Downward transitions

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Akkalia1

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So I'm getting into schooling a bit more now that my mare is much more receptive to it and we are starting to enjoy it and see progress! Just starting lessons which will obviously help however don't have one booked for a couple of weeks.

She's still young and new to this and an ex-racehorse so the things we're working on at the moment are...Relaxation - this is coming along nicely, she's inconsistent but there are some nice moments. Bend - she tends to want to bend the opposite way to that which we are going :D however walk is quite good now a lot of the time, trot is a work in progress. Oddly canter is not so bad although we don't do much canter at the moment.

The one I'm struggling with - Downward transitions. Her upward transitions are better now, she used to get narky with those when we were working in her field, the mere carrying of a schooling whip has helped greatly, she pops off nicely when asked now. Note there is no problem with upward transitions out hacking or at other venues unless she gets tired!!! Downwards transitions I feel like I am pulling at her and she just leans and carries on. Of course it won't be helped by the fact she's still fairly on the forehand. She does know voice command on the lunge but this doesn't seem to be helping on board. The worst one is trot to walk. I'm trying to use my seat as well but still end up hauling on her mouth a bit :/ Tried firm squeeze on the reins but she doesn't really listen. I would hate for her to end up with a hard mouth due to my cack-handedness on this. Spent a lot of time doing transitions last night, but not sure I'm asking her correctly.

Any tips for how to work on getting an instant response to downwards aids? I shall ask my instructor too of course, but in the meantime help would be great :)
 
I'm not entirely sure I fully understand the half halt! Well, no, I do to some extent, but I'm never sure if I'm using it correctly. I have used what my interpretation of a half halt is to collect her a little if she starts rushing to some effect.
 
Best way i can try to explain half halt is by how i was told - if its wrong then whoops. but basically when you want to slow, pull your belly button back then ask for slow. eventually horse will feel this as a slowing direction.

Also, work on counted steps...so walk for 10 steps and ask for trot on whatever step you think you need (might be step 5 or step 9...seee what your horse responds to) and do the same for down, slow on whatever step you think will make them "walk" at 10. example...i walk and on step 9 i always know to ask for trot, but on slow i always know to ask on step 7.
 
I shall work on my half halt! I need to get her understanding my seat aids better I think. Will also try the counted steps thing, I was working on that last time, but we went way over my number of steps each time!
 
I was given some help on a half halt for baby horses... bring your shoulders back, together, and drop your weight into your heels (if you bring your shoulders back, you should sit on your bum more, and it's just a case of sending that force through your heels) and release. Do this maybe three steps before you strengthen the aid to move forward into a lower gear. Later, when transitions are more established, you can do the squeezing on the inside rein to a still contact on the outside, inside leg thing. But whilst they are learning, a pretend halt before the real movement is a bit of a warning. With both legs on, you can then ride forward into the trot/walk/halt.
 
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