Help on my pony's frame!

[HappilyEverAfter]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Hey Guys!#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#I was wondering if you could help me out with my pony's frame:#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# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Is this to far behind the verticle? She has a fairly large crest so I dont think I can get her poll to be the highest point without messing up her neck?!#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Also- does it look like she is using her hind end? To me it looks like she is stepping under with her right hind a good bit, but I dont think her outside is tracking up?#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#What do you guys think?#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[Patricia]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Well that is a tough question....because I can't see anything...is your pony black?  Try a better pic....#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[Rapla Farms]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Your pony is definitely behind the verticle.  It looks to me like she is hanging in your hands.  Do you find that she pulls a lot??  Its hard to say from this picture if she is tracking well, but my guess is she isn't using her hind end properly.  I would suggest doing lots of transitions and really getting her to react off your leg (remember, forward not faster!).  This should help get her off your hands and using her hind end.  Half halts are also good to help her sit a bit more.  I would also recommend bringing your hands up a bit and together more.  This will help to guide your horse uphill and lift his forehand.  Also, your leg looks like its off the horse (or is that just my eyes with this picture??).  More leg will help activate her hind end as well.  #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Just my 2 cents - good luck!!  #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[Chisholm]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#What do you mean you don't think you can get the poll the highest point.  All horses ridden correctly from behind to front can eventually when muscle is develop carry the poll as the highest point.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#The pic is not great but what I see is that this pony needs to ridden more forward from behind asking it to use it's quarter more and lift up in front.  #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Think of riding up a steep hill and that you need to drive from behind to get the pony up the hill.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#With a better pic we can tell you a lot more.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[graciespook]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#She looks a little heavy on the forehand. I would try to loosen your contact, ride forward and straight, (forward, not fast). I find when they get that heavy and behind the vertical, your arms are sore from them leaning! Some half-halts to balance and let her learn how to carry herself. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[*rickie*]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT face=Tahoma color=#c080ff size=4#ed_cl#I agree with everyone else, she's definetly behind the verticle, and also broken at the 3ird.#ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT face=Tahoma color=#c080ff size=4#ed_cl##ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT face=Tahoma color=#c080ff size=4#ed_cl#As Chis said, ANY horse can carry their neck/head with the pole as the highest point, no matter how cresty.#ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT face=Tahoma color=#c080ff size=4#ed_cl##ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT face=Tahoma color=#c080ff size=4#ed_cl#I would suggest alot a transitions to get her to rock back onto her hind end, and take some of the weight of your hands and her forehand.#ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT face=Tahoma color=#c080ff size=4#ed_cl##ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT face=Tahoma color=#c080ff size=4#ed_cl#My guess is that this picture is taken when you were doing a downward transition from trot to walk, which would *explain* why your leg might be off the horse, but if I'm right, and you are doing a downward transition, you need to have your leg ON in the transition in order to get *forward into walk*.#ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT face=Tahoma color=#c080ff size=4#ed_cl##ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#FONT face=Tahoma color=#c080ff size=4#ed_cl#Also....totaly off topic...but do I see you wearing running shoes???  *Gasp* I remember when I was young and foolish and did that.....never again...I was draged down a dirt road and through a ditch!#ed_op#/FONT#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[chenders01]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Yup, she is definitely BTV and looks to be lugging on you.  Ride her forward, forward, forward, with lots of transitions.  A good one is walk/trot/walk/halt/backup or walk/trot/halt/backup...but you don't want to do the backing up every time as she'll start to anticipate.  And like Rickie says, you want your leg ON for the downward transitions.  #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#I wouldn't worry so much about your pony's "frame" right now as I would about establishing forward, straight and rhythm.  The frame will come later, after she's carrying herself properly from behind.#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#Have your hands together, shorten your reins and push with your seat and legs as your feeling the ribs comes. Get your legs more on vertical position with your body, keep your shoulders back and don't look at the ground.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#On the picture, your horse is behind the legs and the bit. If you could have someone help you on this, that would be great.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Keep your horse more active from behind with your legs and seat and don't pay too much attention to his head position. Try to get your horse to trot at a tempo and push as soon as you feels the ribs come so he extend without speeding up. If he goes behind the bit, touching his chest, it is because your hands are too strong; soften your hands, your shoulders and follow him in the movement.#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#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#Leena#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# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[HappilyEverAfter]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Thanks guys!#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#(Rickie- haha Normally I ride in my good field boots or paddock boots all the time, riding in sneakers is badbadbad I know! I was only supposed to be doing a pony ride to get Beauty used to our therapeutic program stuff, but she ended up being a brat so I did some schooling! Trust me, I dont ride in sneakers like regularly! aha!)#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# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#The picture, I know, is not ideal for this, but I'm mainly curious about it because (not that you can tell because you cant see my hands) but I'm not really holding onto the reins!! They are only held by my thumb and forefinger.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#I discovered, quite by accident, that if I barely touch the reins then Beauty does this "pretend" frame for some reason.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#A coach/friend suggested it may be because A) she wasnt being ridden with enough leg, B) hands were too hard on her mouth or C) she needed her teeth floated.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#I checked all this out over my past few rides. My findings? I can ride her (Beauty) with a TONNE of leg and on a fairly long rein (softsoftsoft hands) and if I "let go" of the contact (hold between thumb and forefinger) she still does this!!!#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#I also read somewhere, (perhaps Enlightened Equitation or some such thing?), that cresty horses cant have their poll as the highest point for some reason. I'll have to check it out and get back on it.#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#Thanks again!#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[HappilyEverAfter]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#PS: I thought (for fun) I would post some, also bad, pictures of how Beauty NORMALLY goes:#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# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Half decent. But I need to get my eyes up and my toes in. (thats what I get for not having a coach in over a year)#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#Head tossing. A LOT of head tossing.  (oh how my friends cannot take good pictures? ahha)#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# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#And just some random pictures of her because I think she's cute #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# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[zooka]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#I'm with the others try lots of transitions and pushing her into your hands more if she is not holding on you with your legs and seat.  Avoid her getting too strong in your hands with half halts.  She is a cute little pony though!#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#