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Re: [RC] Getting a horse to use his hindquarters - sharp pennyHi Kristi, Don't know how much repsonse you have recieved on this topic with all the focus on horse welefare issues :) I found that the more exercises you do that teach a horse to "rock back" and use his hindquarters the stronger those muscles become and the easier it is for them to get off the front end. Start with very basic simple things, then gradually work up to intensity. For example backing a horse up a hill( as suggested by someone else) is not an easy thing for a horse to do and can cause more damage than help if introduced at the wrong time in your training or intensity. First a horse needs to easily and willingly back on flat ground for as long as you ask him to. Before asking them to back up any distance, I like to teach my horses that every time I stop them they need to back up a step or two. Eventually I'll ask for more steps. This can be done both on the ground and in saddle. Soon your horse should be thinking *rock back* when you take contact on the reins. All my horses will automatically shift their weight to their hindquarters when asked to stop or asked for a downward transition. This is because from day 1 of when I own them (from weanling to mature riding horses), they are asked to back EVERYTIME I stop them. When my horses back softly from a stop then I'll work on fencing exercises where I'll trot down the fence line,(about 2-3 ft away from the fence) ask my horse for a stop then as they are thinking "rock back" I ask them to turn into the fence and trot off in the other direction, again along the fence line. Don't let them come to a complete stop or you will lose that forward momentum and will not get that engagement of the hindquarters you are seeking. You will feel the difference as a horse that hasn't rocked back and started to turn over it's hock uses it's entire body to try to turn. When they can do this nicely at a trot then I'll ask for it from a slow canter. Essentually this is teaching a horse to roll back over its hocks. As with anything you try to teach a horse, just chip away at it a few times during your riding/training routine. Don't spend the entire time in the saddle drilling on one thing. This is how horses get sore, aggraivated and start thinking of ways to get out of doing the work. You can also do this exercise on a 25 ft long line. I believe one of Clinton Andersons "lungeing for respect" videos covers teaching this. I really like this particular Clinton tape series..well worth the money in my book! I have found horses of all ages, from weanlings to oldsters, have benefitted from these exercises. Not only helps develope those muscles without your added weight/balance issues on their backs but really gets the thinking side of their brains a workout. Regards, Penny --- Kristi Schaaf <iluvdez@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: What methods do you all use to train horses who don't use their hindquarters? Caveletti work? Uphill trotting? What? Thanks, Kristi iluvdez at yahoo dot com ===== __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? The New Yahoo! Shopping - with improved product search http://shopping.yahoo.com =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Exclusive Video Premiere - Britney Spears http://launch.yahoo.com/promos/britneyspears/ =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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