dont worry joey, we'll have big signs in the sideline telling you the way to go...... LEFT.......RIGHT......NOT THAT WAY!!!!!

[
Our Connemara mare - who has firm ideas of her own- loves not wearing a noseband.

Benefits are there! Like, changing horses muscling for the better, level of fitness or way of going...suppleness will keep him healthy for longer? Softer horse in carrying himself with little contact on the rein, better balance...



All the above are true from our experience, also the lateral work has shown benefits for her back which were commented on by her 'back lady' without any prior input from us. Improved backing is so useful when leading her.She's off for her first official trail gate lesson on Tuesday! That's in six months. Her jumping has benefited too!
And it's fun!

Hi

again, thank you for the input. I particualarly like Joeys modesty, that black welsh is fab from the cip she sent to me!

it is really odd, I rode mine again today and he is much happier. Honda girl you will doubtless be pleased to know that he proved his true welshness by losing the plot part way through and swivling 180 degrees followed by buck buck buck...

If I ride him ona loose rein he will stretch down and reach for the bit, he then softens and I get a nice outline. He is neck becomes rounder and his back swings through. he also is less inclined to take of at speed or spook at everything.

If I do the dresage thing which I am told is have contact equivilant to 1/2 sugar bag weight in either rein, he gets very stiff through his back and his underneck muscles start to bulge. he also goes round looking for trouble (scary sparrow this morning!). I dont think he likes the mental and physical pressure.

the canter thing is wierd though. i experimented again toaday and he is definetly better with little contact. I just click and off he goes. I have noticed though that when i take the contact back I am definetly heavier on one rein than the other where as one handed I cant do that! Alos if my reins are loose I use my seat much better.

Are you allowed to use your voice in western classes? Mine responds well to voice aids walk, trot, canter etc from voice and I always think its abit daft that in dressage you cant use this aid.

Anyway enought from me burbling on . I wills end off for david greys dvd and take it from there I think.

p.s. Isabell I like the firm ideas bit - typical native!

Before I got into western had an interesting experience with our 19 yo Sec D - he'd done it all and got the Tshirts to prove it (dressage, XC, ODE, TREC, M&M, ...), but we had a problem a few years ago keeping an outline for dressage, to the extent that he became bridle lame.  Tried almost every snaffle on the planet, Myler, you name it, but still an unhappy boy. Could force the work with a double bridle, but we both hated it. So switched to hackamore - result one happy boy working in a relaxed outline with lots of impulsion. He's now ridden western in a sidepull and is enjoying his work. So keep trying - a lot of horses are much happier with minimal contact and weight aids.

Hi

yes, Alexsmum, everything you say about more relaxed is something we have found too. My attraction to western was that you left the horse alone much more. We conclude (from our small sample) that the relaxed laid back western horse is not just temperament but a response to the style of riding and tack.
We were concerned that having been used to nag-nag lots of contact classic riding our pony would feel 'lost' but no, lovely stretching down and the apperance of a brilliant jog trot which is soooo comfortable even I don't bounce.
The idea was our son outgrew her for jumping & then I had her for western but now he's hooked too.

Hello

After much debate I am going to give western a proper go. I have tried and tried to translate the feel I get on minimal contact, legs first, seat and then reins to english riding but I just cant. if I ride English my horse stiffens and we are back to the weight in hand, tap,tap, tap , tap with heels, whack whack whack thing with whip.he will round up if i work at it but he really isnt happy so Im not happy.

If I go round with the reins in one hand relying on neck reining and leg aids I have a wonderfully light horse.

Comments on the yard varied from

'wells hes much happier with a loose rein'
to
'well any horse would be happy like that as hes not really working'

Husband says sod everyones opinions go with my gut instinct!