Overzealous trot!! Help!!!

[horseluvr91]

Hey, I recieved a rescue horse about 2 months ago. He is really a sweet guy. I just started riding him and am having a hard time controlling his trot and havent even started cantering. Does anybody have any tips on how I can get him to lower his head, slow him down, and improve his balance??

ps. he longes pretty well.:)

[MegLovesOpie]

Hello!

Congratulations on getting a rescue horse! My dream is to one day purchase and train rescue horses. I know yours has a wonderful home now. :)

I have a TB mare who was born to trot and RUN!! She's almost 17 and still acts like a 3 yo who just blasted out of the starting gates. All this to say, I can definitely understand your frustration. So here's what I recommend:
1. First of all, make sure that he starts out listening to you. Ask him to walk, halt, walk, halt, back up, walk, etc. If he's not listening to you at the walk, he sure won't when you start trotting. If he's being very naughty, get off, and hand walk him until he's listening again.
2. If he's attentive at the walk, ask for a trot, and trot circles, serpentines, figure-8s, etc. When my mare gets hyped up (like 99.9% of the time), I just ask her to trot in as many figures as I can. She just gets bored, as I suspect your horse does (don't wory--this is a sign of intelligence :)). When figure-8s get boring, try figure-4s, 7s, 6s, whatever. It makes it fun! Circles are great for getting a horse to yield to your hands and to slow down and think.
3. When you eventually get to cantering, do it on a big circle as well. He'll flow right into it from the trot.
4. I'm not big on artificial devices. I think that good, solid, patient work should be effective.
5.Half-halts are your BEST friends. They work great when my mare gets very forward b/c they don't stop the horse's forward motion (which is a good thing), rather they just ask the horse to check his motion. I usually squeeze off and on gently with my hands, stretch your calves down and lift your spine up. You should feel your horse pause his motion a bit and then slow.

Hope this helps! Best of luck to you!

Meg

[cuttingfool]

The hard/easy way...

Let him trot! Keep him trotting until he doesn't want to trot any more. Then make him trot some more. Meg's advice is good - serpentines, figure eights and other closed patterns will shorten the process vs large circles or open space riding. After a few sessions of trotting more and faster than he wants to, he will settle into a nice sustainable jog right from the start. If he doesn't know how long you're going to make him go, he'll keep his reserve. I've done this with several horses including my own favorite cutting horse - who is now a pleasure class contender because of his slow and relaxed gaits. He used to act like a keyed-up racehorse at the walk and jog. When he does act a little high, I like to harness that energy to do a bunch of half-passes and slow (trotting, not loping), controlled rollbacks - brings him down very fast.

For collection, a LOT of lateral flexion, both on the ground and under saddle, will encourage him to drop his nose and get his feet under him. Don't worry too much about vertical flexion until he's totally loose from side to side. Also agree with Meg about devices - not the way to go unless you're content knowing that the horse relies on the device. I want my horses to collect up naturally, even without any headgear whatsoever, and that's not difficult to accomplish once the horse realizes how much more comfortable he can be when well balanced.

[Dustee]

Hi Horseluvr

Half halts, circles, serpentines and just letting him trot until he is trotted all out LOL.

Meg and newbie member are right on the money with their advice to you. Good for you on your rescue.

Where are you located? I'm in Abbotsford, BC CANADA. Just new to this forum. Check out my website for lots of information.

[kirvine]

Check out John Lyons "Speed Control" lessons. They worked wonders on my Morgan gelding who wanted to race with every other horse.

[Brooke]

To start out with. You don't need to get your horse to listen to your commands for now. Let him make up his own mind. If he starts to trot by himself, pick up one rein, let the other quit lose. Bring the rein right around and down to your knee. Keep your legs off and lean slightly back, keep your balance centered. He will turn in circles around you. Start light but make him circle pretty tight. It feels like he will do this allday, But he will eventually stop for a brief second. When he does, release. Let him stand or walk away, don't say or touch him with your leg or reins, leave the reins with some slack. If he decides to trot pick up the opposite rein this time, don't jerk him but swiftly turn his head almost to your knee, if his head is up pull lower. Keep him turning till he stops! Walk off. if he walks let him. If he trots try again. Eventually you can do this with the trot to canter but not yet!. This also works with flexing and collection.! Keep at it and he will be fine. He was brobably omly ever ask to go full speed before!

[Saddle Bag]

Using the rail to do turn backs can also help. Stay out about 8' and when he begins to speed up, turn him into the rail to ride in the opposite direction. He will probably stop the first time or two but ask him to trot again. It will take three or four turn backs before he catches on. When he slows allow him to straighten out. He may be fine for a few strides then start picking up speed again. In which case immediately do your turnbacks. I've had more than a few horses drop their head and go into the awesome jog western pleasure enthusiasts desire. When he will jog slowly for half a dozen strides, allow him to stand still for half a minute then put him away. This is a huge reward for him. Try to ride the next day and altho he may need a few turnbacks you should see a nice improvement.