So we think my pony may have an abscess, but until the farrier comes out on tuesday to do a hoof test, we're treating it like a bruise/knock. And she's not off, so everyone I've asked said light hacking is ok. So, I've been going for 1/3 hour rides, mainly walking and very little trotting. The vet and barn manager said cantering should be fine, but she's been a bit fresh since she hasn't been worked so I don't want her to go fast and hurt herself.
So, I've been working on bending, keeping straight, and going off of my leg. I mean, I usually ride like that, but now every lesson is solely focused on yielding to my pressure. I've been working a lot on pushing her to the rail with my inside leg and keeping her bent around the turns, but straight when I'm not. If anyone remembers or saw it, I had a post about her tilting at the poll. Well, since I've been doing this, she doesn't do that anymore! I also have been working on leg yielding, half and side passing. She's ok at half passing, but kind of gets confused about side passing. I've been doing it up against the mirror wall so I can see her better and she isn't allowed to go forward. Sometimes, she'll try and back up, the little doofus.
Along with those exercises, we've been doing shoulder-ins, turning on the forehand, and backing up. She's so good!
I have one question though. I can't, for the life of me, teach her how to turn on the haunches. I don't know how to go about teaching it, but I expect I do it from the ground first, like everything else. I need to learn how to move her shoulder and front end over without her hind end following.
So, how do you properly teach a horse to turn on their haunches?
So, I've been working on bending, keeping straight, and going off of my leg. I mean, I usually ride like that, but now every lesson is solely focused on yielding to my pressure. I've been working a lot on pushing her to the rail with my inside leg and keeping her bent around the turns, but straight when I'm not. If anyone remembers or saw it, I had a post about her tilting at the poll. Well, since I've been doing this, she doesn't do that anymore! I also have been working on leg yielding, half and side passing. She's ok at half passing, but kind of gets confused about side passing. I've been doing it up against the mirror wall so I can see her better and she isn't allowed to go forward. Sometimes, she'll try and back up, the little doofus.
Along with those exercises, we've been doing shoulder-ins, turning on the forehand, and backing up. She's so good!
I have one question though. I can't, for the life of me, teach her how to turn on the haunches. I don't know how to go about teaching it, but I expect I do it from the ground first, like everything else. I need to learn how to move her shoulder and front end over without her hind end following.
So, how do you properly teach a horse to turn on their haunches?