Teaching trot in hand - horse on lively side!

[Cornish]

Am currently teaching my new 4 yo mare to trot up in hand in preparation for some showing. She is big and strong and we've had some 'personal space' and concentration issues that we've been working on with consistent groundwork techniques. I've been trying for a while to teach her to trot in hand (she's fine on lunge) but she just didn't get me running alongside her and for the first few months would just drag behind in walk with her nose stuck out. We've been making progress, but now she is getting rather 'excited' and leaping before trying to almost strike out with her front feet in the trot and a snaky head with ears flat back. I'm carrying a whip to the side of me to stop her running past, but am just using that to maintain my area of space - I'm using voice commands and me starting to jog as the command to go forwards. So far I've just tried to persevere in asking for the trot and stopping if she gets silly with no praise, but if we get a trot without the added extras, praising and quietly continuing. Any other ideas? I know she is young and full of herself, but I do need to instill this quietly as safety is of course paramount - and she is huge with big feet. I'm using a long rope, gloves and a hat! Thanks in advance.

 

[tallyho!]

Do you use voice commands on the lunge? Do you use the same ones when in hand?

The best way is to do on the lunge on a shorter line and trot a straight line with her out of the circle. Make sure she is well balanced first or she will run into a canter.

Build up slowly, just a few strides to start with until you get a good trot. Gradually, get closer, say a driving whip's length, and do the same.

I can't say enough that you need a calm steady trot to do this. You can't have her going around like a motorbike on that size circle. Then she will get the idea and will run along side you at arms length.

 

[Sukistokes2]

I had a problem with my traditional at shows getting very excited and barging me. I had my local RA out for IH and did a lesson with her on two track leading and trotting. Worked a treat.