stopping an excited horse???

[jenbleep]

k well ive been riding Frankie for about 3 months now; were getting pn great and having fun. i haven't really hacked him out much because the hacking around the yard is crap (busy main roads and not many places to have a trot or a canter) although we have been hacking we havent had a good long canter, because i haven't found anywhere to do it!

anyway me and a girl from the yard went out today and she showed me a place to go for a hack (still have to go on a busy main road - had a few hairy moments!

) and we had a walk around by the river, had a paddle, then found a field to have a canter in. Frankie was fine at first, nice and steady, then we had a walk around to the next field and had another canter, again good at first, but then it was like he knew what he was doing "cantering outside the school, yippee!" and started going from side to side (?) and he wasn't really strong but he just wasn't listening to me! my instructor told me to apply the aids a bit more firmly if hes taking the piss so i didn't pull on his mouth, but i kept giving and taking with my outside rein. it took him a while to slow down, and i was quite firm with him after a while.

sorry its long!!

i just want to do whats best for Frankie and not hurt his mouth, hes not a strong horse, he just gets excited because we dont go for a canter in the open often! i dont want to ruin him.

what tricks you guys have to slow down an excited horse? im trying i really am, and im having lessons so its something to work on i suppose

sorry ive rambled on

 

[jumpthemoon]

I use my thighs as an aid to half halt - if you teach this to your horse it makes it less necessary for you to pull on his mouth. I also find it helps if you relax and sit deep into the saddle. Make sure you don't always canter when you hit grass as he will start to anticipate it. You can also vary your canter work, so that sometimes you have a nice gallop, but sometimes he is expected to do a nice steady canter a work as he would in the school.

 

[Tierra]

Echo the above, I use my thighs. Ive always taught my horses to respond to this as an aid for half halt and it helps immensly should whatever you're riding spooky / bolt.

Mine can be a spooky little monster and when he runs, he just goes. However if you try and grab his mouth at all he's prone to getting worse and / or going vertical yet he responds to my legs fabulously.

Never had a horse it wont work with once they're taught and its a great safety net.

 

[jenbleep]

i know i dont like hanging on his mouth! makes me feel bad that i might be hurting him and ruining all our schooling.

so how do you use your thighs exactly? in my lessons i have been working on my seat a lot, trying to deepen it and keep my thighs against the saddle (not gripping though) xx

thanks for all your advice

 

[filly190]

If riding with a friend, to start with, try to always go infront, so that you can control the speed. If your friend comes along-side they will naturally want to race.

When you are hacking, try not to canter in the same places on the ride. When you have done some work in canter, turn round and walk back the same route, and walk the canter strip so he he learns to settle.

Also if you have any hills, starting off my cantering up hill allows the rider more control and the horse will be read
y to slow down at the top.

As a horse gets more excited, it is more difficult to sit deep into your saddle and the tendancy to perch for more balance and comfort can take over a little.

Keeping a still even contact with his mouth, by bridgeing your reins helps. When you adjust the reins when cantering along this can unsettle the horse and encourage it to pull.

If you watch race horses being ridden work, strong, fit keen horses, the riders do keep them in a nice balanced canter by using the above methods, this way if you are struggling to keep your balance because of a bouncy canter, it can be better to perch. Any little bumps on the horses back can be another signal to pick up speed. The trick is to sit quietly in the saddle and keep your hands still.

To have shorter leathers can help with your balance, I personally cant go out cantering across country with dressage length leathers, I find it helps to have them shorter, helping to strengthen my leg and I squeese with my inner thigh when I want to slow down.

Hope this helps, I am sure you will get lots of tips, and find things that will suit you.

 

[jenbleep]

so when i want to slow down do i need to squeeze (?) with my thighs?? xxx

today when we were cantering when i wanted to slow down i put my bum back in the saddle and started to give and take with the reins, (i admit i got a bit tough

) so if i just try to relax and not hawl on his mouth but give half halts, hopefully thall work?

 

[kelsi]

you could always put a neck strap on, and use that with a give and take method (try out in school first so horse knows what to expect) when asking to slow down - no worries about pulling on mouth as your pulling on the breast/chest and can control with your hands, also gives a bit of support and balance when needed !

 

[jumpthemoon]

[ QUOTE ]
so when i want to slow down do i need to squeeze (?) with my thighs?? xxx

[/ QUOTE ]

just sit deep into the saddle and apply increasing pressure with your thighs - its quite hard work at first but your muscles will soon build up.

just grip on until the horse slows down, then release and push forwards again with your lower leg.