Outside rein updated Video post 58

[China_Doll]

@alicen

Do you have a video of her being driven?

No I do not.

[China_Doll]

Just a little update. I had been taking regular lessons and things seemed to be going down hill. The instructor wanted to ride her for a few lessons to school her for me to ride. I ended up having her ride several lessons and still didn’t see any improvement. I started taking lessons from someone else. The first lesson we were such a mess but I learned more in 1 lesson than I had learned in probably 2 months. I have now had 5 lessons and improving in leaps and bounds,

getting outside rein, much better connection, getting her straight which is bringing her round working on relaxing and getting on the bit more consistently. I also got a new dressage saddle that gets me in a good position which now I am not leaning forward. Went back to a french link. Lat time I rode in a dressage saddle it was scary cantering from the video I posted last year. Now with a connection it is much easier. Hoping to get new video soon.

I am also doing some physical therapy for my back that should also help my posture.

[China_Doll]

@Kolsch

What a cute mare! Watching you ride, where I’d start is to have you ride with a balance rein to help remimd you to keep your hands forward and quiet, while you work on developing your core and posting rhythm. What I see is that you have to do what I call “post her into the contact”. You’d use your core and hips more strongly you post, staying more balanced over her. Drop your weight down your knees more. It can help to count evenly the sit and apex of the rise ONE TWO, ONE TWO, to make sure the two beats are even. Sometimes it helps to think “I’m making this stride 1” loooonger.", with my hips.

Then, from that the inside to outside.

Just going over this thread again now that I have more experience and understanding. My new instructor has me posting much more stronger which is helping my horse to feel my movement I also got a new saddle that puts me in a much better position.

[China_Doll]

@Scribbler

I would also suggest doing some concentrated work on your own seat and balance, longe lessons without stirrups or reins on this horse or a schoolie if this horse is too green.

You can’t get proper contact on a horse if your seat is unsteady and your hands are bobbing up and down when you post. Your hands have to be independent of your seat and vice versa.

I got a new saddle and getting the horse on the bit. I am much more balanced and hands are steady. Learning now where my hands should be and not reacting improperly.

[SendenHorse]

@China Doll

I also got a new dressage saddle that gets me in a good position which now I am not leaning forward.

this could have been much of your problem, saddle fit is so essential! thanks for the update

[jonem004]

I think it is so cool that you have kept this post updated for so long! I just wanted to share my two cents. This first video talks about the physical reasons it is so important to get a horse working over it’s back. You may be familiar with the concept already, but this is a great illustration https://youtu.be/hokqRs9GbrI
This is a great explanation of a ground work stretching exercise that I use every day as part of my warm up. You will find it useful to teach your mare to step under herself, use her back and core, and stretch down and forward into the contact. https://youtu.be/ax-wWsjZ23s
This covers lunging with sidereins, which used correctly could be very helpful to your mare in developing her topline without the weight of a rider to balance and carry. It can also help to establish that outside rein connection, and the video explains that a bit. https://youtu.be/E2Q3Q0v2dUg
Over all I think that Arttoride has some great explanations and training techniques on their videos and it’s really step by step easy to follow.
Cute mare! I’m glad you got a new saddle, because that western one didn’t seem to be making things any easier for you. I hope you continue to make great progress and find the connection you’re looking for.

[netg]

@jonem004

I think it is so cool that you have kept this post updated for so long! I just wanted to share my two cents. This first video talks about the physical reasons it is so important to get a horse working over it’s back. You may be familiar with the concept already, but this is a great illustration https://youtu.be/hokqRs9GbrI
This is a great explanation of a ground work stretching exercise that I use every day as part of my warm up. You will find it useful to teach your mare to step under herself, use her back and core, and stretch down and forward into the contact. https://youtu.be/ax-wWsjZ23s
This covers lunging with sidereins, which used correctly could be very helpful to your mare in developing her topline without the weight of a rider to balance and carry. It can also help to establish that outside rein connection, and the video explains that a bit. https://youtu.be/E2Q3Q0v2dUg
Over all I think that Arttoride has some great explanations and training techniques on their videos and it’s really step by step easy to follow.
Cute mare! I’m glad you got a new saddle, because that western one didn’t seem to be making things any easier for you. I hope you continue to make great progress and find the connection you’re looking for.

And note that most of us think Art2Ride is a sham.

[jonem004]

@netg Why a sham? I didn’t think much of their episode on shoeing, but watching a horse stretch down and come from behind? Watching them engage their core and carry the riders weight on the muscle instead of the spine? Where’s the sham in that?

[SendenHorse]

@jonem004

@netg Why a sham? I didn’t think much of their episode on shoeing, but watching a horse stretch down and come from behind? Watching them engage their core and carry the riders weight on the muscle instead of the spine? Where’s the sham in that?

there have been a few threads on this here. He doesn’t teach stretching in a “big picture way”. It might be good for a rehab/training issue but no, it’s not how we ride dressage exclusively.
It’s been a few yrs since I watched the video, but I remember thinking that the horse isn’t being ridden over the back, it’s mostly letting the horse’s head following down and letting gravity do the work.

The horse needs to accept the bit before any of this work begins, otherwise you just avoid/avoid/avoid and then when you ask for “short reins” after all this long rein stuff the horse is like “WTF?”

No, people with a good background aren’t swayed by a nice promo package. Look deeper into what is missing in this video. Riding the horses’ head on the ground doesn’t teach them anything,.

Stretching is a result of correct work, not the GOAL of dressage. MUST lift the shoulder as you stretch, or it makes more problems then it solves!

THAT SAID I believe in long and low quite a bit. It’s essential. Just not like this! ****

[Scribbler]

Yeah, Will Faeber. Found him once surfing Nuno videos on my friends wide screen TV. At first we went cool, he’s stretching. But then it became clear he had no other tools in his toolkit and he wasn’t getting the horse stretching to the bit with an open poll. Some of the horses stayed btv and he was fine with it. Also they didn’t all track up and use their core. So no I don’t recommend him because he’s missed the point of stretching tonthe bit.

[jonem004]

Interesting. I would have thought that long and low work would be quite helpful for this mare since she tends to be upside down and tense. His horses do seem to have rhythm, relaxation, and connection even as they come up into a higher frame as they develop muscle to maintain the higher head carriage. No, it’s not everything, but it’s a nice basis.

[SendenHorse]

@jonem004

Interesting. I would have thought that long and low work would be quite helpful for this mare since she tends to be upside down and tense. His horses do seem to have rhythm, relaxation, and connection even as they come up into a higher frame as they develop muscle to maintain the higher head carriage. No, it’s not everything, but it’s a nice basis.

It’s that L&L as presented in ArrToRide doesn’t teach it in the context of classical dressage, it’s like a special way to ride that doesn’t relate to the training scale. It’s like he thinks he has found some secret sauce that no one else has.

Stretching trot is essential, it’s in the tests for a reason. It is a test of correct context, and the lengthening of the neck to the max OUT is very critical to developing a healthy spine and topline for everyone.

[China_Doll]

@SendenHorse

It’s that L&L as presented in ArrToRide doesn’t teach it in the context of classical dressage, it’s like a special way to ride that doesn’t relate to the training scale. It’s like he thinks he has found some secret sauce that no one else has.

Stretching trot is essential, it’s in the tests for a reason. It is a test of correct context, and the lengthening of the neck to the max OUT is very critical to developing a healthy spine and topline for everyone.

what videos would you suggest watching? I will be riding every day after Christmas alone for 6 weeks and want to accomplish as much as possible correctly.

[SendenHorse]

@China Doll

what videos would you suggest watching? I will be riding every day after Christmas alone for 6 weeks and want to accomplish as much as possible correctly.

Dressage Training Online
Dressage Clinic Online
ETRack USDF videos
On the Levels DVDs
Jane Savoie
Betsy Steiner
Mary Wanless
These are the best bet for riders like you, in my experience.

Youtube is not a reputable place to find videos, though some post clinics of these riders.

[China_Doll]

I finally got some new video today. The quality is poor My trot in the other direction is much rounder and on the bit.
I also was riding in a different saddle. Seems the ones that fit me do not fit the horse.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pTzUYmG9ZY&feature=youtu.be

[scruffy_the_cat]

Oh my gosh she’s the cutest. I can’t wait to see how you guys do over time. I know you are frustrated but I bet when it all comes together you’ll make a fine pair.