by pushing him forward, as every time he comes btv, his rear motor stalls.
Now, I feel like I'm practically hanging on his face, but that's because I've always used such a light contact...of course, I've always ridden hunters, too. Hey, whatever makes Skate happy makes me happy, so I'll keep the contact.
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7 comments:
yay Skate!! Horses need a steady outside rein. It might feel tight, but its probably just more contact than you are used to. Just make sure you arent holding him up, thats his job.
It sounds like you had a great lesson, its nice to have someone there to help you teach him. Every time you post he seems to be getting better, go Skate!
Yay! Glad you found a trick that works consistently. One of my instructors told me that I should have 2-5lbs of pressure on the reins. I felt like I was hauling on the horse so I can sympathize.
But that's what confuses me...the steady outside rein thing. Shouldn't you have even contact over both? The way I'm interpreting that at this point is that I can release with the inside rein, but not w/ the outside...always contact on the outside, right??
Yes, steady contact with the outside, and give and take with the inside, unless I'm wrong, too! It really does sound like Skate is consistently improving, which is great!
Ah, contact! :) I'm glad you decided to embark upon a relationship with contact. Embrace the weirdness. He sounds like he's doing great!
Btv??
gabby, the outside rein should be steady and the inside rein should be asking him to give. Once he gives, you stop asking and then your inside rein shouldnt move.
We want to see more video of his progress.
It sounds like things are coming along very nicely.
Kate, BTV= Behind The Vertical.
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