How to deal with youngster evasion through rushing?

[Sunny08]

My 4yr old is pretty good really and rarely throws up to many problems, but she is quite excitable. When schooling she will try and evade by rushing forwards i.e. in walk we break into trot, trot into canter etc. I have been instructed by a trainer whenever she does this to simply make her turn tight circles until she slows back down, thus not fighting with her mouth but making her rebalance herself. This does work in the short term, i.e. each time I ride her but doesn't seem to be helping long term?
I only school her once or twice a week and concentrate on hacking but she will try the same thing. She will only do it if i am asking something she is either learning or doesn't quite understand, for example coming down into an outline, or leg yielding. I must add this is pretty much the worst thing she does!
What are others opinions on this method of dealing with her evasion - how do I move forwards into longer term solutions....
Thanks!

 

[Kallibear]

It should stop as she becomes better balanced and more confident in what you're asking her. My boy's the same and just directing the excess energy into something else (small circles are usually the easiest) stopped it.

 

[quirky]

Might sound obvious but have you tried slowing your rising down whilst in trot?

 

[Sunny08]

Thanks - yes I will slow my rising trot and really work on her natural balance with half halts and lots of different exercises. Just wondering if anyone had magical anwsers!

 

[PaintboxEDT]

have you had her teeth looked at ? she may be out of balance in her mouth also other problems that may be causeing it at her age there is still a few things going on with her teeth

 

[Sunny08]

Thanks, yes her teeth and saddle are checked every six months. It is not like it is a massive problem just it does not seem to be improving lots!

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

At 4 she's still very much a baby and I wouldn't expect her to be perfectly balanced. Not an expert but will turning her in tight circles help such a baby? I'd go back a few steps and just walk, walk, walk until she understands and accepts everything to do with walking. Only then up it to trot work and if she still rushes go back a step again.

 

[Tickles]

"She will only do it if i am asking something she is either learning or doesn't quite understand"

Do you think she is really evading or just knows you are asking for /something/ and so is making an upwards transition becasue you're def sometimes praised her for them in the past? I mean it sounds posisbly like she is trying too hard rather than evading - a good problem to have!

 

[Vickijay]

I wouldnt turn a baby horse in really tight circles repeatedly as dont think its very good for their joints.

If my 4yo tb really evades my hand or tries to run off (in canter or trot) I will quietly ask her to come back to walk, then stand for a second or 2, give her a pat (V important) then carry on again.

Its not offensive to them, but they will learn that being like that didnt get them anywhere.

There is a diffenece between being unbalanced and doing it in a boulshey way.

If it is just baby unbalancedness I would just ask for it to be slower, praise when it is and it should improve over time