stopping "sewing machine" trot

[wench]

Riding nag in the arena last night, which was obviously very exciting as we decided we didn't want to relax very much.

Tried to get her stretching down, but we weren't very keen on that! Had another couple of horses come in the area, and they were very exciting, and I ended up with a dreadful "sewing machine" trot.

I ended up doing not much trotting, and just back in walk trying to pootle around to relax her, didn't work. Anything else I could have done?

 

[nikicb]

Riding nag in the arena last night, which was obviously very exciting as we decided we didn't want to relax very much.

Tried to get her stretching down, but we weren't very keen on that! Had another couple of horses come in the area, and they were very exciting, and I ended up with a dreadful "sewing machine" trot.

I ended up doing not much trotting, and just back in walk trying to pootle around to relax her, didn't work. Anything else I could have done?

What I'm interpreting from what you say is that she was jogging/on her toes? So not really working properly from behind? I would push the trot on and make sure she is really engaged. My instructor tells me to push my horse on until it feels like he will trot over his head. Don't worry about the front end, just get the back end moving and her concentrating and the rest will come. Hope that helps.

 

[Firewell]

I would have carried on trotting her and getting her concentrating tbh...If that was my horse, I would have done lots of transitions, spiriling in and out at trot, flexing and lateral work to get his attention on me and not the other horses. If he was fresh I would have given him a canter out the saddle to relax his back then back to work. Mine is not allowed to be so silly as to run around in a chicken trot not paying attention just because another horse is there, he works when I ask him to and that is all there is to it!

 

[lex2501]

My little TB mare can be inclined to do this, and I find the best thing to do is canter and canter and canter... and then when you think you have done enough... canter. The reason being is that they can't really "run" in canter, and it tends to relax my little mare and takes the edge off her a little. Walking just agitates her even more.

The other thing is to try not to have too much in the hand, as she needs to be allowed forwards to encourage him to open the stride a little. Lots of half halts and then soften again.

I sympathise as it is not an easy thing to remedy, and is frustrating as instinct is to hang on!

 

[wench]

She had plenty of loose rein on in the trot, and half halting and slowing the rise didn't really help that much with her. She doesn't normally do it, and I am probably contributing towards it.