very forward going horse, how do i slow her up?

horsimous

horsimous

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I have a 10 year old TB mare who was raced until she was about 5 and then a broodmare. When I got her she was v thin and no muscle at all. I have spent a long time building up the muscle, top line and weight with walking out, lunging and long reining. We started some schooling properly just before Christmas, keeping it to 30 mins and mostly walk with some leg yield, shoulder in etc. I have been encouraging her to go forwards and use her back end but it has kind of back fired a bit as she has gone a bit too far the other way.

In walk all is ok but in trot she often rushes forward and scoots off which causes her to be unbalanced and then she pulls down which pulls me forward. This is worse on the left rein which she finds it harder to bend on. What I was doing was trying not to give her anything to pull against with my hands quite high and doing lots of turns and transitions. However I have had a local instructor in to ride her twice to see what she looks like under saddle and also cos I am so knackered after work. He has been letting her get on with her scooting with the idea that she will come back to him but this does not seem to be the case. He says I should put my hands very low and gets a bit cross when she pulls down and gives her a whack as it's "naughty". Also he has been turning her in very small circles, I am not sure this is good for her. Next time I want to take away the stick and I have refused the draw reins and harbridge. I think he can ride her nicely but would like a few pointers as to the best way to slow down a horse who thinks she has to scoot and go fast everywhere.
 
I do sympathise, mine is a bit that way... we now just enjoy lots of galloping across the fields with walk in between... not much help but your instructor doesn't sound the best..
 
I think you are absolutely right to refuse the gadgets!
At the risk of sounding like a stuck record, have you had her back/teeth/tack checked? If you had them done when you first got her, bear in mind that her musculature will have changed in recent months so it could be worth checking again?
 
Her teeth were checked yesterday, back ok. I do have to mess about with an airpad under whatever saddle I try as otherwise nothing fits. I am trying to get her more secure in her way of going without rushing her as I will have to sell her later this year and the better she goes and the more she's done, she will be more able to cope (physically and mentally) if they aren't as patient as me.
 
Sorry but you need to get a different instructor, he sounds like he hasnt got a clue.

It is likely that your horse has never been trained as a riding horse, nor worked in a school. This, combined with years off work and you have a harder job than starting with an unbroken horse.

I would advise starting from the beginning and teach your horse weight aids, you are right not to pull. It will take time for your horse to get strong enough to work from behind and not lean, there are no short cuts. Stay in walk for a bit longer and then progress to trot, introduce poles at any stage. Also work out hacking and keep training sessions short. Several shorter sessions is better for traing muscles than fewer longer sessions. Half an hour would be a maximum imo.

TBH it sounds like you have better ideas than your instructor and his behaviour is asking for a spoilt horse and behavioural problems. A horse can only be trained within its physical capabilities, whatever age it is. At the moment your horse needs time t learn aids, increase strength and suppleness and your instructor obviously doesnt know this.

Also, in case you havnt done it, check the horses teeth are ok and that the bit is suitable for the horses mouth conformation and the saddle fits. A horse cant work and will lean and run if any of these are causing discomfort.
 
Agree with TeddyT's post. If all is well with back/teeth etc. then go back to basics with her. She's no youngster which means her habits will be ingrained (she has probably been used to being enouraged to "run" forward quickly as soon as asked) and she will be less supple. Your instructor's idea to turn her on small circles sounds exactly the wrong thing to do. Lots of patient work on the basics, keeping her calm and abolutely not pulling!!

You sound as though are thinking very intelligently in relation to this - good luck with her!!
smile.gif
 
I have a hackney who in trot rushes like an express train, my instructor is not a believer in pulling on reins and neither am I. In fact I have found the more you pull the more the horse leans. rushes etc.

In an arena what my Instuctor got me to do was ride on a loose rein but still with some contact
Allow the horse to go into trot riding the rail and to maintain the trot no matter what speed my horse dictated.

Instead of trying to slow my horse down through micro management I was told to go onto a large circle and stay on the circle until my horse himself decided to slow into a more steady rhythmic trot. A large enough cirlce so that my horse did not loose balance or find it difficult.

Then I was to go back to the rail, if my horse speeded up again I repeated the circle.

I was also told not to ride a straight line too long but to change direction frequently. This stopped my boy thinking forward as now he was thinking, which way do you want me to go.... but not changing direction every stride or two lol

Literally after riding for a mere 10min this way I found my boy giving me the most beautiful steady collected trot with no thought to speeding up.

Hope that helps
 
Thanks very much for your encouragement. I needed re-assuring that the other approach wasn't right like I was thinking. Trouble is I booked him for 8 sessions and it would cause a lot of problems to cancel. I think I will take away the stick if I can prise it off him, ignore the gadgets suggestions and ask him to work in walk only with poles, leg yielding and shoulder in with big sweeping circles. Then will progress to trot in short amounts with the same exercises, not scooting round and round like a mad thing. I was starting to wonder if i'd be confident enough to ride her if she got any more forward.
 
It may feel awkward to sack him but you need to put your horse first. 8 sessions is more than enough to cause problems that you will then have to sort out as well as everything else.

Lie if you have to but i honestly wouldnt let him anywhere near your horse again, even in walk. You shouldnt get that sort of crap advice for free, let alone have to pay for it.

Your approach is fine, its constructive and sympathetic. His approach is destructive and bullying and will set you back at best and totally spoil your horse at worse. Get rid!

Good luck
 
Just tell him the truth that you are not adverse to his techniques so have decided not to continue with lessons with him.

Don't lie or make excuses as you could trip up and embarrass yourself.

As you can tell I am the type to say it how it is.

He has little respect or care for your horse and it is in your horses best interest that you stop these lessons before possible damage is done.
 
I lunge for a good 20-30 mins to wear her out a bit before I get on and keep a very close eye on her food, low molasses, hay adlib.
Regular riding too is a must, but sooo difficult this time of year. Also, really warm rug, they have lots of fizzy if they feel cold so they can keep warm.
At the mo, am working on establishing some ground manners too. If horseface doesn't listen on the ground, not likely to in saddle.
That's where my plan of action is for same problem ,if it helps.
Good luck.
 
I agree with everyone above. For a start being a racer then a broodmare, she probably has no idea what the hell your asking her to do. Bending and working from behind isn't in her vocab yet.
I would take it slow and start basic. Sort one problem at a time. If your worried about the rushing off (and the fitter she gets the faster that might get) begin with teaching her to stay steady. Keep yourself relaxed in the saddle and think slow, keep your trot light in the seat and slow, as soon as she rushes off ask her a downward transition to walk wait for her to relax into the walk, praise her then back to trot. Set a goal like once or twice around the arena, when she does a trot without rushing for that long, downward to walk and praise etc..... just keep it all simple, she will soon learn that as soon as she tries to rush she'll be brought back to walk and that is boring.

Teddyt said about keep training sessions short, i totally understand what is being said with an un muscled horse etc. But work wise i think it depends on the horse. Some have greater concentration for the first half then switch off. Other come out like idiots and I have to work them for 20 mins before i start getting any sense out of them. Becareful that by doing only short sessions that you dont end up with a loony coming out the stable ready for their 20 mins of fun.

For bending and fitness etc, i use a pessoa a lot. It has helped shorten the canter for the showjumpers, and encouraged the stiff ones etc to bend. I think it is brilliant because you can start loose on an easy setting and get tighter and increase the bend as time goes on, if left at the same length for a while, you know they are getting a consistant training. Also if they are going to have a bit of a fight about it (try and lean etc) they do it against themselves and makes life onboard easier for you.
good luck and keep us posted.

As for the trainer,whether he is good or bad, tbh it doesn't sound like the mare is ready for a trainer, they can push too hard. I wouldn't be too hard on him though, i see trainers all the time who honestly think they are doing it right, they are not trying to harm you or your horse but they simply dont know any better they think that is how you do it.
 
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