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daniela verani
New Member
Username: Seraf
Post Number: 2
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Friday, Apr 7, 2006 - 8:14 pm: |   |
I have a seven year old oldenburg that is undergoing dressage training. He likes to lock onto the right rein. I have to be one step ahead of him to try to prevent this. He seems to not want to bend as easily in his poll on his right side. If you hold one second too long and he is locked onto the rein. The vet has checked him and found no issues to explain this. Any ideas? |
Ann
Member
Username: Dres
Post Number: 741
Registered: 10-2000
| | Posted on Friday, Apr 7, 2006 - 9:03 pm: | |
Daniela it can be a variety of things.. Did the vet check his teeth. .? Could be his shoulder or even a hind leg .. Could be training issues.. What kind of bit, how does he like it. ?? Are you balanced or maybe you are heavier on one side or give away your 1/2 halt too soon... You need a professional to watch you ride and maybe ride your horse as well.. Then maybe you will have more ideas to go on...
On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots.. |
daniela verani
New Member
Username: Seraf
Post Number: 4
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Friday, Apr 7, 2006 - 9:33 pm: | |
Hi,
His teeth were checked and floated. He had a prepurchase in Nov., and my vet just rechecked him and found him sound and healthy. My vet also did some chiropractic manipulation on him and thought he was really fine. I have two professionals riding him right now. He does this with both of these trainers and myself. He does this worst with me. If you have him going really forward he won't do this, but the minute you aren't completely forward or through, he will. |
Ann
Member
Username: Dres
Post Number: 742
Registered: 10-2000
| | Posted on Friday, Apr 7, 2006 - 11:32 pm: | |
well then.. i am no expert, but it appears to be a training issue... '' if you have him going really forward and thru..he won't do this '' .. so take a step back in your training and fill in the holes, a 1,000 reps is what the NH folks say to change a behavior...
On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots.. |
daniela verani
New Member
Username: Seraf
Post Number: 5
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, Apr 8, 2006 - 8:10 pm: | |
Thanks Ann, I'll see if it helps. I never knew NH folks said that. |
Shelley
Member
Username: Sswiley
Post Number: 141
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Friday, Apr 14, 2006 - 4:48 pm: | |
I have a mare that used to do this. She was being ridden dressage. I finally decided to back up to kindergarten. Before I would get on I would ask her to yeild to each rein by pulling it around to her side, when she willingly touches her nose to her side I would drop the rein and praise her. The stiffness showed itself quite strong the first few times I did it. It sounds very basic for a horse that should be used to more sophisticated rein aids but for her she just need that refresher every once in awhile. |
Shelley
Member
Username: Sswiley
Post Number: 142
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Friday, Apr 14, 2006 - 4:51 pm: | |
Actually I am lying, I should be fair to you and say she still does this sometimes, and I go back and review the basic rein yielding again. It always helps but I have to realize that she might always want to revert to this with time. |
daniela verani
Member
Username: Seraf
Post Number: 6
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Friday, Apr 14, 2006 - 7:22 pm: | |
Hi Shelley
How far do you pull the rein around? thanks, Daniela |
Suzanne Reed
Member
Username: Sureed
Post Number: 19
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Friday, Apr 14, 2006 - 9:09 pm: | |
I agree with the rein yield from the ground. You start small and go bigger as the horse gives to the rein. Key is to release at the give, to reward the horse. You may only be starting with a nose tip to the inside at first, but progress to more pronounced bending and flexing. Just don't go too fast.
The other thing I do is carrot stretches to make sure the horse is equally flexible on both sides. My horse was tight to the left and resisted left direct rein as a result. As I palpated his neck down the top line, I noticed he was stiffer and more tense on the left side than the right. Carrot stretches are the same as the rein yield in that you start with slight bends but end up with the horse reaching all the way back to his hip point to get the carrot. We do both sides and he also bends down to take the carrot from between his legs at the girth.
Just don't let him become carrot spoiled as that can happen too. My horse knows the snap of the carrots when I break them up to do the exercises and is very eager to participate. I make sure that he steps back and respects me in the stall and doesn't become a carrot hog and stomp all over me.
Good Luck. Hope this helps.
Suzanne |
Shelley
Member
Username: Sswiley
Post Number: 143
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Friday, Apr 14, 2006 - 9:25 pm: | |
In the beginning it is not important how much you move the rein. Pull is not the best choice of words either. Lets just say you take a fixed amount of rein, say 4 inches, and hold it until the horse gives, then I immediately drop the reins to make the reward clear and give pets. Do that a few times, they usually are pretty quick to figure this game out. Then you can take more and more rein until they start touching their sides with their nose. After awhile you should be able to lightly guide their head all the way to their sides while barely pulling the reins. You can do this while mounted too, it is just easier to introduce it on the ground.
The carrots are good for stretching, but they do not require the horse to give to the reins which is what you need to address.
I have seen some of the natural horsemanship guys do this, dont remember which ones. |
