Can you "teach" a horse to walk better downhill?

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itsmyparty

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My boy has always been the slowest horse to walk downhill. Someone suggested I ask him to use his back end more and to step under and I've had some success in this (tap him low behind gently with a schooling whip). I mentioned this to my instructor and she said I shouldn't be doing this and being "careful" downhill is just how he is. Any thoughts? And if you think it can be taught then how exactly would you do it? Cheers :)
 
I think you can be careful and move more slowly than a snail down hill! My mare was pretty un-used to hills when I got her and was very weak in behind. With lots of work up hills, working at a good forwards walk and slowly introducing the idea of an outline, she slowly got better. At first she very slowly sort of slithered down them, I think she wasn't quite sure how to deal with them. More strength in her back and her bum as well as more practise mean that she is v careful down hill now (she flicks her little toes out!) but we do move along and actually got down the hill in the same week we started! I do keep my leg on as we go down hill to remind her that forwards is the idea (not rushing, just purposeful). I don't use a whip unless I need to back up my leg aid if she is ignoring, usually a bit of leg pressure keeps us going forwards and gives her a bit more confidence that I mean what I am asking. Might also be worth having his back checked as any tightness or discomfort here will mean it is harder for him than it should be.
 
I wouldn't be using a whip to push him down a hill quicker, as it could cause an accident if he slips etc. It could just be the way he is, I know plenty of horses that are like that. Agree you could get him checked out for any tightness in his muscles?

My horse used to live on a steep hill and absolutely marches down hills on hacks, whilst my friends horse lives on the flat and is very careful with where he puts his feet.
 
My TB is awful going down hill - he'd never had to do it before I got him. So he has done tons and tons of walking up and down hills since his arrival. Still a bit ginger doing it. It helps out hunting when I lose control - just point down hill and he slows up.

ISH young horse is turned out on a serious mountain and is fantastic at going down hills. Just marches on down. Does mean he can be naughty out hunting going down hill because he is so footsure!!
 
For a horse that has a fairly good level of schooling you can use downhill slopes to practice a collected walk, but the horse has to know what you are asking for and have the required strength along his back to be able to do this. Aside from this, I would allow a horse to find his own speed downhill for safety's sake. I would tend to go with your instructor's advice as she knows the horse.
 
Hmmm - just had his back done day before yesterday and she said he WAS a bit tight behind the saddle. Will see how we get on tomorrow when we're due to go for a hack on the biggest hills in the area!
 
My TB was really terrible at walking downhill and even used to stop after every 5 or 6 steps when I bought him last year. The back man told me that his hamstrings were sore, and I had to massage his hamstrings daily. Also the saddle wasn't sitting right when he was at the downhill angle, which put a slight pressure point on the muscle below the withers.

I got the saddle looked at and have been massaging his hamstrings every day (it's now part of his daily grooming regime), and he can speed downhill now and is quite comfy as well.
 
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