I really, REALLY want to see you be able to LET him stretch when he's bringing his nose into his chest really tight and curling - when Harper does that, I'm pushing her forward and making her stretch DOWN, not curl. Is he to the point that you can get him to trot and basically be moving out but plowing dirt at the same time, without bring overly on the forehand? I feel like when she's asking you to soften your outside rein and flex him in, he's bringing his head in, but pulling you down because he wants to stretch his neck and over/through his back so he can REALLY stretch his stride out.
I think if you can teach him to move out and strong, but stretch himself out and down and maintain steady contact on your outside rein, you can get some nice, swingy, looooooose trot work out of him.
his curl & going BTV has been an issue since i bought him. i think he's improved, but he'll get back to it if he's tired especially.
mm, i have real trouble with maintaining a steady contact because i'm so inconsistent. he'll stretch, then curl, then raise his head up or whatever. it's a confidence thing too because i'm not good enough yet to keep him focused & flexed with a looser rein (it's getting there tho, i *felt* it for the first time on friday) and then he'll boggle at something outside and i'll fall to shit. he does start to strech out super nice at the end of a ride tho & i'm at the point where i can trust him enough at that stage. i tend to hold on for dear life tho at the start of a ride. carly wants us to work on stretchy long & low too.
okay, so in my rides both today and last night i tried giving him as much rein as he wanted - but he jabs? how can i address that? he'll jab forward, then sort of flatten out, then jab forward again
( ... )
to clarify - if i'm trying to *give* him rein, he doesn't seem to know what to do with it. is this something that will come with time & practice? i try to keep my hands 'loose' so he can take more rein if he wants it, but he does the jab thing & i end up with NO reins.
If you look at your position and demeanour in all of those pictures ( where you aren't in the middle of rising trot ) it seems basically the same whether you're doing a lovely long trot across the arena or Beej is having one of his plot-loss moments you just look like you're calm and staying with him.
I'm hella proud of you for sticking with that horse and for doing such a good job of it in spite of everything.
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I think if you can teach him to move out and strong, but stretch himself out and down and maintain steady contact on your outside rein, you can get some nice, swingy, looooooose trot work out of him.
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mm, i have real trouble with maintaining a steady contact because i'm so inconsistent. he'll stretch, then curl, then raise his head up or whatever. it's a confidence thing too because i'm not good enough yet to keep him focused & flexed with a looser rein (it's getting there tho, i *felt* it for the first time on friday) and then he'll boggle at something outside and i'll fall to shit. he does start to strech out super nice at the end of a ride tho & i'm at the point where i can trust him enough at that stage. i tend to hold on for dear life tho at the start of a ride. carly wants us to work on stretchy long & low too.
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He is looking GORGEOUS though.
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I'm hella proud of you for sticking with that horse and for doing such a good job of it in spite of everything.
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