How to teach my horse "gears"

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EimerR

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I have just got an 11yr old Irish sport horse gelding on loan for the summer, he's a dote and a really nice horse, my only down side with him is that although he is really relaxed and quiet in stop and walk, as soon as I ask for a trot he tries to keep shifting up the gears from trot to canter to full speed. I can get him to trot and canter but only with a constant pull on his mouth to stop him accelerating further, not my idea of fun to be honest. I'm going to be riding him alot on the roads so I want him to be able to just stay at a nice trot without being held in it.

Any suggestions for exercises etc I could do with him to teach him "gears" as I call it.

P.S His owner used to ride him in a snaffle but Ive changed this to a three ring as his brakes aren't over sensitive, I can stop him in this with out a problem.

Also he doesnt pull in the walk at all only in trot and canter, so I dont think lieaning on the bit is his problem (I could be wrong though :) )

Thanks in advance for any replies
 
I would speak to his owner, she knows him best! I have had 2 on full loan and i was always checking stuff with the owners...after all.... they have gone through all this already and know what works for him :D
 
Sorry if this sounds harsh, but I think its a good instructor & lessons you need. If you are constantly pulling his mouth to stop its not suprising he's no longer sensitive. Keeping him forwards in walk & trot & using his energy constructively is what you need to do, but from your description I think you need someone to show you how to do that correctly rather than just suggesting exercises. Also I strongly recommend you ask the owner for some advice, I can't imagine any decent one being happy for you to swop to a gag & use his mouth to stop. And to be blunt, I agree leaning on the bit isn't his problem, more the hands behind it. Sorry if I sound rude, that's not my intention but I do think lessons & help are what would benefit you both the most.
 
I have spoken to his owner, he doesnt mind him doing this as hes a strong young fella and it never bothered him as he could hold on to him no problem, hes a very forward going horse, which I knew before I got him as I had rode him plenty of times before he came home with me, It's not a major problem its just a little annoyng as I'm not a big strong young fella and my arms do get a little tried after a while.

I was just wondering do anyone know any excerises to settle him down into a relaxed gait so he doesnt feel the need to shift up the pace contanstly
 
Thanks for the tips, Ive never had a problem with my hands being hard before, He used to do hunter trialing alot so I think he feel the need to go faster the whole time, I have tried really relaxing my hands when in trot and canter to nearly no contact and keep him going in the arena in the hope that he would settle into a nice pace but after 10 minutes of full trottle I gave up a little to be honest :(
 
He probably doesn't understand and doesn't think he is doing anything wrong, I would take him back to basics and do some lunging with him until he understands he should stay in the pace until you ask for a change. Then under saddle, as soon as his trot quickens bring him back to walk using your voice and your seat, then when he has settled again ask for trot and repeat until he gets the idea that he just needs to keep trotting. It would also be worth checking you aren't asking for more speed accidently, for example gripping with your legs or leaning forward.
 
Thanks jango, Ill try that, I loosen the contact when I feel hes settling into his pace but I think he thinks I want to go faster then :confused:

I love him to bits but it gets a bit annoying
 
Maybe lessons would be the best bet then, get a highly experianced instructor on him to test a few things out to see what works for him. By the way if you are playing about with bits a rubber pelham worked wonders on my last lad who was very strong in canter/gallop, maybe when schooling revert back to the snaffle though, thats what i did, just gave me safety and breaks when out and about. Good luck :D
 
Thanks, I only ride in a 3 ring out on the road for as you said safety brakes :p
Does anyone know a good gentle instructor in south Tipperary, I know plenty but their method leave a lot to be desired if you know what I mean...
 
My share horse was a bit like this, how long have you had him? It's probably partly that you need to get used to each other. Also think about what signal you give when you want to go faster, like you probably tense up slightly and get in your 'prepared to do something' mode, which is probably quite similar in his mind to 'this is too fast' tensing, so I think you need to definitely do lungeing so he responds well to your voice, and then you can use that when you're on board whilst trying not to go into foetal position and relax, giving clear rein aids and voice aids.

Does he actually go into canter when you ask for a trot and does he do it on the roads? Mine only does a ridiculous trotting pony trot sometimes so I don't get worried about it. If you've not had him long it will be partly learning what he will and won't do and becoming more relaxed.

Mine tanks off on bridleways, so at first we only galloped when she took off with me and I obviously wasn't keen and trying to stop the whole time! Eventually I decided we were going to have a gallop on my terms so we started with a bit of canter than I actively asked her to move up to gallop, and then back down to canter, this worked really well not only to help clarify there is a difference between the two, but also it helped me feel less worried when galloping so that I can now properly think about my position if she takes off in any way and am now relaxed saying 'come on now, we're not doing that' and it usually works.. apart from on a certain stretch of grass in a certain direction home where it appears there is no hope :-\

We don't have anywhere to lunge or school or anything unless we want a big clumsy gelding sticking his big old head in, so we have managed to improve whilst out hacking, if you have got a school it will be easier.
 
I've only had him a week so im not expecting too too much of him yet, When he going into trot hes fine for the first couple strides and then he progresses to trotting pony trot as you call it and the a canter and keeps pulling to get faster, I'm going to find an innocent victim to video me riding him tonight so I can see If im tipping forward etc, which I could be unknown to my self, I have decided that im deffinatly going to invest in some lessons.

Its probaly me giving him all the wrong signals so a video and some lessons should hopefully sort it.

Thanks for all the advice everyone
 
Having the same issue with my 6 year old, it's ever since she hunted lol! She is lovely and soft in walk/trot and listens to my aids beautifully/goes in a lovely outline etc. However as soon as i pop her into canter, she's all up front, the back ends bouncing away and it's a mess at a very high speed.. Tried the whole throwing the reins at her - she went quicker and quicker, tried circling - no avail, tried half halting and i get knackered after 10 mins off it..

:confused::confused: completely lost as to what to do with her!! I've now come to the conclusion that i'm just going to have to go back to lunging her, then schooling in walk until it's perfect, then trot, and then progressing to the canter, then hopefully pole work/jumping. My issue is, we both LOVE jumping, it's usually how i reward good work, but she get's so excited about it now (since hunting) she's a night mare and it's just ugly to watch/ride..

will be watching the replies on this thread closely :).. hope you get him sorted!
 
ya i'm definitely going to start lunge work tomorrow and go find my self a good instructor, spotty TB i hope you find a solution too, Its a little frustrating when you want to go for a nice relaxed trot/ canter and next thing its like the accelerator pedal got stuck.

I really appreciate all the help and support guys :)
 
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