Oh Shyloh, Shyloh, Shyloh. . .
I asked Beth to watch me lunge Shy in her spirals and give me some advice because Shy was giving me a hard time. When we do small circles, I am able to keep her moving forward, but when I open the circles up, I cannot keep Shy at the trot. Frustrating.
I had only walked Shy a few circles when Beth came to watch. I was warming her up, so I did not have side reins attached. Beth asked me to trot Shy. . .I did and immediately Beth said "She is still off." Ugh! Frustrating.
But then Beth clarified and said she is tracking up okay, but her movement in her left rear is not fluid, it is jerky. Beth asked to try something with Shy. My answer was of course! Beth attached the side reins and adjusted the lunge line in a different position. Then she had Shy do very small circles and asked her to step her inside leg underneath her at a criss cross almost.
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| Kinda like this. . .make sense? |
At first Shy would only do a step or two with bringing her leg underneath her. This horse just does not want to use that rear end! All the other exercises I have been doing, Shy figures out ways to get around using that rear end. She ends up compensating in various ways to not drive herself from behind! Frustrating.
Eventually, Shy was able to do more than a few steps in each direction. Each time, I let the lunge line out some to give her release. And she began to keep a forward trot when I let the line out! Beth said she noticed Shy was moving better after using her legs, so maybe she is just stiff at the start of her exercises and loosens up when used. Frustrating.
How long has this been since Shy has been off? Too long! It is frustrating to me that everything I try, Shy figures out how to get around it. But this new exercise seems to really put Shy to work. She was not sweating after our workout, but she was breathing hard. We did not work long, Beth said it was hard work for Shy. So. . .we will add that to our routine. Frustrating.
Question of the day. . .Why does Shy have all these pool noodles on her back? Find out Sunday!
I don't know about the noodles... but she certainly doesn't seem to care that much!
ReplyDeleteOne time I left a noodle in the paddock. Mistake! Pippin had it chewed into little bits. I was worried that he ingested some and would colic - but there were no repercussions.
What an interesting discovery you had today!
We have a similar problem, and my instructor has me do a shoulder-in in a square on the ground with him. Going to the left, I have a lunge line attached to the girth through the bit ring, with all the line in my left hand, and I am pinching the piece of the line between girth and bit, and the piece between bit and excess line, with my thumb and forefinger about 3" away from the bit. That part is really important for feel. I carry a Dressage whip neutrally in my right hand, and walk straight into his shoulder. He is supposed to be as straight as he'd be in a shoulder in, so no excessive bend through the neck, and step sideways. I also ask him to stretch and lengthen through his neck during this at the bit ring. Connor tries to evade it by going forward instead of sideways and throwing his shoulder around. When you get to the corner of the square, you pause slightly so he pivots around you, but you continue moving. It's hard to explain, but has been very effective in getting him to equally use both hinds and step under himself.
ReplyDeleteYes! That is how Beth attached the lunge line to Shy. I will have to try that exercise with her as well. Thank you!
DeleteMy first question was what's a pool noodle but your photo explained that for me!
ReplyDeleteVery frustrating that Shy is figuring out all sort of evasions, but it sounds like Beth's got your back and will help you work through it.
Pool noodle, just a toy used for swimming pools and they can help you stay afloat. Clearly, they have another use, but I'll get to that Sunday.
DeleteIt is so frustrating and a little bit humbling that my horse seems to be smarter than me. I am very lucky to have Beth!
We do the stepping-under exercise with our horses in hand before riding! Inside leg under, neck curled to the inside.... Then we do it again under saddle with leg aids added to the whip aids, and then Voila! -> we can get proper bend around a circle :D
ReplyDeleteIt's funny how all good riding and training is pretty much the same - I guess it's just the horses' anatomy dictating what works....
Yes! That is the exercise! I know nothing of Shy's past or how she was "trained" or even if she had any other training besides someone hopping on her and making her go forward. So I am basically starting from scratch and correcting past mistakes as we go. It's an experience. . .
DeleteIf those noodles are for clicker training then I will definitely have to try that one out, they look so fun! Or maybe she has been having swimming lessons!
ReplyDeleteHaha! I might have to use clicker training to get her to do what I want with the noodles. . .we will have to see how she does!
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