Teaching a 1 year old to trot :)

Lea1985

Lea1985

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Hoping to do some showing with my little one! Need to teach him how to trot in hand which isnt going well!

Any tips please??? :D
 
do you have a horse than will trot inhand? If so you could have somebody lead them ahead of your youngster in the hope that he might catch on. If he learns to associate wanting to trot with the command you're giving then you can try it 'solo' so that he doesn't come to depend on having another horse infront.
 
Probably different for different horses and people. With mine, I made sure he understood both "walk on" and a little chirrup meant to walk on beside me, and also that if he then stops and I put pressure on the leadrein and say "walk on", he should take a step forward (I release the pressure, say "good boy") and on we'd walk.

To get him to trot, I did two things.

First, I did some walking in hand with him (5 mins or so in the field), made sure his attention on me, had some treats to make me extra-attractive to him, and then I kind of started jiggling around, jiggled the leadrope a little, and I got excited and took some high steps forward (so still moving at walking pace but more excitedly) and said to him to "trot on" and as I moved forwards faster, so he got excited and started moved forwards faster and got told "good boy".

We also had another horse with rider walk with us and then that horse would go into trot, and I'd immediately say "trot on" and start running at about the same time that mine was thinking to trot on to catch the big horse.

Somewhere between those two methods (little and often), the penny dropped, pretty quickly, so now I can calmly say "trot on" and go into a run, and he'll be calmly trotting with me.
 
I tend to work along side fences with the pony between you and the fence so they go in a straight line. Too many times you see ponies trotting half sideways.
 
EKW said:
I tend to work along side fences with the pony between you and the fence so they go in a straight line. Too many times you see ponies trotting half sideways.
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Agreed the problem I have is that the best fences I have are either in or on the way to the field/stable which = excitement as he thinks it tis a game and more forward movement than required ! I haven't tried for a little while though and I am sure if others can master it I can - I just need to be firm and consistant !
 
I always use a fence line when teaching to lead well as it keeps them straight. Make sure Walk On and Halt is established and that the transition to walk is prompt - without the need for pulling the horse.

Carry a long schooling whip and push under the chin to ask for increase in pace at the same time a wee tap behind you as soon as they move into trot - use the command 'Teeerot'

If really reluctant to trot then have someone help behind you with a tap on the hock to get them moveing forward.

I tend not to use the verbal command to trot until they are moving on as they need to associate the word Trot with the movement.
 
Thanks everyone, tried following another horse tonight and he go well excited turned on a sixpence and tried to double barrel me :( ended on a couple of calm strides of trot :) he walks very well in hand and around the village. Halts ok too....thought it maybe the sand that made him go loopy??? He is usually very placid, taught him to load easily and he does all sorts of obstacles!! Tarpaulin poles balloons etc.

We keep trying :)
 
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