If you have been around horses for any period of time, you'll have heard lots of talks about whether a dressage pony should be worked deep or not. If you consult 10 riders on this issue, they're going to give you twelve viewpoints. Many riders believe in 'long and low' warming up and cooling down of horses, for example would get the horse's muscles to stretch out and loosen up. Other riders opt to school in balances appropriate for the frame being worked. These riders don't stretch horses much. Lots of trainers like to school only in deep frames during movements, when they come above the bit as a matter of habit. Yet other riders like doing work extraordinarily deep, with their horses' noses just about down to their chests; they allow the noses back up just when competition time is up.
How do you handle this issue within the context of your own horse?
You need to let benign enmity (do the opposite) ideas make the choice.
Assume you are astride a real 'dirt sucker' your pony leans so much on his forehand you get the definite feeling you are doing somersaults. It is a good idea to ride such a horse more 'up' the long and low versions of such horses aren't correct, and while their heads and necks may stretch down and out, my first concern would lie more with the hindquarters. If the hind legs trail out to the rear of the body, and the horse is thrusting himself hard on the forehand, the balance is definitely bad. It is easy to get his rear legs underneath his body by shortening your reins and by riding your horse a little more up. This way, he is going to carry better.
Let's go on another, completely different assumption. Your dressage pony is a 'stargazer', with the habit of going around inverted to such a degree you can practically go level eyeballs with him. He moves with a shortened neck, a lowered back and with his head and neck in the clouds. You should require him to the opposite shape so you can retrain him and get some strength into his topline muscles. You must get the hind legs further underneath the body in such a way the back is up and the head and neck are low. Resort to connecting half halts for changing your horse's shape. When you are done giving a connecting half halt, let the reins go a little bit longer to enable him to seek contact to the front and down.
How do you handle this issue within the context of your own horse?
You need to let benign enmity (do the opposite) ideas make the choice.
Assume you are astride a real 'dirt sucker' your pony leans so much on his forehand you get the definite feeling you are doing somersaults. It is a good idea to ride such a horse more 'up' the long and low versions of such horses aren't correct, and while their heads and necks may stretch down and out, my first concern would lie more with the hindquarters. If the hind legs trail out to the rear of the body, and the horse is thrusting himself hard on the forehand, the balance is definitely bad. It is easy to get his rear legs underneath his body by shortening your reins and by riding your horse a little more up. This way, he is going to carry better.
Let's go on another, completely different assumption. Your dressage pony is a 'stargazer', with the habit of going around inverted to such a degree you can practically go level eyeballs with him. He moves with a shortened neck, a lowered back and with his head and neck in the clouds. You should require him to the opposite shape so you can retrain him and get some strength into his topline muscles. You must get the hind legs further underneath the body in such a way the back is up and the head and neck are low. Resort to connecting half halts for changing your horse's shape. When you are done giving a connecting half halt, let the reins go a little bit longer to enable him to seek contact to the front and down.
About the Author:
Horses are Heather Toms
passion and she enjoys sharing her extensive knowledge through her 100s of
articles with other horse lovers go here
passion and she enjoys sharing her extensive knowledge through her 100s of
articles with other horse lovers go here
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