Yeah, it’s wrong from the sound of it. Haven’t seen the vids – but the description just sounds wrong.
There are exercises to supple the horse’s neck/release at the poll and flipping the crest is something Conrad Schumacher does. Perhaps this is part of that. My horse licks and chews when I do this. And relaxes.
Never a good idea to trash someone else unless you’re willing to share your training methods to be successful at GP.
Anything, as we have seen, can be taken out of context.
@Lunabear1988 I would love if you could send me the video. I’m curious.
I had to look up the crest popping exercise. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCLTMywThT8
Emipou-it’s different with conrad-horse is on the bit, not stretched. With just a tiny bit of flexion, crest will pop. Will make a video for you tomorrow and post. Right Horse basically crosses his eyes and falls asleep doing it if I let him.
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@right horse at the right time I thought I stated that I was far from a GP rider, I wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt. How do we learn as lower level riders if we don’t ask questions? Also I don’t think you should blindly follow anyone just because they have went Grand Prix. I’m honestly confused at the technique. Obviously it’s working for her. I was just under the impression it wasn’t okay to do, so i came to ask others who may have more knowledge.
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No one is going to say seesawing is okay.
Whether they were seesawing, suppling, popping the crest, or whatever else is completely unknowable without seeing the video in question.
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Not a black and white world. No one said not to ask questions. And that’s not really what happened here, and you know that.
I’m curious because my trainer’s mentor was Jeremy Steinberg’s mentor and now it’s Conrad. She is very obviously a student of his and many of his techniques wind up in our lessons. And I think I know what you are referring to but it sure as sh*t is not going to wind up in a public forum (mostly out of respect for her). I would happily continue this conversation offline with you though.
I will make you the vid - riding in prob 2 hours or so - and PM you on FB.
I’ve done this for years ever since Conrad showed us. It’s probably in his own videos as well. One of his things is “neck control is horse control” or something similarly phrased. If you don’t have the neck, you don’t have the horse.
I’m not trying to drag anyone through the mud. I understand that’s very popular here for some but I’m really trying to understand why someone would do what I saw in the video. I’m not a competition rider I’m not a high level rider I’m not even a good rider. I’m simply trying to become a better rider. So far anyone who has seen the video has said it’s not correct. But if anyone would like to speak more or see it privately I’m to do that. If you have an explanation, I would be very happy to know it. I really want to learn. I asked the trainer in question and get explanation warran very in depth at all and cleared nothing up.
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I should add it’s a YouTube channel meant for sharing and education. I didn’t grab random videos of a rider from the internet to criticize. I was sending a video which I thought had helpful information. She then asked me about the action at the halt, which wasn’t really mentioned in the video. I couldn’t say 100% what was going on with it so I wanted to discuss with those that are more knowledgeable.
Crikey, just post the link to the video! If it’s a public video on You Tube from a well-known professional rider, I don’t see any reason not to. It’s more unfair to try to describe and pass judgement this way.
There are lots of things that look “wrong” or “bad” that are not, and plenty of things that are harsh/abusive but you can’t really see. Some horses tend to just shut off in the halt or to brace in the halt, so there are reasons why you might see a rider fiddling with the bit in the halt to try to keep the connection alive. I have no idea what is happening in this mysterious video, maybe it is terrible, but just seeing the bit moving back and forth isn’t enough to reach a conclusion.
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@CatPS like I said upthread, I am happy to PM the video. I just didn’t want anyone trash talking if they did disagree with the method. I was sending the video because I liked things in the video. Then my friend asked about what she called “see sawing” during the halt. I didn’t have an answer but wanted to give the rider the benefit of the doubt. She does it in many videos though.
I think @Lunanear1988 is doing the right thing by only sharing the video in private. And she probably shouldn’t share it with you because you’d share it publicly…and the bashing fest would begin…
I saw the video. It’s nothing horrendous but it is see-sawing. It’s not how it should be done. Voilà.
Does that mean this person should be crucified on the public place? No, I gave Lunabear my comments in private and she decided for herself if that answered her question.
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I think I’ll just delete the thread. I’ve gotten a few opinions, all the same. It is not crest flipping and not how I supple the horse.
I don’t think the rider is cruel and the technique isn’t either. it just seems like it is backing the horse behind the bit. She seems like a really sweet person, her horse didn’t seem overly upset. She’s a pretty rider. Unfortunately she runs an educational channel. Some of her videos I saw had useful information. I honestly enjoyed a few until my friend pointed out this action on the bit.
I wish her well and I think I have my solid opinion now. I came here because I thought maybe someone would be able to explain a use for it or that it wasn’t what I thought. That didn’t happen.
Thanks for those who respectfully gave me their thoughts.
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I don’t think it makes any sense to use the bit to change a horse’s posture while he’s not moving forward. Rather this is the epitome of backward riding. It just surprises me that someone who is a pro would do this.
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Oh that took zero time to find. And she is handsy, tends to pull downward and wobble those hands and that horse is not happy about it. The underneck tells the story.
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Should you not be getting the same result by having your leg on with a consistent rein contact and not be doing any see saw at all?
If my mare cannot respond to the half halt aids for each side, we will not halt square. She wants to put her hips to one side as she halts. My abilities are not quite right, but I know she needs her head for balance, so I cannot pull on her face as the main aid. Coming to a halt isn’t by rein aids, don’t you think?
