Coming thru

[riderready]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Any good tips on getting a horse to come through consistently?  The horse I ride is very good at "the fake" (pretty neck flexion with nothing from behind), but gets stiff throught he left shoulder or choppy/hoppy when I try to get him to come through from behind.  He's doing a nice forward warm up but we lose it when I try to collect him.    #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[graciespook]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#As you probably know, it all comes from behind. I like to establish three things--forward, straight and rhythm. I find when all three things click, the horse starts to naturally come down onto the bit. I have them underneath me and then I can work with them. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#If something isn't working, go back one step and re-evaluate what you're doing. I would seek the advice of someone who can watch you ride and give you pointers from there. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Remember that things happen gradually too. Expecting the horse to come directly on the bit and be collected from a forward and loose warm-up when they have problems with it can be difficult. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Good luck!#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[Ruth]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#If the horse is choppy in the hind end get him checked by a vet. Could be a stifle problem.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[chenders01]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Hmm...what do you mean by "collect him", Rideready??  Do you mean shorten up your reins?  You should be allowing your horse to stretch down onto the contact rather than taking up the contact and expecting him to follow you (does that make sense?).  Let him come to you, not the other way around.  Ride him forward into the contact.   #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#He might be getting "choppy" because he's not ready for collection yet but if you just keep riding him forward, with a light contact, he should eventually reach for it.  Then you take up the slack in the reins.  And don't expect it to be a consistent thing.  You may only get two or three strides before he "loses" it again.  Just keep working on forward, straight and rhythm, and praise him when you feel his back come up and he reaches for that contact.  #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Kinda hard to explain.  Do you have a coach?  Having experienced eyes on the ground is really the best way to tell when you're "getting it" or not.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#  #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[xena_n_joss]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Im guessing you mean by colect just shorten the frame and go more round... Not full collections, right?#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# I find that working forward-downward first and getting my horse relaxed through the back first before we collect helps her tons. By the end of the warm up she eventually has her frame shortened and is more collected. With her it is more the transition from the warm up to the more round and collected, she does not do well going straight from one to the other. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Also make sure you are sitting upright and not crooked at the horses center of gravity. If you are leaning at all forward or looking down this will bring your horse on the forehand like that. Transitions are great for building up the back and hind muscles and hock strength that your horse needs to truely come from behind, not just one or 2, tons and tons each ride. Your horses head set ideally be set from your body position riding him into the frame, not by what your hands are doing. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Is your horse younger? Or older... breed ect?#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[Leena]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#If your horse gets choppy and tense while getting "collected" that is his way to resist to it. Good comments has been made from cheking his stiffles, back to working on transitions.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#The use of legs and seat is ultra important in getting a horse to collect . If your horse gets choppy, put more leg, use your outside rein as he drop his neck and get more forward. You are better to work this way for a while instead of getting into a confrontation.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Help of a coach on your position could be need and also get to understand whay your horse is resisting.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Hope this help and good luck !#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Leena#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[Judy F]

If he's not coming 'through', he may not be strong enough behind yet,#ed_op#br#ed_cl#no flexible enough.  If he's getting 'choppy'  then you don't#ed_op#br#ed_cl#have proper rhythm established and this is the first and most basic#ed_op#br#ed_cl#building block for dressage (and most other types of riding).  #ed_op#br#ed_cl#Continuing to ride forwards into a light contact is fine, but you can#ed_op#br#ed_cl#help get him to work under more by doing a lot of trot-canter-trot#ed_op#br#ed_cl#transistions and by making him walk backwards, either in hand or #ed_op#br#ed_cl#while you're riding.  Don't over do it, if he begins to resist,#ed_op#br#ed_cl#stop and go forwards again, just a couple of steps is enough at a time.#ed_op#br#ed_cl#
The other thing to remember is that, in order to step under, the horse must #ed_op#br#ed_cl#
lighten the fore-hand, in effect, raise himself  UP.  This is very hard to do and#ed_op#br#ed_cl#
is the major difference between training level and first level.  It's called 'self carriage'.#ed_op#br#ed_cl#
Backing up will help with this.  Also, every time you groom him, tickle his belly #ed_op#br#ed_cl#
midline a little behind the girth zone so he learns to lift his back.  #ed_op#br#ed_cl#
#ed_op#br#ed_cl#