On the forehand

[mistysangel0]

I was looking to find out some things I know it's bad but I don't exactly know how to tell. I was told if their striding was the same length on front and back they weren't on their forehand?
Here are some pictures can you please me if she's on her forehand, how heavily on her forehand she is and how you can tell. Thank you!! :)

She's only 3yrs old and was started about 9 months ago but hasn't gotten much as far as consistent riding since summer.

puppy paws :doh:http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/165124_1848591060933_1425416888_32131777_3593822_n .jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=32131777&id=1425416888)

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/167336_1848593540995_1425416888_32131786_3839047_n .jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=32131777&id=1425416888)

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/163050_1809542244737_1425416888_32059690_3296982_n .jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=32059691&id=1425416888)

and these are form summer last year, she had only been under saddle for about 3 months here

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/34266_1537238877323_1425416888_31449383_6938598_n. jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31449385&id=1425416888)

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/34266_1537238997326_1425416888_31449386_2809868_n. jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31449385&id=1425416888)

since she hasn't been getting worked we seem to have lost a lot of ground on her canter but she'll get better again..

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/34266_1537239077328_1425416888_31449388_7848974_n. jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31449385&id=1425416888)

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/38126_1537240157355_1425416888_31449390_5921824_n. jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31449385&id=1425416888)


http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/37958_1537241957400_1425416888_31449411_1796267_n. jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31449412&id=1425416888)

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/34252_1537243197431_1425416888_31449412_8352138_n. jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31449412&id=1425416888)

we lost impulsion here right?? If she had to being with? But it definitely isn't here?
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/34252_1537243277433_1425416888_31449414_8039985_n. jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31449412&id=1425416888)


Please feel free to critique anything too :) We can always improve.. But she is 3 ( gonna be 4 :D ) and I go slooooooowww haha

[WashingtonBay]

Being on the forehand isn't a quality that is consistent, or that you can necessarily see in a snapshot.

It's a judgment from looking at the horse in motion, of whether it looks like the rear end is driving, or just keeping up with the front end. Watch horses move. That's how you learn to see it.

A horse can go from great impulsion to 'on the forehand' in a stride, and then back again when you give them a nudge to get them to push again. You want a horse who has his/her rear end engaged.

[medicine hat]

yep, the rear is the engine, ride from back to front. for now i bet she is learning to simply adjust her balance to having a rider. she's young! it can take years for them to grow & learn what you want & to build up muscle to do it. you will be able to feel a sort of lift when they are engaged & stepping under themselves. my horse usually only hits it for a few steps at first, then gradually he can do it for longer if i am consistent with practicing all the different excersizes to help him. there's TONS on the internet if you just google. i also had lessons for awhile, and that helped me recognize the feel of it too. but once warm weather comes around i hit the trails & forget all the practicing until next winter when we're stuck in the indoor again, and hafta start all over!

[mistysangel0]

Thank you both! :)

She is a very good girl and I definitely don't expect to be anywhere near perfect I know I'm far from it myself. She tries and that's all that really matters. I plan to take lessons with her sometime sin the near future.

She loves the trails. I actually took her to a couple parks last summer she LOVES IT!! and did great for being so new under saddle you'd think she was a seasoned trail horse I love her.

I can tell when I "lose her back" so to speak. When she puts her head up or gets nervous she hollows right out. I'll talk to her and ask her to put her head back down and tehn tell her tahnk you for giving her back back to me haha :P I'm odd like that

[Julie Slater]

Howdy Misty
You've done a great job on this little horse.

But you are right... from what I can see in the pics, it looks like she's learning to camp on the front.
That happens sometimes.

In last years pics, she's much more ready to take your direction. You weren't so concerned with where her head was, more with where she was going.
This year, you are attempting to teach her to keep her head low and to round her back towards you (which is right), but you are letting her maneuverability get lost in the process.

They have to learn to do both... Gain maneuverability WHILE accepting the bridle.
It's the natural progression to a broker, better trained horse.

So...
Yeah, she's gonna raise her head when she needs to change directions or when you ask a little bit more from her. That don't mean that you quit asking, and it don't mean that you let her raise her head.
You Teach her to accept your direction while staying soft.

From what I see in the pics, I don't need to go into huge amounts of detail.
You know there is a hang up, you just don't know where.
That's the hang up, now use what you've done already to progress your mare to the next level.