Getting your horse to trot comfortably

[Prieta]

It is a spin off from the other thread on what do you do when your horse trot and canter during LD....

As I've stated in the other thread, I found myself needing to stand up during my Arab's trotting because she moves like what Auventura's describe - a Carousel horse. It is hard for me to post when my mare moves like this. So, I have to stand up and work on getting her to trot move comfortably. However, from the other thread, it might not be possible unless I take her out on many 50's or 100's before she'd settle for low moving trotting when I'd finally be able to post very low - just the movement of my hip to two point and back.

I have the leather and stirrup very low so that my ankles and knee will not be compromised and instead, try to get my body long and straight just like I'm walking- documents show that it is very effective on preventing knee and ankle injuries.

Is there a trick or training method I can use to get my Arab to trot low before I take her out to first LD?

[Bank of Dad]

I really think that trotting motion is a function of conformation first, and conditioning second. My two Arabs are very compact, lots of impulsion, short legs, heavy bone. I don't think my gelding will ever be long and low. He's Russian/Crabbet. I also think he would be too heavy boned, muscled up for long endurance rides. I would like to know what riders of more Egyptian, Polish bred Arabs think.

[Prieta]

Perhaps, I ought to show you this picture of Abby and see what you think of her conformation. :( I got so caught up in the auction that I did not bother to look at her conformation! :no:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/66161650@N00/121343796/in/set-72157600643692198/

She is 14 hnds and is thinner now.

[saratoga]

Your mare is cute- she actually looks a lot longer and less compact than mine. Mine is a real shorty! She is only about 14 hands and has a very short back, neck and legs and a round body.

I guess I would say just keep working on it. IMO, the carousel horse trot comes a lot from being tense and excited, head in the air, back hollowed. I dont consider it to have "impulsion" though- I think of impulsion as contained energy generated from the back end. Even if a horse doesnt have good conformation to move longer and lower, I think it can be taught to some degree, with proper riding and conditioning. I like the author Mary Wanless' books to help with basic riding techniques- any time I am having trouble, I will go read some of her stuff and it always helps. Just my opinions anyway :)

[sublimequine]

Push her into the bridle, get her working under herself and using her back, NOT hollowing it. The second an Arab hollows their back.. dang, it's like riding a jackhammer. :lol:

A Dressage lesson or two would be really beneficial to increase the quality of the mare's trot, if that's doable.

Otherwise... get a horse who conformationally is better for a comfortable trot I guess. I'm a total cheater; my QH mare has short legs and a lonnnng back.. I don't even have to do anything and I can sit her jog/trot all day long. As long as she keeps her head at the natural low position and is relaxed, we can go go go go without any posting at all.

[AJHorsey]

Definitely second the dressage idea. Also learning to ground-drive (if you don't already) or longing in side reins helped me with my boy's trot from you-know-where. It gave me a perspective on how he moved when he had tack, and what I needed to do to compensate with him in training. I thought it was just me having trouble with his trot until my dressage trainer got on him. He's ridden PSG and was telling me that he was hard to ride until we got his backend and back stronger, as well as rounding out and using some flexion. Worked out well for us, while keeping our nice big stride!

[Bank of Dad]

Prieta, I can't believe she is a twin of my horse. Short neck, round body, short back and legs, large round hips. Same color almost. Mine gets a darker red dorsal stripe down his back in the summer. He has some white hairs in the middle of his thick mane where it splits. He does not have the wispy flowing Arab mane. Do you know your mare's bloodlines?

My barnmate just bought a 1/2 Arab/Pinto cross. This guy has long neck, long back, long wispy mane, incredibly long legs. He has had some girraffe issues with his neck and head and she is working on lowering the head , rounding the back, and getting the legs under him. He leaves us in the dust when he trots and we normally follow him cause his walk is so big. She hopes to do CTR with him.

[Prieta]

Her bloodline?? I put her papers away and haven't seen it since we got her three years ago. :rolleyes: This morning, I took out the paper from the file and experienced the same familiar feeling but to a much lesser intensity...heart dropping to the floor after the seller handed me the paper at the auction.

Here's what her paper say...she is "Purebred Arabian" and her line goes back to four generations = there is no missing link. I cannot tell if she is half Arabian from the look at her paper. If you'd like, I can type out her lineage.

Saratoga and Bank of Dad, can you please post pictures of your horses??? I'd love to see them.

I think I will find a dressage trainer around here to help me work with Abby.

Thanks!!

[Bank of Dad]

Yes, type out her lineage. We can see what type of Arab she is. I can later post a link to allbreedpedigree.com and you can get more info. If it says purebred arab on your paper, most likely she is purebred and not 1/2 arab.

Someone needs to tell me how to post pictures, I'm not that skilled. But I can email you a picture if you send me a PM with your email.

[gabz]

I agree with making sure she is not hollowing her back and raising her head. The key is to raise the back and develop those muscles, first.

You might check your saddle fit. narrow saddles that pinch will cause the horse to hollow away from the pinch on the shoulders.

Once you get her using her back and hind end, you can work further on bringing her head down a little. Dressage work is wonderful for this kind of stuff... and spiral in and out, flexing and bending.

But please check her saddle fit first.

[saratoga]

Saratoga and Bank of Dad, can you please post pictures of your horses??? I'd love to see them.



Here is my mare from last year...(I have never posted a pic before so hope this works.)

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p263/cryptoclearance/Arora.jpg

[Prieta]

Gosh! She looks like my first mare, Prieta who was well known for bucking at just about everything! But, I was very much in love to ignore her bucking problem. :rolleyes:

Bank of Dad, I got your pictures - they do look like my Abby! I'd love to help you post pictures of your horses so the others can see it.

I'm feeling so giddy - it feels like I"m the mom sharing pictures of children but I"m showing pictures of horses! :D

As for typing down the whole pedigree, I felt overwhelmed - there are weird names and numbers on them. I'm going to ask Arab association if they have it on computer and that I can just paste it over?

[rcloisonne]

Just provide her name and I'll look it up for you in the AHA Datasource.

Though the pic you provided isn't ideal in terms of evaluating conformation she looks to be a bit straight in the shoulder which can indeed produce a jarring trot.

As other shave said, have someone knowledgeable check your saddle fit. What type are you using? Arabs can be difficult to fit properly.

In addition, have you noticed her trot will smooth out a bit after cantering for 5-10 minutes?

[Prieta]

Thanks for your answer! I haven't canter her for more than 1 or 2 minutes - I do not feel it is right of me to make her work hard to carry my excess weight.

Here's her name and her dam and sire's names

Her number is 0554619 Tigerlilys Abby 8/3/98

Sire 0260622 Re Known G

Dam 0496881 Kates Tiger Lily C

I never really pay attention to her pedigree because I do not want to breed her. However, it is interesting to know where she is really coming from. :yes:
Thanks!!!!