Training horse to go in a frame

[ivy62]

I have not read the entire thread but the best thing I can come up with is maybe you are trying to pull him into a frame. My daughter was at a clinic recently with BNT dressage and she said you need power to have good connection. The head does not get pulled down. The energy comes from behind and circles over the poll. I would read and watch Mary Wanless videos. She is very good for the amateur or even Jane Savoie. My trainer sits on my horse and his head goes to the ground, with no contact at all. It is about how she sits which I am learning. Slowly…albeit

OP where are you located?

[btswass]

The best hind end exercise I got from a Buck Brannaman DVD. Backing circles. Its creates the muscles the horse needs to be able to really rock back and engage the hind end. I usually back at least one 20m circle each direction each time I ride. It takes a while for the horse to understand how to back and cross over their hind legs at the same time.

I also highly suggest finding a dressage trainer. I took a year off from jumping and spent it focusing on dressage. It made a huge difference!

And as others have mentioned it takes a lot of strength. At first you will only feel proper engagement and frame for a step or two. And it might take quite a while to get to it. But each time it will come a little sooner and last a little longer and you’ll be able to get it back a little faster. It took about 6 months of dressage lessons to finally have my horse engaging properly at the trot the entire time as soon as my warmup was finished…and then we started trying to get the same feel at the canter and it was like starting all over again! But trust me you’ll know it when you feel it. Its a totally different trot.

[merrygoround]

Being told by your ‘trainer’ that you are doing everything correctly is an eye brow raiser.

If you were the horse would “go round”.

Having a horse engage, involves a horse that is physically strong and balance enough to carry themselves, and having a rider with the ability to feel when that is happening. The rider must also have the tact to know when and how to ask, and when to stay quiet. Getting a horse up and round which is what I assume you are referring to in the term “frame”, is not a static thing, you cannot capture and hold it, it takes endless minor adjustments.

Again some horses are easier than others.

[MzCarol]

I didn’t read the entire thread so sorry if this is a repeat.

You don’t teach a horse to collect or go into a frame. It’s something the horse will give you as a by-product of impulsion from the hind end.

To accomplish this the horse must be in athletic condition because it takes a lot to turn a normally front end heavy animal into one that is working off the hind end.

Work on agility and flexibility: circle spirals, transitions, hill work, side passes, shoulder in, making square corners - anything that gets those hind legs underneath the horse so they can push off. When they are finally agile and strong enough to get the hind legs moving underneath then they have something to push off with - this creates that ‘springy’ movement over the spine and then naturally causes the neck to round and face to come down.

Please note that nothing mentioned above had anything to do with using your hands to make something happen. Again, it is not something you ask for or make happen, it is something the horse is glad to give you when they are moving properly.

[Pennywell_Bay]

Only going to add, muscling up, correct carriage and self carriage will not happen overnight, in a week, in a month in 6 months (well- maybe it’ll start to click). A pro can get them their “quicker” because presumably they have the timing, skill set to always ask correctly and correct issues. The pieces start to fall in to place with consistent, forward rides and education of both horse and rider.

If I were you I’d have a vet chiropractor go over my horse. Trying to muscle or pull their head down can really set you back (both physically and mentally). I had my mare (who has a strong dressage foundation) adjusted and it did wonders for her reaching under herself, lifting her back (which will feel odd if you don’t know how it feels) and pain in her poll (from a lease before I bought her that let her crawl around but see saw on her head).

[Edre]

@Callie1993

Hes been on a riding schedual since January being rode 5 days a week but still hasnt really put on much muscle, his hind end looks under muscled comapared to his shoulder, probley from not engaging his hind end,

Your horse has a serious lack of muscle development over his top line and isn’t in any physical condition to be asked to be in any sort of frame or self carriage. I would seriously assess how all involved are riding him because this to me is not a fit horse ready to ask for what you are expecting.

[Equibrit]

Frames are for pictures.

[Callie1993]

I’m the only one riding him, I have a lesson once a week with a trainer, I have been doing alot of trotting, walk trot transitions,
circles and figure eights

[Edre]

You should consider having a discussion with your trainer on how to develop his top line. If your trainer is unhelpful or unwilling, look at other horses in their program: do they go similarly to your horse? Do they have the same body shape (overdeveloped in some areas, underdeveloped in others)? If yes, you may be put in a situation where you should critically assess the skills and relationship you have with them and see who else near you can better meet your horse’s needs (and yours).