Improving the Jog

[Preposterous_Ponies]

Hi everyone - I bought a western saddle a few months ago and then due to some health problems in my horse, didn’t get to use it much. Now that she is healed and getting back into work, I’d like to work on improving our western riding, starting with the jog.

I don’t currently have a trainer, as I was recently laid off + had a crap ton of vet bills + am paying for two horses, so it’s just not in the budget right now. So we’re muddling along as best we can. We are coming from jumper land.

Here’s a video of us jogging:
https://youtu.be/wMUKzNi8500

I would love any comments and advice - please don’t be too cruel! :winkgrin: Thanks in advance.

[beau159]

@Preposterous Ponies!;8270944

Now that she is healed and getting back into work

What exactly did she have wrong?

I am seeing a faint limp as you trot her around in your video. Are you sure she’s completely healed?

@Preposterous Ponies!;8270944

I’d like to work on improving our western riding, starting with the jog.

Is there something specific you’d like to improve on?

One thing I noticed, is that you should use your LEGS more. I saw more than one occasion where you went to neck rein her and she did not respond so you just kept moving your hand farther over, until her nose was tipped in the opposite direction you were wanting to travel. Use your legs to help steer her and don’t let your hands go so far “out of the box”.

Overall, I’d like to see her back more rounded and I’d like to see her a little softer in the face.

[JBD]

I recommend schooling in a snaffle using two hands. Push her up to the bit as you would in any discipline. Don’t worry too much about going really slow for awhile. Once she’s balanced and working rounded, you can start asking her to do the same thing but slower. It takes training and conditioning for a horse to do a slow, collected jog.
And I also see something going on in the rear.

[Preposterous_Ponies]

She had a bone infection in the pedal bone - she is “totally healed” but will likely always be just the slightest bit off in the hind. She has been cleared by a vet and is totally happy to work. We are of course keeping a very close eye on it.

Thanks for hte tips regarding neck reining - this is something that is totally new to both of us and I am not exactly qualified to teach it. I’ll definitely start “insisting” more with legs rather than just counter productively over-doing the neck reining.

She despises bits, all bits, so is bitless or bust. She can’t really do “round” due to her confirmation, but I will ensure she is working more from the hind.

[RPM]

I think the two of you look very nice together, and happy. I’m no expert but it looks like a nice relaxed jog to me, certainly much better than what I see in WP these days! As you and others have already said, she is not really round, but she looks happy and comfortable.

I would agree with the person who said work her more off your seat and leg for steering than just neck reining. If you want to go with a snaffle and use two hands and ride her into the bridle, fine, but for a western jog I would continue as you are doing, just use more seat and leg for steering.

I like your “trainer”! He keeps a good eye on the two of you!

[Flash44]

She is very cute and fluid! Agree that she is a bit flat and hollow backed. I long trot and ask the horse to drop the head to help with conditioning. I do lateral work to help with suppleness, and exercises to get the horse soft in the face. After a while it comes together.

[beau159]

[QUOTE=Preposterous Ponies!;8271443]
She had a bone infection in the pedal bone - she is “totally healed” but will likely always be just the slightest bit off in the hind. [/QUOTE]

Of course, I don’t know your horse but I am not sure why an infection will always make her “off” for the rest of her life? Are there bony changes on the x-ray?

Keep in mind that if you plan to show, don’t expect the judge to place a horse that is limping at the jog. Some might go so far as to ask you to leave the class.

[QUOTE=Preposterous Ponies!;8271443]
She can’t really do “round” due to her confirmation, but I will ensure she is working more from the hind. [/QUOTE]

What sort of conformation is that? Curious.

Yes, all-in-all she needs to be more collected up. She kinda strung out and front-heavy in the video you posted. Not a bad jog by any means, but certainly improvements can be made.

[Preposterous_Ponies]

[QUOTE=RPM;8271986]
I like your “trainer”! He keeps a good eye on the two of you! ;)[/QUOTE]

Haha, she definitely keeps a close watch!

[QUOTE=beau159;8272367]Of course, I don’t know your horse but I am not sure why an infection will always make her “off” for the rest of her life? Are there bony changes on the x-ray?

Keep in mind that if you plan to show, don’t expect the judge to place a horse that is limping at the jog. Some might go so far as to ask you to leave the class.

What sort of conformation is that? Curious.

Yes, all-in-all she needs to be more collected up. She kinda strung out and front-heavy in the video you posted. Not a bad jog by any means, but certainly improvements can be made.[/QUOTE]

She does have quite severe changes to the bone. Honestly it’s a miracle she can be ridden at all, so we’re just kind of listening to her and letting her tell us what she is comfortable with. If she needs to be a pasture puff, that’s okay too, but she does like to have a job.

Her spine is raised which makes it difficult for her to lift through the back. Adimittedly I was with an event trainer at the time, so less of a “dressage” frame may be more attainable for her. Something we will experiment with!

[bcannon]

One thing you may try is lunging on a line with side reins. You can teach her to control her speed with your voice, and you’ll be able to see how she is moving from the ground, and make whatever adjustments or improvements you are trying to accomplish. With some horses (not all horses), the side reins help the horse to travel more round. Just make sure you know how to use them properly, do lots of research before trying them. Improper use can be very very dangerous.

[beau159]

@Preposterous Ponies!;8272486

She does have quite severe changes to the bone. Honestly it’s a miracle she can be ridden at all, so we’re just kind of listening to her and letting her tell us what she is comfortable with. If she needs to be a pasture puff, that’s okay too, but she does like to have a job.

I just want to add that if the horse still likes to get out and about and do something, Previcox can help them do that. Has your vet mentioned that?

[Showbizz]

You look like you’re having a ball, so keep at it If she has soundness/conformation issues that limit her ability to be strong enough to lift her back and shoulders more, you can focus on good guiding. You want your horse to bend in the direction of travel. I keep an inide leg on at the girth and move my hand up the neck initially. I bump in the direction of the turn, returning to center after each gentle bump. Keep her forward and ask until she bends in the direction of travel insted of counterbending. Make sure your inside leg keeps her from leaning in. If you have to, at the beginning, if she’s not getting it you can do a help bump with your inside hand to get her to get the idea. Remember to return your hand to center between bumps! When she responds correctly, leave her alone and praise her with a scratch from your rein hand and/or from your voice.

[Preposterous_Ponies]

[QUOTE=bcannon;8272746]
One thing you may try is lunging on a line with side reins. You can teach her to control her speed with your voice, and you’ll be able to see how she is moving from the ground, and make whatever adjustments or improvements you are trying to accomplish. With some horses (not all horses), the side reins help the horse to travel more round. Just make sure you know how to use them properly, do lots of research before trying them. Improper use can be very very dangerous.[/QUOTE]

I have used side reins extensively with my show horse, but haven’t put them on this mare. I will confess I have a tendency to let this mare do whatever the heck she wants with her body because she is perfect and spoiled and gets the job done no matter what.

@beau159;8275931

I just want to add that if the horse still likes to get out and about and do something, Previcox can help them do that. Has your vet mentioned that?

Previcox is something I’ve had in the back of my mind, and it certainly is an option. We’re trying some different shoeing options and what not first, but we will certainly give the drugs a try if she needs it.

@Showbizz;8276107

You look like you’re having a ball, so keep at it If she has soundness/conformation issues that limit her ability to be strong enough to lift her back and shoulders more, you can focus on good guiding. You want your horse to bend in the direction of travel. I keep an inide leg on at the girth and move my hand up the neck initially. I bump in the direction of the turn, returning to center after each gentle bump. Keep her forward and ask until she bends in the direction of travel insted of counterbending. Make sure your inside leg keeps her from leaning in. If you have to, at the beginning, if she’s not getting it you can do a help bump with your inside hand to get her to get the idea. Remember to return your hand to center between bumps! When she responds correctly, leave her alone and praise her with a scratch from your rein hand and/or from your voice.

Thanks! The mare is not a big fan of bending (or really, anything more than “I am going forward, DO NOT INTERFERE HUMAN”) and I’ve let her get away with it because she is quite capable without moving “correctly”.

Here is a picture of the mare in her “prime”, when we were routinely jumping 3’6 and higher. She’s a bit of a wizard because she can come into a massive fence bent totally wrong, inverted with her head in the air, take a huge long spot and make it look effortless. Not that we TRY to do that, but she’s saved my butt more times than she should have (which is part of the reason she gets to do whatever she wants).

https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/v/t1.0-9/922678_4866388911968_14295646_n.jpg?oh=f3e60888fd0667fe04375dd102f90a77&oe=5648E818