How can i slow him down

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jodiew

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Hi all, i have been tryin gto really get on with schooling my horse really and not get annoyed with me or him, but we do really really well, then he starts gettting bored or just silly and just gets faster and faster!

Like when we trot we can be going along brilliant then we come to the long side and he does a really flashy extened trot! lol yes it does look nice but i dont want him to do this!

He is only in a loose ring snaffle as he has a senstive mouth and have been told that a stronger bit wouldnt be the answer!

So can anyone please tell me waht i am doing wrong or if theere is anything i can do to slow him down?

Thanks

Jodie xx
 
transitions, transitions and then some more transitions, and plenty of circles, serpentines and anything else to keep your horse listening to you..once your horse is responding to the aids you can reward by allowing down the long side
 
We was doing loads yesterday like walking, to stand straight to trot from walk to canter and he will go ok, then he starts to pull and i loose the will to live.

I do alot of spiral circles with him an he settles really nicely an then WHAM he is off again! lol
 
maybe he is a bit confused and associating corners with a potential request to canter..which is when you then get the onward bound trot. Try asking for canter somewhere else in your schooling, at X on a 20m circle for example until he has learned that not every bend automatically leads to canter.

You can count out loud with your trotting too, to slow down the pace (and make sure that you are breathing properly)
 
Thanks for the help.

He does go very well, then just as i seem to realx he gets hyped up again. I managed to do an exercise with him where you canter down the centre line then turn right, then do a 15m circle, and he does go settled, but can then just seen to gather speed again.

Would it be best to keep him at one end of the school till he has setteled into a nice rythm then let him go down the long side?
 
Try rising slightly more slowly than his trot rhythm to encourage him to slow down. I wouldn't avoid the long sides of the school, I would just do several half halts down them and repeat the exercise until he gets bored of trying to run on.
 
My horse does this sometimes, she'll come round the corner perfectly then shoot off down the long side! We use several things:

* Flexing both ways down the long side
* As soon as they rush doing a 10/15/20m circle until rhythm is re-established and then continuing on
* Serpentines, with circles at the loops if the corner was rushed
* Shoulder in
* Lots of changes of direction and changes of shape ie acroos the long diagional circle left 10m and continue, then cirle right 10m and continue.
* Trot to halt transistions, with a few steps rein back if they argue with the downward transistion
* Leg yeild off the 3/4 / centre line
* Using half halts and slowing the rising
 
Thanks everyone for all your help its much appreciated
smile.gif


I have only had him 3months so it is early days but i do sometimes find it really hard not to get down hearted with him, i doubt my riding and think he could do with someone better then me!
 
Don't get down about it i'm sure your doing a great job and as long as he's happy thats all that matters. Have you got an instructor or friend that could watch what he's doing? May help to see from the ground if your influencing it at all. xxx
 
yeah i have a lesson every tuesday night, we have decided to take it right back to the beggining and start with him basic schooling.

I think i just need to keep on top of his schooling, am trying to vary it as much as possible as well.
 
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