Sunny is very light on my legs and cues. In fact, his gas pedal is a bit sensitive as well. But we're working on that.
So I was thinking... Sense he's so responsive, I thought I'd like to try some reining tricks such as sidepassing, spinning, and even try some lead changes or *gasp* jumping into canter.
I was at a show one time and we all had to back-up one horse length. He's very very good at backing. So good in fact, that the judge herself said he was the best "backer-upper" she'd ever seen! So today, I tried seeing if I used the word "back" without any rein pressure at all (like I always do) if he'd back up by himself and sure enough, he did! No rein pressure whatsoever! I was so excited and happy!
So anyway... I'd like to learn/teach first lead changes and sidepassing. Which one of these 2 do you think would be best to learn first?
I'm going to say what I would do to teach each thing, and please tell me if this is right or not and what you would change:
- For a sidepass, I'd park him perpendicular with a fence, pull on the rein opposite the way I want to go, and use my leg on the same side I'm pulling the rein on as if to "push" him sideways.
- For a lead change, I'm clueless, ha ha. Help. :-o
Another thing is, and I think this is a natural gaited thing, but he keeps his head up, yet curled in. Not exactly above or under the bit, but when we canter he is very hollow. He even canters that way on the ground. At a walk, he holds it regular. I actually think he's lowering it to feel the bit. And this is pretty much with any bit. I used a snaffle today and he was still hollow (and wasn't using much pressure either).
So, yeah I have no clue how to help fix that... I considered a running martingale, but I don't want to "mask" the problem. I want to do it right.
So I was thinking... Sense he's so responsive, I thought I'd like to try some reining tricks such as sidepassing, spinning, and even try some lead changes or *gasp* jumping into canter.
I was at a show one time and we all had to back-up one horse length. He's very very good at backing. So good in fact, that the judge herself said he was the best "backer-upper" she'd ever seen! So today, I tried seeing if I used the word "back" without any rein pressure at all (like I always do) if he'd back up by himself and sure enough, he did! No rein pressure whatsoever! I was so excited and happy!
So anyway... I'd like to learn/teach first lead changes and sidepassing. Which one of these 2 do you think would be best to learn first?
I'm going to say what I would do to teach each thing, and please tell me if this is right or not and what you would change:
- For a sidepass, I'd park him perpendicular with a fence, pull on the rein opposite the way I want to go, and use my leg on the same side I'm pulling the rein on as if to "push" him sideways.
- For a lead change, I'm clueless, ha ha. Help. :-o
Another thing is, and I think this is a natural gaited thing, but he keeps his head up, yet curled in. Not exactly above or under the bit, but when we canter he is very hollow. He even canters that way on the ground. At a walk, he holds it regular. I actually think he's lowering it to feel the bit. And this is pretty much with any bit. I used a snaffle today and he was still hollow (and wasn't using much pressure either).
So, yeah I have no clue how to help fix that... I considered a running martingale, but I don't want to "mask" the problem. I want to do it right.