Lengthened strides
I'm not riding today. Zippy did a lot, for a baby, yesterday. With Jazz, it feels so pointless to ride until he is fixed, though I guess if the date is weeks away I'll change my mind. His flatwork is so advanced for a five year old. I know I could advance it more, but I feel like we are in limbo until we know the score withthe operation. I'm working tomorrow so that settles that until the weekend anyway.
Now, some help please from anyone who can offer suggestions. Teaching lengthened strides has never been my strong point, I have always asked for too much and unbalanced them. I would not describe Jazz as a natural lengthener. He is naturally collected, and he has a lovely toe-flick, which I think means he can be taught relatively easily. But Zippy, for example, when asked to go faster will naturally lengthen, where Jazz would naturally step into canter. A friend of mine has advised allowing Jazz to tip onto his forehand as long as he actually increases the length of his stride (both her horses are lengthening nicely). I had deliberately not been allowing him to tip out of balance. In consequence I'm getting only a very small lengthening, but with shoulder lift.
So - shall I carry on asking for a tiny bit more over the weeks, but keep with the shoulder lift? Or shall I ask for a more definite lengthen even if it tips him onto his forehand? If it impacts on the advice at all, he is easy to bring back into a shorter stride in balance, whether he has tipped or not. Or has anyone got a completely different approach that they think I should try? All suggestions greatfully received.
C.
posted by cptrayes @ 5:51 PM
8 comments
8 Comments:
Ack, you have hit upon my training weakness too. I have too often gotten the comment of "Quickening" on my lengthened strides or "on the forehand," this even at the FEI levels where I was careful not to ask for more than my horse could do.
Tell you what. My trainer is coming on Saturday and I have a lesson. Suppose I pick his brain as much for me as for you.
I do know what a good extension feels like and the front end does get lighter. But the key is to keep the horse's back up and round so he can lengthen--and relaxed!!
Since Tucker's forte will, like Jazz's, be collection, this poses an interesting problem.
By the by, I think you are right about not working Jazz too much unless the surgery is months away. Every time he goes out now and is stressed because of his breathing, he will associate that work with discomfort.
Thinking too about his fear reactions. If he gets scared of something, his breathing increases. If he than can't catch his breath, I would think that would certainly feed his anxiety. Not being able to get enough air would have to be traumatizing.
Ooh please jean. I'm trying to book a lesson with a trainer but she's not returning my call at the moment.
I totally agree with you about Jazz's breathing. Why take risks, eh?
C
no real idea on your question, but how about trying it on the ground first?
All my horses now are trained to very basic cues, stop and go being the most basic, and for those I guess you could say I have two types of cues. A "long" signal (a squeeze with the rein or leg) is for a change in pace and a short signal is for a change within the pace. This means there is no confusion between asking for more within the pace and the next pace up.
When I start teaching lengthen stides I play with the pace in both direction (shortening and lengthening lol, not right and left). Shortening is easier so I start there, shortening the trot stride right down to walk speed and then use the transition from this shortened trot to the working trot as practise for lengthening, then gradually I just take them past the working trot and into some lengthening. The trot becomes more and more adjustable and I am able to lengthen the stride more.
Also I've also found my horses are more enclined to lengthen properly on hacks out and even more so up slight hills, they like to lengthen rather than run.
Don't know if this is any help lol, but I would go with your gradually lengthening than tipping him on the forhand.
Claire I know most people, right to the very top riders, swear by in hand work. But for the life of me I cannot see how a horse is supposed to connect a leg aid to lengthen when ridden with a whip or rein aid to lengthen when not. I believe the chief value is that the rider sees it and knows what the horse can do that they can ask for under saddle. While there's obviously merit to that, it's not a game I particularly enjoy playing. One day I might grow into it :-)
FM I was wondering about that. He shortens so very easily that it's a simple matter to lengthen from collected to working. I wondered if it could gradually be increased to medium. I also love the idea of dual leg aids and wonder how come I'd never thought of that myself!!
I share your experience with an incline. The only medium trot I ever managed to get Scooby to do was on an incline, where he offered it very easily.
The boys are in and eating and I'm just about to turn them out again.
C
Well Polo being a trotter he can lengthen very easily and I mean lengthen.
I do ask him for it but couldnt for the life of me explain how (im not a good explainer of my riding;0) so thats not alot of use!But he tends to balance himself in a good trot then drops his head down a touch and drives through when I slow my rise down but keep my leg on..its a magnificent feeling of sheer power!
I do think its natural for him with his breeding though so wont claim to have taught him this.
...but getting him to collect now thts another matter;00
nicola
Now Nicola, interesting as it was, that rates as one of the least useful posts you've ever made for me unless I buy a trotter next time :-))))))))))))))))))))
C
/////Now Nicola, interesting as it was, that rates as one of the least useful posts you've ever made for me unless I buy a trotter next time :-))))))))))))))))))))////
;))))) Well I did say I wasnt much use...and didnt claim to teach him it!Or maybe I did im just so good I didnt realise!!:0
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