What can i do in the arena to encourage a rounded frame and supple body?

Question

i need some tips

i do ride him in a lot of circles to ask for flexion and i keep a good short soft contact with my llegs on. but this doesnt help. what can i do?

Answer 1

good follow up question to ur last hehe....get your horse forward and reins shorter and tickle the bit with your outside rein and his head will flex at the poll but it is crucial to keep your leg active(very) too because you have to have more leg than hand and circles help with balancing on the hind end and your horse cant do tht unless they are in a frame so circles will help AFTER he can hold a frame and suppleness comes with rythm and relaxation so not only will u have to keep him in a frame but also working on keeping him at a relaxed even pace and over time impulsion will devlop...dont give up tho good luck!

=]] AA

edit:remember not to see-saw the reins either this will give him a stiff un-responsive mouth but u can switch which rein u tickle the bit on...it just depends on feel but also dont pull on the reins in attempt to get his head down as this is nto only pointless but destructive to your horse and remember to release with your inside rein occasionally to check to see if ur hanging on it and to check if he is truly balanced on ur outside rein...thts it haha but im not a dressage rider just to make not even if i sound like 1 im a hunter/jumper rider =]]

Answer 2

well you should try to lunge him. and don't be afraid to let him go as fast as he wants to. and if that doesn't work try using spurs or a crop.well hope i helped

Answer 3

Hey there,



Can you email me so I can email you my answer? Yahoo isn't letting me submit the answer because I think it may be too long. I have some great tips that may work for ya. [e-mail]

Stupid Yahoo!! :)

-Jessie

Answer 4

shoulder in, leg yielding, half pass etc. the more lateral work the softer your horse will be and the quicker he will build up muscle. the trick is to change what excercise your doing every few minutes of he'll get bored and lazy and he'll start looking for ways to lean on you. transitions are also great especially trot to walk, it will keep him interested. good luck!

Answer 5

I never recommend circles for an uncollected/rounded horse. its throws them off balance .

Before you ask for collection you're horse needs to have balance. to get this you have to let him move out (at any gait) where its comfortable for him, don't speed up or slow him down. this will help him from "falling apart" when he gets collected. then while keeping you're legs on him, (you don't need pressure just you're legs there to remind him to drive from behind and keep going) then start with small sea saw checks on you're reins until he puts his head down a little then release and if he puts his head up again check until its back down again then release. by moving his headset you move his whole spin which will create a move "rounded" looking frame. after that you can work on getting it to the speed you want weather its slower or faster

but remember! Balance and rhythm is before anything.

Answer 6

A lot of people may mention wiggling the bit in such but your goal is to get your horse on the it and why would the horse want to hold a wiggling peice of metal in his mouth.

Start with lots of long rein and incouraging your horse to stretch down like  quater horses in the show arena. This will help him loosen his topline so he can engage his butt, lift his back and drop his head. Work on lots of stretchy chewy circles for sveral weeks the go back and ask him to pick himself up and work.

Also a lot of over bending and spairling on the circle at the same time will incourage him to loosen his muscle right infront of the withers (i am assuming there is dip in his neck right infront of the withers. if not still try this exercise) he loosen there and also be encouarged to step under neath himself and pick up his back.

You must remember that this can not be done with force but must be done with time. Your horse must want to go round not be forced there.

Answer 7

Quit riding all those circles and do some lateral work....leg yields, half pass, shoulder in, shoulder out, pivots, side pass, etc.  At a standstill, and then at each gate, rotate her neck so that her nose touches your toe (in stirrup) and always do it both to the right and to the left.  Work on collection going down the center of the arena, and just work on deepening your seat and using your pelvis with her forward movement, and squeezing with your calves to get her hindquarters engaged...keep driving her forward until you feel her lighten, and her back elevating.  Then use the reins to contact the bit and bring her into collection.

Answer 8

well riding circles to help your horse bend his face around does nothing. if you want him to give to the bit without a problem you need to work on bending his face in.

bend his/her nose all the way to where your foot is and then quickly release it so he knows that is what you wanted.  do this a lot while riding at all gaits, if your horse is not used to this they will more than likely stop, and they likely will fight you for a min and try to prevent you from pulling their face around when you first ask them to give to the bit but they will get over it. they will eventually give their face at the slightest tug on the reins

this is what we do with our horses to help them become more responsive to the bit and it works very well.

try it out.. good luck