Lengthening the stride (walk only for now!)

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Sarah1

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Hi guys

Can anyone help me to get my horse to lengthen his stride?

Out hacking he can be left behind by smaller ponies as he's so chilled out hacking but he's very short coupled and so his strides can be very choppy. He's naturally quite active behind & isn't lazy, he has plenty of energy, he's just quite economical!

As soon as I put a bit more leg on he'll trot forwards which I'm reluctant to stop as I want him to be sharp off my leg. I've tried varying amounts of pressure with my legs but I still find it very hard to get him to stride out more.

There is no physical reason why he can't (unless he naturally can't cover the distance in less trides!?) - all usual checks done.

Help please!
 
My girl prefers not to stride out also, I just try squeezing with the legs slowly and if she breaks into trot i just keep bringing her back into walk, they do get it but as its not natural to your horse or mine its hard work! But do able! Good luck
 
Tried laying poles on the ground so's they're a stride apart? Then slowly moving them out to stretch the stride.

Out of interest, has the saddle been recently checked? When Little Lad's saddle was changed, it freed up his shoulders beautifully and he started striding out
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I find that with my boy, who can be like yours sounds, the best way is this... when you're walking, feel the swing of his belly. As it swings AWAY from your leg, push as if you're trying to push it further away. This corresponds with his picking up his hind leg, so should encourage him to take a longer stride. My horse doesn't get the BHS way of pushing the belly as it swings towards your leg, as I think that stifles the movement. Have been taught this way by a more classical instructor and it helps - it's as though pushing as the belly starts to swing away from your leg helps to encourage a longer stride with the corresponding hind leg.

Does that make sense?

FWIW, my boy is 17hh and gets left behind by everyone on hacks!!
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Chestnut Cob - thanks I'll give this a go!
Mrs M - yes, just had a new saddle so we're all sorted on that front!
 
Use your seat to slow the rythm whilst using your legs to keep him moving. At first you need to slow him down so that he make individual and definite steps rather than choppy little strides. Once he is using a slower rythm push him on whilst maintaining the rythm.

Use the swing of your hip as you follow his movement to control the rythm, you may need to slightly over exaggerate the swing though.
 
If you struggle with this try lengthening and shortening in trot first. It is easier than walk and often a good medium trot will lengthen the walk.

If you don't want to try and lengthen the trot, just have a fairly forward canter to get him moving freely and forwards.
 
try activating one hindleg at a time -

ask for right hind to step under more just by using your right leg - if he speeds up say 'no' briefly with rein and your core muscles then ask again until he steps under more with that one leg. you should feel the difference

dont keep asking - ask for 3 strides then leave the horse alone for 6 strides then ask again for 3 strides etc.

once established one hindleg then do the other (stay on same rein)

then do on other rein - inside leg first then outside leg

if horse does nothing and doesnt move off your leg use a whip and touch hindleg to say 'use this'

try that! works for us -

can be used in trot too.
 
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