Young horse runs in trot

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TJ08

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Hiya, Any advice much appreciated.

I've recently bought a 4yr old 14h welsh x gelding. He was backed as a 3 yr old and turned away.
This is my first youngster and I'm encountering lots of new situations that I'm not too sure how to deal with!!

I've had him for 3 wks now and have seen lots of improvements already. He's starting to bend in walk now in the school and goes nicely although rather forward going.

My main problem is when I ask him to trot... he goes off like a rocket! When i went to look at him he was very quiet in trot, although he had barely done anything.
I'm concerned because the only way I can control him is to have him on the shortest rein and pull! I try to rise and sit as slowly as poss and constantly tell him to woah but it doesn't make a difference. The second i release my grip he just runs!

Is this normal behaviour for a youngster? He's naturally very forward going but I'm hesitant to trot him now as don't want to frighten him or have an accident!

Any advice much appreciated
 
Circle and trust to luck that he's got enough self preservation and / or balance.
 
Difficult to say without seeing him. Are you sure nothing is hurting? I'd check teeth, back, saddle etc first.

Then I would have a look at him on the lunge and check he is balanced and happy.

If the problem is only under saddle I would say get right off his mouth, shortening your reins and pulling is only going to make things worse. Practice halting and half halting in walk using your body and voice, practice bending him using your legs and body not reins. Then when you can slow him in walk without using the reins pick up a steady trot with a very light contact. If he rushes don't shorten your reins half halt, slow the rise and use body and voice. It might take a while but let him trot round until you crack it rather than hauling him up, he will tire and slow eventually! Keep calm and use body and voice. Don't just go round and round on the outside track either, include some big circles, gentle changes of rein and shapes like loops to keep his attention and to help you steady him.

I'd suggest you get a good instructor out to help you on a regular basis if he is your first youngster too.

Also, what is he like hacking? Make sure you aren't overdoing it in the school, babies tire physically and mentally very quickly.
 
They will normally run/rush in trot or canter when they are feeling unbalanced.

Have you seen him trot in the field what is he like then?

How does he trot on the lunge without a rider?

If you feel safe enough then do your trott
ing out on a hack in straight lines this will help him find his balance with you on top and strenghten the muscles.
Do it up a hill if you are worried about control.
A neck strap is a good idea, try pulling up on this instead of your reins to steady him, using your weight backwards too, he'll get the idea and soon all you'll need to do is move your weight and then you can loose the strap.

Hope some of this helps for you and your baby.
 
You really really don't want to have him on a short rein and pull - which you obviously know, hence your post!

Does his head come up and does he seem nervous or uncertain at all? It probably a balance thing. What happens if you let him run? Does he end up in canter or will he just run and run in trot? How is his walk, is it balanced and is he carrying himself nicely? I would always wait until his walk is nice and balanced and he is relaxed and in a nice outline (not strictly in the dressage sense but I mean, head not up etc) before asking for trot. Prepare for the upwards transition. Sit up in the saddle (as if a string is pulling up out of the top of your hat), half halt, and either use your voice or a gentle leg aid a trot on. Keep your rising nice and slow. then after half a circle if it is still calm, walk.

You could also go back to the lunge, either with nothing or with side reins not too tight (so he doesn't lean on them) so you can use you voice aids to slow the trot rhythm down without having to hold onto him.

My welsh cob used to do this and my dressage instructor recommened not letting him go at all until he did it in a reasonable manner - even from halt to walk, as he used to run through the rein. You have to be confident in what you are doing with this though as it can make matters worse!


This is not really normal behaviour for a youngster, and your holding onto him could be making him worse so I would definitely get a good instructor to help you.

ETA - I didn't do the thing my instructor suggested as I felt my horse couldn't cope with it mentally, and I wasn't prepapred to sit out the consequences!! We did things slowly and calmly instead. He would rush in canter in the same way that yours does in trot. The only way to slow him was to let him have the rein. Took a bit of mind over matter but worked very well.
 
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Are you sure nothing is hurting? I'd check teeth, back, saddle etc first.

Then I would have a look at him on the lunge and check he is balanced and happy.
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OP - this is typical of a young, newely broken horse. And whilst obviously you ensure that tack etc. fits properly and that there are no physical problems causing discomfort, I wouldn't be concerned.

He will be unbalanced, on the lunge or not, and part of his education is learning to balance and go in a steady rhythmn with a rider on his back.

So a good instructor to help you understand what is going on in each stage of his ridden development is vital, if you are new to initial ridden work in youngsters.
 
Whilst I agree rushing is typical youngster behaviour it is worth noting that he wasn't rushing before and this is new, hence the suggestion to check teeth saddle etc, as those things change so quickly with young horses.

Definitely think regular lessons are the way forward though. Preferably with a good instructor with experience of bringing on youngsters, not just any old instructor.
 
KristmasKatt said:
Whilst I agree rushing is typical youngster behaviour it is worth noting that he wasn't rushing before and this is new, hence the suggestion to check teeth saddle etc, as those things change so quickly with young horses.

Definitely think regular lessons are the way forward though. Preferably with a good instructor with experience of bringing on youngsters, not just any old instructor.
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Thank you for repeating, almost verbatim, my post :)
 
Ditto good instructor who is used to bringing on babies. Make sure you're well balanced or else he has no chance to learn his own. Lots of good advice given above, keep asking if there is anything you aren't sure of. Bringing on youngsters is different to riding a schooled horse, but is immensley rewarding. Time, patience, little & often.
 
Rushing is very typical of babies as they are generally on the forehand and unbalanced because they don't have the muscle yet to be able to sit back and use their bums properly.
I would also like to add that short reins and pulling are not going to help him find his own balance but make him lean and build up all the wrong muscles on the underside of his neck - pulling against you.
I would advise to get his teeth, back and saddle checked and get a good instructor to help you especially since you said this is all new to you too, I think both you and the horse need someone experienced to guide you.
 
Mine does this - shes 4....

Shes generally on a mission when i first get on lol... goes like a rocket and it takes around 15/20mins until she calms down and realises she cant get anywhere by doing that

Get a good instructor and just keep riding them in a schooling session until they get the message - i use plenty of voice commands with mine (as well as aids) and i also give her a pat everytime she calms/slows down - they arnt stupid they do know....

Loads of circles/rein changes (small circles they have to slow down)....serpentines.... transitions walk/halt etc

Mabey my way isnt right but it has worked for us :)
 
noodle_ said:
Mine does this - shes 4....

Shes generally on a mission when i first get on lol... goes like a rocket and it takes around 15/20mins until she calms down and realises she cant get anywhere by doing that

Get a good instructor and just keep riding them in a schooling session until they get the message - i use plenty of voice commands with mine (as well as aids) and i also give her a pat everytime she calms/slows down - they arnt stupid they do know....

Loads of circles/rein changes (small circles they have to slow down)....serpentines.... transitions walk/halt etc

Mabey my way isnt right but it has worked for us :)
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Mines the same...he's 5 but seriously 'behind' in his education. Works for me too.:)
 
Hi All,

Thanks so much for all your posts... really appreciated.

I'm pretty sure he's not feeling any discomfort. Being a youngster I didn't want to buy him a saddle until he's filled out a bit more. I've put my 14.3 Arab x Conn's saddle on him after trying a few spare ones at the yard. It's not a perfect fit but certainly isn't pinching anywhere and i use a double thickness poly underneath. He doesn't flinch when I get on or do his girth up etc and fine in walk.
The vet came out to do his jab last week and had a look in his mouth and said all ok.

I've only ridden him a handful of times, the first and second time he was pretty quiet in walk (didn't trot to start) but now very fast in walk too.
However, that does slow down after 10 mins or so.

I've been trying to use my voice, and trot circles, rise slowly etc but he literally runs straight away and I feel if I let him do it he's going to swing off in the other direction whilst on a circle and I'll be out the side door!
The other difficulty is that my schooling area isn't great and its on a slight slope (width ways) so he gets quicker as we go down slightly!

I absolutely don't want to be yanking on his mouth, it;s definately not the way forward and absolutely kills my arms!!

I think it probably is that he's completely unbalanced in trot and I'll just continue to work at it, little bits at a time. Thankfully he's pretty responsive to most things and picks things up quite quickly so hopefully he'll figure it out.

Thanks again for all the useful advice, will definately be taking it on board next time I ride him! And will def look at some lessons if I can't sort it!

x
 
Sounds like he's stressing out, so take him back to the begining. You said he was backed and turned away, till you bought him. So start him again, quite lunging and so on till he gets his confidence back and then back him again and take it slowly, he's only 4
 
poppymoo said:
Mines the same...he's 5 but seriously 'behind' in his education. Works for me too.:)
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ahh fab :) :D (mines rising 5 and also behind purely due to me just plodding about and not seriously schooling)


taken 8 months but i felt like we actually clicked today with this method ^
she went like a proper horse, not a baby lol

OP - it takes a lot of time but definately worth the hard work!!! :)
 
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