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Veteran
Posts: 264
 
| Currently have a late started gelding that seems to be having trouble with adding speed. Just started hauling him to time onlys the past few months.
Starting to have issues with keeping soft with anything over a slow "reining" lope. The moment you ask him to stretch out and cover some ground he gets insecure, bracey, hollows out. We bring him back down to soften again and he is fine.
He loses all confidence in himself when speed is involved. We have begun hauling him out to breeze and see if it would help but when out in the open he is fine. Put him in an arena, different story.
I keep going back to basics as far as softening body parts and really keeping him fancy broke. But it literally all goes out of the window once you ask him to get out of his slow comfort zone.
Can anyone suggest videos or exercises that have helped in the speed transition? | |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 489
| I might add speed in parts. Hustle to first and turn it, ten let him relax and slow lope 2nd and third. Next trim slow to 1st, hustle to 2nd, then slow to 3rd. Different hustle the next time. At home, Id probably work on the speed transitions at a lope. Slow -hustle-slow-hustle-trot....whatever, until the transition is no big deal. Also, take a honest look at yourself. Do you stay as smooth at more speed as you do slower. It's something I have to work at and be aware of. Could he be reacting to you in some way? I love riding colts, but they can sure drive ya crazy sometimes.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 672
| Have you tried breezing him in the arena? I like to stretch them out and collect them up in the arena as well. | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1094
Location: Idahome | I have a gelding just like this. Always 1 step forward and 2 steps back. He is just more immature at this point, but I know it will come in time. I went to a Dena K clinic this year and she said when she starts adding speed, she will let the run home first and quit. The next day, let them run a little more to 3rd and home then quit. Pretty soon they start figuring it out by doing a little at a time and want to do it on their own. I have had to step back with my colt to soften back up, but starting to ask for speed in this pattern and it is helping build his confidence up. Keep working with him, a lot of geldings are insecure and can take a little more time mentally. | |
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 I Don't Brag
Posts: 6960
| KylaKris - 2016-08-08 10:18 AM
I have a gelding just like this. Always 1 step forward and 2 steps back. He is just more immature at this point, but I know it will come in time. I went to a Dena K clinic this year and she said when she starts adding speed, she will let the run home first and quit. The next day, let them run a little more to 3rd and home then quit. Pretty soon they start figuring it out by doing a little at a time and want to do it on their own. I have had to step back with my colt to soften back up, but starting to ask for speed in this pattern and it is helping build his confidence up. Keep working with him, a lot of geldings are insecure and can take a little more time mentally.
This is what I do with mine too. Ask or let them run home from the 3rd. When they have that handled, ask them to run to the third, then home. Then to the second. The LAST place I ask for speed is going to the first. I want to encourage consistency and confidence and that comes from them knowing exactly what we want them to do.
If it falls apart at any point, back up a step.
Edited by rodeoveteran 2016-08-08 10:35 AM
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The insecure colt