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You are in... Forums > Welcome To Your Horse Forum > The Yard > Thoughts on schooling

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rhapsody

Joined:

Apr 05

Posts: 2532

rhapsody says:

Thoughts on schooling

Does anyone else have the same problem as me?  I have great intentions of schooling the horse, get all tacked up and ready to go, get in the arena then can't quite decide what to do so wander around aimlessly until I can develop some imagination and do something useful?  Then I end up doing the same thing as always i.e. some figure 8's, a couple of circles here and there then the mind goes blank again?  Anyone else have this problem or am I a unique nutter?

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  • Posted 2 years ago (25 April 2012 07:22)
greyandbay

Joined:

Mar 10

Posts: 2947

greyandbay says:

Re: Thoughts on schooling

Oh no, you're not alone !!

I'm not riding anymore, but I was exactly the same when I was - as you say, full of good intentions but very vague when it came down to what to do.

If there was someone there telling me what to do, then things always seemed a lot more purposeful somehow.....

And my daughter's just the same - she's in her last year of uni and works part time at a riding school in Kent where she's given the opportunity to ride, and also to do a little teaching.

Last weekend she phoned saying she felt so chuffed with herself as she was asked to give a lesson to 2 adults, both reasonably good riders. She felt a bit intimidated at first as she's used to teaching children, but  said she felt things went ok, and then one of the ladies said what a good lesson she'd done, and that her horse had settled and listened far more quickly than usual.

Daughter was so pleased about all this, felt so proud of herself - and then said to me why can't I do this when I'm riding and schooling on my own??

Maybe there's just the extra determination if another person is there.

The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man - Winston Churchill

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  • Posted 2 years ago (25 April 2012 07:50)
dollymix

Joined:

Oct 07

Posts: 1571

dollymix says:

Re: Thoughts on schooling

I know what you mean - it can be hard to be motivated.

 

I try to have aset warm up plan in place now...loose rein, encouraging them to stretch down in walk, and flexing their necks left and right for five minutes, before doing the same in trot.

 

Then I try to set a goal for the week...(helps that I have a lesson once a week and the instructor helps me set the goal!) So one week, I might be working on straightness...in all paces and in halt (our weakness, as she likes to stop square, then swing her bum out!!) I put poles out in the middle, making a corridor, which is great for straightness...

Other times I might be concentrating on gettign her more forward...i.e reacting to the leg and reaching for the contact.

 

I think the important part with schooling is not to think you have to keep riding for an hour!! 20 mins of good schooling, with an aim, is better than cantering around aimlessly for an hour! (this is what I used to do! lol)

 

You could also use your schooling sessions for 'fun' stuff...Le TREC practise with obstacles is great for de'spooking...and perfecting the fast walk and slow canter is trickier than you think!

dulciesequence1

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  • Posted 2 years ago (25 April 2012 08:57)
Rosebudd

Joined:

Apr 11

Posts: 562

Rosebudd says:

Re: Thoughts on schooling

 i am so like this, get in there full of good intentions then my motivation just goes! I tend to do lots of transitions, changes of rein and things but i agree with above, i find it far more purposeful if someone is there with me. :)  

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  • Posted 2 years ago (25 April 2012 10:42)
SarahR123

Joined:

Feb 10

Posts: 446

SarahR123 says:

Re: Thoughts on schooling

You're not alone!  I really only do anything worthwhile when I have a lesson.  I find it really hard to get down to anything - mind you my mare is far more experienced at avoiding working properly than I am at asking so it does get a bit gutty!!

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  • Posted 2 years ago (25 April 2012 11:17)
jenappaloosapony

Joined:

Aug 11

Posts: 485

jenappaloosapony says:

Re: Thoughts on schooling

 I do this too! I plan loads then when I get there we are both as unenthusiastic as each other!

JennyMyAppaloosa♥Loveyou

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  • Posted 2 years ago (25 April 2012 17:40)
rhapsody

Joined:

Apr 05

Posts: 2532

rhapsody says:

Re: Thoughts on schooling

So glad there are others like me, I was beginning to think I was a real dufus, as my husband goes in there and gets the job done no problem, he just instinctively knows what he's going to do, and he wasn't even interested in horses til he met me - no fair!

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  • Posted 2 years ago (25 April 2012 20:29)
HorseMad2911

Joined:

Oct 11

Posts: 109

HorseMad2911 says:

Re: Thoughts on schooling

OK, here is what i do:

1. Set out some poles in a random pattern, and try and work out exercizes i can get my horse to do over them.

2.Trotting/cantering poles

3. I practise shortening/lengthening canter strides

4. Practise/make up my own Dressage test:)

Hope this helps ya!

 

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  • Posted 2 years ago (25 April 2012 20:32)
Cocosmom

Joined:

Jan 09

Posts: 2542

Cocosmom says:

Re: Thoughts on schooling

Yep I'm the same and also find it hard not to give up when I get a bit tired and say 'ok that will do for today!' 

I bought a book called 101 Schooling Excersises which isnl;t the most exciting read and isn't full of pretty pictures but it does what it says on the tin! It tells you what level the exercises are at,  what each exercise will help you do, overcome, achieve. It will also tell you what it should feel like if your doing it properly and what may go wrong and how to correct it or work towards it if your horse is finding it difficult and gives you a plan of the school and the layout of the exercise to help you. I tend to skim through that the day before I school and figure out a load of exercises that we need to work on and it helps me get motivated and formulate a plan.  I dont tend to do all the exercises either but have enough in my head to work on and keep us busy and then will always end on something really simpe that me and Coco can both do well so we end on a good note!  

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  • Posted 2 years ago (27 April 2012 08:04)
Fenris

Joined:

Oct 07

Posts: 565

Fenris says:

Re: Thoughts on schooling

 Learn a dressage test and try to ride it to perfection. All the moves are preplanned, and you will always find something that needs work!

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  • Posted 2 years ago (27 April 2012 20:55)
AMLS

Joined:

Apr 10

Posts: 306

AMLS says:

Re: Thoughts on schooling

You need to think about what you want to achieve and then work out the steps neccessary to get there.You may need to have a lesson with a good instructor who can watch you and then point you in the right direction or do some reading or watch someone else school and have a chat with them after about what they have worked on and how/why.

 

It's important to school as well as hack even if it's just once a week for a tune up but it's a waste of time if you don't go in with a plan or at least an idea of what you are aiming for.

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  • Posted 2 years ago (01 May 2012 18:30)

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