How to get my horse off the forehand?

Question

My 5yo Tb gelding has just come back into work after a nasty fall that lead to a tendon snap. He is fine now but before the accident he was always on the forehand. what can i do to stop him being on the forehand AND.. also trying not to injure his tendons even more??

Answer 1

Back in 1980 my old QH went navicular (I had him leased out and the leasee went out on a group ride with 40 other riders and to make a long story short, let him get away from her.  4 hours later when they finally caught him up, he didn't walk too well.).  He'd ALWAYS been heavy on the forehand before, but on his road to recovery, I had to change his center of balance and move him back on his haunches.  As much as I HATED to have to put heavy contact on his mouth, I put a bit on him that he could lean on to learn and we did a LOT of slow reversing on his hocks so he'd get the idea.  He didn't move like a QH anymore, but he moved and stayed servicable for another 14 years.  BTW I've ALWAYS used splint boots on any horse I'm working.

Answer 2

As the previous poster said - lots of transitions. I wouldn't be asking for backwards steps though. You need to keep the horse thinking forwards. Be careful when transitioning upwards that you don't give the horse away in front - ie don't drop your hands. Keep the contact firm and consistent and ride him up into the hand, from leg to hand. Not down and flat out of your hands. Keep him active and thinking forwards, as a TB it's unlikely that he's lazy but it has been known!! You need to work on impulsion, not speed, to get his hocks underneath him so he works from behind correctly. As far as his tendon injury, does he now wear tendon boots? My TB suffered a tendon injury and he has worn open-fronted tendon boots ever since as a knock to the tendon when jumping, over-reaching or fallig/tripping can cause big problems. I reccomend the NEW (New Equine Wear) fur lined tendon boots. I've had the same pair for 5 years now and they're still in great condition and my horse wears them every day! You will no doubt have a rehabilitation programme from the vet to get your horse back upto fitness and soundness, follow this to the letter! I'm not suggesting you would, but please don't think "Oh he's fine we'll start jumping again now instead of in a month". Good luck with him, tendon injuries are a hard knock to return from (I know, I've been there). Have you spoken with your vet and farrier with regards to heel wedges? These relieve some strain from the tendons - my TB wears these, they're relatively cheap and just slot in between the shoe and the heel. Egg bar shoes also offer more support than standard shoes but again all this should be discussed with your vet and farrier. =]

Answer 3

Bending at the poll exercises. A Bosal works wonders on that!

Answer 4

I agree with midnight.

Answer 5

You need to get him working properly from the quarters. Drive and hold, transitions - any combinations you can think of from halt/walk, walk/trot, trot/canter, walk/canter - anything and everything. Hills, backing and turns on the haunches.

Whatever you do build up to it gradually as you say he's just being brought back into work.