Free Walk again!

[blackjack]

Hi, similar to Olivia I need help with getting jack's free walk on a long rein improved. How do we get him to stretch down into the contact when he would much rather be poking his nose into everything going on around him, how much rein is long rein, how do we keep him straight. AAAARRRGGGHHHHHHH

Jack and my rider Niki have qualified for a championship show and like most of them, the free walk is double scoring so we really need to improve it and to make matters worse, Niki has decided she does not want lessons with the instructor any more but wants me to help her.

I am currently having sleepless nights and stressing so much all over wretched free walk so any helpw ould be wonderful.

Nikki xxx

[valerie n scout]

oh I cant help but will listen intently, as Tomas is a nose poker and Scout ALWAYS has been but I ve given up on him x

[SuzieP]

Hi Nikki - sorry if repeating what you've already tried.

Free walk should cover ground, be active and not an excuse for the horse (or the rider) to have a rest
Let Jack take the rein from you rather than just give the rein away.
You should maintain a light contact - the movement is LONG rein, not loose rein.
If he doesn't want to stretch down, try vibrating your fingers lightly on the reins, this might encourage him.
If he's been working hard he should be glad to stretch his neck.
Keep him straight with legs and tiny weight shifts.

[Anna]

Echo sue, keep the legs on and wiggle you ankles to keep asking for the contact, slowly release the rein but if he drops the contact squeeze with your legs and ask him to take the contact again and put your hands wide and low, as wide as they get and low nearly onto the shoulders as such but keep your legs on too to keep straight and forward.

[NFK Dumpling]

My instructor suggested just scratching the base of the neck where your hands are to encourage the stretch - a gentle unobtrusive scratch (not like a dog trying to rid itself of fleas). It used to work on James, never needed any encouragement on a grass arena for some reason

[SuzieP]

LOL!

That's a good tip re the scratch - I'll try that on Bea. I do it to let him know he's doing good, so maybe a little scritchy halfway through the test will encourage him.

[harveydales]

LOL I use the scritch thing aswell. I thought it was my own idea! I usually start first asking after we've done some good trot work and the horse is ready to stretch down. Then I can ask, scratch and say "down you go" under my breath and then lots of praise when it happens. Don't forget it is also important to keep a good active walk and the return to medium walk is part of it. I don't suppose it matters what you do, it is between you and your horse. It is only when the horse is truely working over his back and into a contact that you can get a good free walk but I reckon our Dales Ponies have a natural good walk so this is an easy bit for us to pick up marks on this.

[southerner]

You are local -can come help if your rider will be ok!

[blackjack]

Hi Southerner, thank you so much for your kind offer but I think we have got it sorted! We have found a great dressage trainer who we have been working with and she has given us some help with this. OK, he is still inclined to snatch the reins away a bit, but much better than he was. It is not the kind of thing we can fix in a day I guess, it all takes time.
Cannot believe that it is only just over a week now to the championship. I am soooo nervous and it is not even me that is riding!!! Thanks again loads for the offer of help, really do appreciate it.

[NFK Dumpling]

Have Jack & Nikki competed yet?

[blackjack]

No, not yet. The show is next Saturday,16th, but dont worry I will post and let you all know how we got on. Thor is qualified for the championship too but we know that he is not going to get placed or anything as it is only his first season o ut and it is more about experience than anything for him. Getting very nervous about it and it is not even me riding!!!