trainer101
Posted : 10/30/2009 10:56:16 PM
Hi Tanya!!
Well from what you told me it sounds as though he has never had to collect and lope off before? Its pretty new right? Will he trot collected up and in frame without breaking it? Or does he get frustrated and want to push on the bit?
For him to lope collected and rounded out is completly different feeling for him. Most times they do it for a few strides till they realize things are different and its also a bit more difficult as they have to round and drive from the rear. For them to carry thier head like that it would be like us having to stand correctly the whole time, shoulders back head up like they do in the army. After awhile it becomes muscle memory as we are building up those muscles to do it correctly just like he has to build the muscles in this neck and back.
Most horses don't think they can do it till you show them they can. I actually work on it on the ground at first so that they don't have to worry about me up there using legs to drive them, seat and staying balanced....simplify it for them as much as I can. I would try roundpenning him a couple of days with rubber reins on or those elastic reins set slightly long so that he can nose out slightly and isn't completly vertical. It will be easier for him to move into the lope that way. I usually only ask them to make a lap each direction then undo the reins. I just want to show them they can before I complicate it with me up there.
From there I will have someone come in and be my ground man. That way I'm constantly driving him with my seat and legs. Now all he has to focus on is my weight and the bit. Have your ground man drive him forward just as if you were roundpenning him. Use your hands low in front of the saddle horn and se-saw your hands in time with his front feet. When he holds the collection and moves off of the bit and stays in the lope, stop the see-saw for a moment and that is his reward. Again only have him make a lap in each direction at the lope then let him out of it and go work on something else low stress for him like walk circles or take him outside the arena and let him walk around out there. Colts get real frustrated with that and it clears their head to move on and completely stop asking for the collection. Make sense?
From there I have the ground man only help me when I need it. Once they realize they can it comes so much smoother and easier for them. Hope that this helps a bit my friend and if I didn't explain something quite right just let me know.