Long Lining Breakthrough

Over the past two weeks, I've been able to focus Victor's training on improving our communication.  My goal was to teach Victor about the language of the outside rein, which Jane Savoie describes as critical to:

1. Control speed
2. Steer
3. Keep your horse straight
4. When you combine the outside rein with both your driving aids and your bending aids, you give the “connecting aids” to put your horse on the bit.

All 4 have been a problem for Victor as he ofter surges forward while also falling in and losing straightness.  I'm eager for Victor to understand how to follow the outside rein and find an authentic soft connection to the bit.

Looking back, Victor seemed to have some general misunderstandings of the aids.  He seemed programmed to use his momentum in his forward motion.  This created a feeling that he was heavy in the front, behind the bit & low in the poll thereby avoiding connection, and too far out behind with his hind legs.

This is the (kindergarten much?) visual I have:

The placement of the hind legs also creates a compressed SI, which was noted in his body work. I'm curious to see if Dr. Redmond notices a difference at his next session.

This is the posture is more correct with the poll being highest allowing the haunches to come under thereby loosening the hips and allowing for increased swing/ range of motion.

To accomplish this new posture, I needed to allow Victor to feel that his spine was completely free.  This was difficult to fully accomplish with the sensations that a rider creates and so long lines are the solution.  I'm tempted to describe Victor's reactions as evasions but I don't feel that he is a horse that avoids work due to laziness.  I do think he may have been misunderstood and in turn he misunderstands and reacts inappropriately.

The first day on the long lines, Victor showed me the exact issues we were there to address.  In the round pen, at the trot and canter, Victor shortened his neck, dropped his chest, and fell in on the circle dramatically.  My goal was to let him sort out the posture while i simply asked for a larger circle and regular transitions using the outside rein.  It took Victor about 20 minutes of what seemed like canter tantrums ("Cantrums") get the idea.

  

Here are a couple shots that show our problems:

Compressed Neck | Bracing Back | Shoulder Falling In ... of course, we also have the added stress of competition influencing the horse but this is his "fall back" behavior.I love that the long lines remove any possible restrictions my body might impose (especially when riding an unbalanced horse).  This is taking our work in the field to the next level!  I anticipate Victor solidifying his balance through this strengthening work.

Notes from 4.23.14:

Another great LL session.  I started in the round pen to check in with Victor on the rules we practiced yesterday. (stop, start, steer, etc) and he nailed it within 5 minutes. So we headed to the field in order to practice changes of direction at the trot on the long lines. Also, changed to the fat 6 in french snaffle and removed the flash noseband. i felt very much in control of victor out in the field though there were some large spooks at the canter... shorten neck and tuck tail types scoots. but the long lines managed no problem. i was able to use the sliding reins and leverage to bring his neck down... he released and then melted into a soft back with a crazy animated canter!!! very exciting to watch. i loved seeing huge trot strides with a balanced body and NO interference behind... 1st level lengthenings here we come!! We also were able to work leg yields down the fence line.. I'm ecstatic with how well Victor takes to the long lines. Can't wait to feel him tomorrow under saddle.

On 4.24 - we had a life altering saddle fitting!
I always joked with Laura about half halting in a bowl of soup. No more! The saddle was so loose on Victor's back that it was absorbing my half halts. I still had to enforce the emergency breaks when Victor tuned me out (a horse running in the field was much more interesting) but small circles are really helping develop his attention to the aids.

4.29 - rode Victor for the first focused training session (saddle fitting ride didn't count :P) and I'm so unbelievable elated with the new feeling! Often, Victor was offering transitions that felt like he was "diving" into the trot or canter. This dive also resulted in a lose of connection and sometimes a feeling of no control. Today, I felt Victor reach forward to the bit, accepting the feel!!! I could ask for trot walk trot transitions on a loose rein!!!!!! He even cantered on a loose rein for a small portion of the session! I love that his is balancing from his center and no longer leaning down and rolling over the bit. The moments where he did slightly lurch forward, the saddle allowed for a super half halt to sit Victor down with absolutely no need to touch the reins and no need to enforce the emergency break! Instead, a small circle was enough to rebalance. What an amazing feeling! What an amazing horse!