Post by Elaine on Sept 23, 2008 15:41:59 GMT
Ok, just back from Steves Sept clinic near Gatwick (thanks kas), here are some groundwork and riding exercises for the winter! 
GROUNDWORK
1. Push, don't pull part 1 this exercise looks simple but there's a lot in it.
2. Push, don't pull part 2 this exercise also looks simple but there's a lot in it. You want to have no stuck places, all regular rhythm so its like a dance.......
3. Push, don't pull part 3
4. STARTING A YOUNG HORSE. Before you ride them, gallop them (pony them off another horse or get maybe a 44 ft line). Excellent for introverted horses. I'm going to do with this Oz too
5. ATTENTION Stand in front of horse on loose rein. When you move a step or two to the side, does your horses head follow you?
5. ATTENTION PART 2 - Can you keep your horses attention on you for 30 secs? (not steve i don't think but i like it)
7. CONFIDENCE WITH HIGH ENERGY part 1 - Mad stick waving from spring clinic. More info here.
irishnhsociety.proboards41.com/index.cgi?board=usefulinformation&action=display&thread=423
8. Leading in different gaits - from spring clinic, more info here. irishnhsociety.proboards41.com/index.cgi?board=usefulinformation&action=display&thread=423
9. CONFIDENCE WITH HIGH ENERGY part 2
Pat horse really energeticlaly all over. (preparation for bareback riding also) - from spring clinic, more info here. irishnhsociety.proboards41.com/index.cgi?board=usefulinformation&action=display&thread=423
10. DESENTISISATION Introduce your horse to one new potentially scary thing each day. Even small stuff - new rope lying on the ground in horses normal paddock can be worth doing.
11. Halt to walk: Horse to step before you do.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
IN THE SADDLE
1. RIDDEN FEEL :: Walk in a circle around something (fence upright, barrell, person standing etc). Look at the object in the middle of the circle the whole time. Walk, then while still looking in circle, do a HQ yield and swing horses HQs outside of circle, then put in a backup, then swing horses FQs back the way you came and walk off on circle, but now going opposite rein. Repeat. The whole time you've got to look at the centre of the circle and FEEL whats going on with yuor horse.
2. BALANCE ON HILLS :: Find a hill. Do some circles around the end of it to build up horses confidence going a little way up hill. When good, walk astep or two down hill. Then stop. Then backup a step or two up hill. Then stop. This will get horses HQs in under him = much better brakes going down hills. Park at various places over hill and then ask for 1 step up or down, ajhead or backwards. Mix it up.
3. STEERING USING YOUR SEAT One rein circles :: Ride a circle with just one rein (eg halter and rope). Ask you go around circle, keep throing rein over horses head from side to side. No matter what side rein is on, keep horse on that circle.
4. FOOTFALL :: when in saddle at halt, figure out where your horse feet are without looking. Do same in walk. Get helper on ground to tell you if you need help. Practise.
5. Ride using one rein. You can do this in normal bridle. Need disclipine but its really good for you. One rein at a time riding.
6. The Sugar foot jog AKA the fancy fairy feet jog... trot around everywhere up and down hills maintaining the same speed and rhythm of trot throughout. You can do this for a while until speed becomes regular throughout.......this came from Pat P I think and he used get folks to them it every afternoon for a good while
7. Backup in circles - spin preparation Do circles in backup. Tip nose to the outside and have your outside leg back a bit. Use your hands only if horse gets stuck. When you've got this backup circle REALLY good, then you're ready for your spins
as most of weight will be on HQs, FQ will be very light and movable, so you'll just need to open the front door to get a spin.
8. How slow can you walk down a hill?
9. FOOTFALLS QUIET As you ride, listen to how loud the horses feet are as they land on the ground. Now think about making them more quiet.
10. Push, don't pull this exercise also looks simple but there's a lot in it. You want to have no stuck places, all regular rhythm so its like a dance.......
11. Push, don't pull part 2
12. WALK Do a normal walk, then a slow walk, then a fast walk. Mix them up.
13. TROT Do a normal trot, then a slow trot, then a fast trot. Mix them up.
13. CANTER Do a normal canter, then a slow canter, then a fast canter. Mix them up.
GROUNDWORK
1. Push, don't pull part 1 this exercise looks simple but there's a lot in it.
2. Push, don't pull part 2 this exercise also looks simple but there's a lot in it. You want to have no stuck places, all regular rhythm so its like a dance.......
3. Push, don't pull part 3
4. STARTING A YOUNG HORSE. Before you ride them, gallop them (pony them off another horse or get maybe a 44 ft line). Excellent for introverted horses. I'm going to do with this Oz too
5. ATTENTION Stand in front of horse on loose rein. When you move a step or two to the side, does your horses head follow you?
5. ATTENTION PART 2 - Can you keep your horses attention on you for 30 secs? (not steve i don't think but i like it)
7. CONFIDENCE WITH HIGH ENERGY part 1 - Mad stick waving from spring clinic. More info here.
irishnhsociety.proboards41.com/index.cgi?board=usefulinformation&action=display&thread=423
8. Leading in different gaits - from spring clinic, more info here. irishnhsociety.proboards41.com/index.cgi?board=usefulinformation&action=display&thread=423
9. CONFIDENCE WITH HIGH ENERGY part 2
Pat horse really energeticlaly all over. (preparation for bareback riding also) - from spring clinic, more info here. irishnhsociety.proboards41.com/index.cgi?board=usefulinformation&action=display&thread=423
10. DESENTISISATION Introduce your horse to one new potentially scary thing each day. Even small stuff - new rope lying on the ground in horses normal paddock can be worth doing.
11. Halt to walk: Horse to step before you do.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
IN THE SADDLE
1. RIDDEN FEEL :: Walk in a circle around something (fence upright, barrell, person standing etc). Look at the object in the middle of the circle the whole time. Walk, then while still looking in circle, do a HQ yield and swing horses HQs outside of circle, then put in a backup, then swing horses FQs back the way you came and walk off on circle, but now going opposite rein. Repeat. The whole time you've got to look at the centre of the circle and FEEL whats going on with yuor horse.
2. BALANCE ON HILLS :: Find a hill. Do some circles around the end of it to build up horses confidence going a little way up hill. When good, walk astep or two down hill. Then stop. Then backup a step or two up hill. Then stop. This will get horses HQs in under him = much better brakes going down hills. Park at various places over hill and then ask for 1 step up or down, ajhead or backwards. Mix it up.
3. STEERING USING YOUR SEAT One rein circles :: Ride a circle with just one rein (eg halter and rope). Ask you go around circle, keep throing rein over horses head from side to side. No matter what side rein is on, keep horse on that circle.
4. FOOTFALL :: when in saddle at halt, figure out where your horse feet are without looking. Do same in walk. Get helper on ground to tell you if you need help. Practise.
5. Ride using one rein. You can do this in normal bridle. Need disclipine but its really good for you. One rein at a time riding.
6. The Sugar foot jog AKA the fancy fairy feet jog... trot around everywhere up and down hills maintaining the same speed and rhythm of trot throughout. You can do this for a while until speed becomes regular throughout.......this came from Pat P I think and he used get folks to them it every afternoon for a good while
7. Backup in circles - spin preparation Do circles in backup. Tip nose to the outside and have your outside leg back a bit. Use your hands only if horse gets stuck. When you've got this backup circle REALLY good, then you're ready for your spins
as most of weight will be on HQs, FQ will be very light and movable, so you'll just need to open the front door to get a spin. 8. How slow can you walk down a hill?
9. FOOTFALLS QUIET As you ride, listen to how loud the horses feet are as they land on the ground. Now think about making them more quiet.
10. Push, don't pull this exercise also looks simple but there's a lot in it. You want to have no stuck places, all regular rhythm so its like a dance.......
11. Push, don't pull part 2
12. WALK Do a normal walk, then a slow walk, then a fast walk. Mix them up.
13. TROT Do a normal trot, then a slow trot, then a fast trot. Mix them up.
13. CANTER Do a normal canter, then a slow canter, then a fast canter. Mix them up.