And finally, to round of this mini series, here are a few extra exercises you can add to your schooling routine to get you and your precious pony back in action.
Extra exercises
- Transitions – get your upward transitions to be light and forward and be careful of falling onto the forehand during downward transitions.
- Bend and flex – play around with neck bend and poll flexion to get your horse feeling relaxed and supple in his schooling.
- Pole work – drive his impulsion and engage his core.
- Bending poles – take it back to riding–school days and try some bending poles and cones to promote suppleness and bend throughout his whole body, not just the neck.
- Working riding course – get your horse on your team by riding a fun working riding test. Close a gate, pick up things off a barrel, canter around with an umbrella, and ride him through a dog’s leg – you’ll be surprised how challenging this might be!