forward going horse

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serena2005

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how do you slow a forward going horse down but keep enough energy to keep it working?

last night he was pulling my arms out coz i was trying to give light leg aids to try and encourage him to bend, which he thought i ment GO GO GO!!! and changing transitions seems to wind him up as he shorts up doesnt actually move forwards just bounces (if that makes sense) i tried canter poles with a small cross pole last night.
the first time i trotted up to the poles he broke in to canter and charged full pelt over the poles and jumped the 1ft xpole as if it was 1m!

after about half hour off walking and trotting over the poles i finally got a nice carm canter over the poles and the jump.

i did some pole work last week and he wasnt as crazy as he was last night.

i want him to slow down but i dont what a battle with him, he used to be ridden in a dutch gag but i dont like the way he carrys his head with that so iv got a eggbutt snaffle on, but hes just so strong!

what am i doing wrong!
 
Have you tried using your seat to slow him down - more weight in the saddle, slowing your rising when trotting? Also, make sure you are not leaning forward?

The other thing you can try is intermittent half halts?

I would also try and be sure you are asking him to move away from your leg if you are doing lateral work. If you have a forward going horse it can be tempting not to have your legs on him, but he should be used to you using your legs without shooting forwards (if you see what I mean)

Of course, he may just be a forward going horse! You may want to reconsider your bit though - it is better to have a stronger bit IMO than to be pulling constantly or out of control.
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plenty of transitions, so the horse is listening to you, collect and extend in walk and trot, then really collect him up keeping your leg on, sitting deep and keeping contact on his mouth, and gently ask for canter, if he charges off bring him back to trot, collect him up and ask again, hope this might help.
 
slowing with my seat does work on the straight, as soon as he goes in a circle hes falling in or out, and speeds up again.

i do know what u mean about the legs it is much easier not to have my legs on him so im constantly reminding myself to have the contact there but as light as possible.

i do use half halts which also works much better with the snaffle, as with the gag he just sticks his head under.

i asked my friend what she was feeding him the other day, cant remember what type but just a plain mix and chaff, they do have extreamly good fields, so thats where i think hes getting his energy from.
 
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plenty of transitions, so the horse is listening to you, collect and extend in walk and trot, then really collect him up keeping your leg on, sitting deep and keeping contact on his mouth, and gently ask for canter, if he charges off bring him back to trot, collect him up and ask again, hope this might help.

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iv been doing this but he just tightens up and doesnt extend or move forward he just does a silly bouncy canter even if i didnt ask for canter then feels really unbalanced.
 
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