Leaning on the bit

Bluebelle666

Bluebelle666

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I have previously had some difficulties with my loan horse when being ridden and so went back to the basics of getting checks done, monitoring her food and lunging her to increase her fitness.

I am now at the stage where after a 10 minute lunge I am getting on her for a 10/15 minute ride. The majority of the ride is in walk as I am having an issue with the trot...

When I ask for any kind of contact on the rein in trot she seems to take it as her cue to lean on the bit and increase her speed to a level that I feel is too fast and quite uncontrollable.

I know it's something that I am/am not doing as she can have a calm, steady trot when lunged (in bridle and saddle). She is 16.

Any advice? :confused:
 
My advice (and I am having to teach my mare not to lurch into trot and go onto the forehand), is to not take up the contact, make sure that you are not tipping forwards yourself and be very quiet with your legs. I am able to pick up the contact slightly after the first few strides but the next issue for me is that she actually likes to pound along as it's easier for her. When we are schooling, I work on transitions, changes of direction and polework.
 
Can you regulate the trot rhythm by steadying your rising? It's quite hard work on the inner thigh muscles so it may take a while to get right but it does help if you can squeeze yourself up and lower yourself down when you want to.

Also try trotting in a lot of circles, working on inside leg outside hand, as it's easier for horses to get heavy on the forehand on straight lines.
 
I have heard about the rising trot in a slower time but don't appear to of got the hang of it and was also wondering whether that was putting her off balance therefore making her lean on the bit to regain it??

I haven't heard anything about circles so will try that next.

I have always tried lots of transitions but haven't tried any pole work as yet so will give that a go also. :o
 
I've been having a similar problem with my mare! a few weeks ago she was going great, had her working long and low but over the past week she's just fighting constantly! Rode with another horse for the first 10 mins today and she was perfect, said horse went away and i had to go right back to basics with transitions to try and make her listen! She just seems to start constantly trying to focus on anything but what i ask her too when she's like this. In the end i was bridging my reins to help keep my contact even and keep the contact as light as possible, managed to get some nice work out of her just whilst my patience was running out! I'm away to book a monthly lesson to try and help! I'm in the middle of finding a bit i can get get her going nicely in too... :(
 
Do you have lessons? It might be an idea to get some help from the ground and also your instructor would be able to give you lunge lessons where you can practice regulating the rhythm of your trot and work without stirrups both of which will help with your balance.
 
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