Framing Up

[Rous]

Ok so, my leased horse (Jake) and I are slowly making the transition from hunter, to dressage. The problem being: now that I can get him to extend properly, he brings his head up when I ask him. He's completely sound, and very happy, so I'm stumped as to why he'd be doing this.

[DixieGirl]

I have no idea becasue I don't do english. But good luck training your horse adn have fun!!

[StarGirl]

Do you mean he lifts his head when you ask him to extend, or he lifts his head when you ask him to lift his head? :confused:

[Rous]

Do you mean he lifts his head when you ask him to extend, or he lifts his head when you ask him to lift his head? :confused:

Lol! I mean when I ask him to extend (or go for a nice forward canter :P ) He decides to become a giraffe on me :P I tried some suppling excercises... no luck.

[stellarxc]

My trainers tell me to hold him properly with the reins, and use my legs to send him forward, as if: if my hands were not there, he'd shoot out from under me. It kind of sounds like you're sending him forward with no place to go? How is your contact?

[Rous]

Pretty good. Pressure with flexibility... I think he's used to being ridden in a longer rein than I'm used to.. that might be it...

[MarshmellowManda]

Ya I agree with stellarxc. Feel like with your seat and legs your are trying to squeeze the last bit of toothpaste out :P Don't worry so much about his frame for right now once you get the foreward you want then focus on where his head is.