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Member
Posts: 24
Location: Canada | So I have a 5 year old who is about 16-16.1hh and has a very long stride. He has a very fast lope and I was wondering if any of you have any exercises/tips to slow it down and to balance out his lope. He also can get a bit head strong in the lope so anything regarding that as well would be helpful. My goal for him is to have a nicely paced/balance lope while having loose rein and not having to touch his face much. This is the first time i've gotten to finish a young horse and would appreciate any advice (: |
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Gettin Jiggy Wit It
Posts: 2734
  
| When horses are a bit strong at any gait they aren't really sure what is expected of them. They may lack confidence and do not realize they do not have to work as hard as they are. The biggest thing for teaching a colt to slow down is not to force it. Horses will come back to you when they are confident in what you expect of them. To show your horse what you want of them, you must make the right thing easy and the wrong thing hard. On order to slow their feet and work with their mind I like to decrease the size of my circles when my colts or any horse are a bit strong. This will slow their feet and give them something to focus on since they are not let loose going acrossed the whole pen or on the rail. When riding your horse acrossed the arena or on the rail and your horse gets strong you take your horse in a 20 to 30 foot circle to slow their feet (making going fast the hard thing since going fast is wrong. Going fast in a small circle is a lot of work for them). Once they come back to you by relaxng and slowing down in the smaller circle, you send them back out again back acrossed the arena in either a much bigger circle or back on the rail (letting them back out on to the rail or acrossed the pen rewards them for slowing down and coming back to you in the little circle. By letting them out to a wider area you are allowing slowing down to become the easier thing since them showing is the right thing). It takes repetition, especially with a very strong horse. Its always about instilling confidence.
Edited by WetSaddleBlankets 2015-03-10 1:56 AM
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 600
Location: Oklahoma & Texas | Agree ...smaller circles will slow one down...with their nose just ever so slightly tilted inward to the circle...learned that from a reining trainer ...go as small as you have to to get the speed you want then you can build the circle larger and larger as long as they maintain the preferred speed..if they speed up make circle smaller again.. |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| Circles, and I like to work transitions as well to sit them back on their hind ends and slow them up. Once you have good transitions between gaits you can mix it up with speed/stride length within the gait to really tune them in. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 239
| I also find that they get strung out like that because they lack the strength to pick up the wither and do a nice controlled lope. Lots of big circles with picking up the wither and leg to drive them forward and round out their topline. This will help develop those muscles so that a lope is easy for them at a slower speed. Making the circle smaller will not always get them to slow down - I am riding one right now that will go at top speed still and all strung out, because she isn't strong enough to maintain the small cirlce.
Once they get the strength - then just continue on in your circle and push their hip more to the inside (still with nose tipped in) to slow them. |
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Gettin Jiggy Wit It
Posts: 2734
| 2H~QH - 2015-03-10 9:16 AM I also find that they get strung out like that because they lack the strength to pick up the wither and do a nice controlled lope. Lots of big circles with picking up the wither and leg to drive them forward and round out their topline. This will help develop those muscles so that a lope is easy for them at a slower speed. Making the circle smaller will not always get them to slow down - I am riding one right now that will go at top speed still and all strung out, because she isn't strong enough to maintain the small cirlce.
Once they get the strength - then just continue on in your circle and push their hip more to the inside (still with nose tipped in) to slow them.
Its hard to get a horse to round out its topline when they are racing around. Most of the time when I've riden a horse that was strong they are bracing against me at some point as well. I don't like to pull on them when they are like that because it may turn in to a tug of war.... a strong loping horse and a rider adding the wrong kind of contact is just that. The first step is getting their feet to slow and be comfortable before I can start adding some contact to ask for softness. In my opinion, you have to slow their feet to and their mind before you get any sort or suppleness that will allow their back to round, ect.... I do think that making sure their hip is underneath them and they are not dropping a shoulder is very important. I am sure that is what you meant. Even when they are racing around and you go to a smaller circle then back out again, always make sure you fix when they lean on you and drop. You at least want to instil keeping them up between your hands at each point. |
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Veteran
Posts: 239
| WetSaddleBlankets - 2015-03-10 9:51 AM 2H~QH - 2015-03-10 9:16 AM I also find that they get strung out like that because they lack the strength to pick up the wither and do a nice controlled lope. Lots of big circles with picking up the wither and leg to drive them forward and round out their topline. This will help develop those muscles so that a lope is easy for them at a slower speed. Making the circle smaller will not always get them to slow down - I am riding one right now that will go at top speed still and all strung out, because she isn't strong enough to maintain the small cirlce.
Once they get the strength - then just continue on in your circle and push their hip more to the inside (still with nose tipped in) to slow them. Its hard to get a horse to round out its topline when they are racing around. Most of the time when I've riden a horse that was strong they are bracing against me at some point as well. I don't like to pull on them when they are like that because it may turn in to a tug of war.... a strong loping horse and a rider adding the wrong kind of contact is just that. The first step is getting their feet to slow and be comfortable before I can start adding some contact to ask for softness. In my opinion, you have to slow their feet to and their mind before you get any sort or suppleness that will allow their back to round, ect.... I do think that making sure their hip is underneath them and they are not dropping a shoulder is very important. I am sure that is what you meant. Even when they are racing around and you go to a smaller circle then back out again, always make sure you fix when they lean on you and drop. You at least want to instil keeping them up between your hands at each point.
Completely agree with your point on pulling on one that is hauling butt around the pen - and absolutely YES you start with the topline/picking up wither at slower speeds - I should have explained more.
In my program I start at a walk and teach my horses to pick up wither by alternating pressure on their face (not steady pull) - first pick up on rein - THEN go with leg - but I use a LOT of leg - depending on the age, and softeness, I get in them quite hard with my legs. I want to be able to go more to the BODY than the FACE to get them to collect up. Mine will pick up their wither and elevate top line if I just pick my hand up and apply leg (graduate from using spur to just calf pressure).
Once you have that - then yes - go to a trot - once at a trot - then progress to the lope.
I find that once they learn how to drive themselves up at a slower speed, it will translate to the lope. Once they figure out that MORE LEG means pick up your wither, you don't have to pull on their face at all.
This isn't something that you can fix in a weekend, LOL! And it is something that works for me, may not work for everyone.
Thanks WSB for adding clarification :)
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Gettin Jiggy Wit It
Posts: 2734
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 559
| 2H~QH - 2015-03-10 9:16 AM
I also find that they get strung out like that because they lack the strength to pick up the wither and do a nice controlled lope. Lots of big circles with picking up the wither and leg to drive them forward and round out their topline. This will help develop those muscles so that a lope is easy for them at a slower speed. Making the circle smaller will not always get them to slow down - I am riding one right now that will go at top speed still and all strung out, because she isn't strong enough to maintain the small cirlce.
Once they get the strength - then just continue on in your circle and push their hip more to the inside (still with nose tipped in) to slow them.
Totally agree with you ! I have a 4 yr old that would always race around in circles ... I kept working on collection at slower speeds.. Now she is s dream to lope ... The minute she picks her lope up her weight is in her hindquarters & her top line is rounded . I agree it's a lack of confidence also .. Mine was lacking confidence as well & what helped her a lot is desensitizing her .. I'd just swing my leather rein around & then pet her . Makd noise on my saddle .. Might sound dumb but it worked.. Bc she was very reactive to what I was doing .. So she always thought I wanted her to go faster when she got insecure . By doing that made her relax & trust me . Just sharing my opinion :) bc I just went through it ! It did however take 3 months & then some to get her to have the strength & understanding of collection , but boy are they a joy to ride when they get there :) |
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Veteran
Posts: 239
| WetSaddleBlankets - 2015-03-10 9:51 AM 2H~QH - 2015-03-10 9:16 AM I also find that they get strung out like that because they lack the strength to pick up the wither and do a nice controlled lope. Lots of big circles with picking up the wither and leg to drive them forward and round out their topline. This will help develop those muscles so that a lope is easy for them at a slower speed. Making the circle smaller will not always get them to slow down - I am riding one right now that will go at top speed still and all strung out, because she isn't strong enough to maintain the small cirlce.
Once they get the strength - then just continue on in your circle and push their hip more to the inside (still with nose tipped in) to slow them. Its hard to get a horse to round out its topline when they are racing around. Most of the time when I've riden a horse that was strong they are bracing against me at some point as well. I don't like to pull on them when they are like that because it may turn in to a tug of war.... a strong loping horse and a rider adding the wrong kind of contact is just that. The first step is getting their feet to slow and be comfortable before I can start adding some contact to ask for softness. In my opinion, you have to slow their feet to and their mind before you get any sort or suppleness that will allow their back to round, ect.... I do think that making sure their hip is underneath them and they are not dropping a shoulder is very important. I am sure that is what you meant. Even when they are racing around and you go to a smaller circle then back out again, always make sure you fix when they lean on you and drop. You at least want to instil keeping them up between your hands at each point.
Forgot to say one more thing!! LOL then I will stop!
After they learn collection at slower speed - when I am asking for the wither up, leg on at a lope I never ask with a steady pull - always get into the mouth and once in, then with alternating pressure again with each hand. Then you never get into the pulling match - they have nothing to brace on - cause I guarantee you won't win! |
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Gettin Jiggy Wit It
Posts: 2734
| 2H~QH - 2015-03-10 12:02 PM WetSaddleBlankets - 2015-03-10 9:51 AM 2H~QH - 2015-03-10 9:16 AM I also find that they get strung out like that because they lack the strength to pick up the wither and do a nice controlled lope. Lots of big circles with picking up the wither and leg to drive them forward and round out their topline. This will help develop those muscles so that a lope is easy for them at a slower speed. Making the circle smaller will not always get them to slow down - I am riding one right now that will go at top speed still and all strung out, because she isn't strong enough to maintain the small cirlce.
Once they get the strength - then just continue on in your circle and push their hip more to the inside (still with nose tipped in) to slow them. Its hard to get a horse to round out its topline when they are racing around. Most of the time when I've riden a horse that was strong they are bracing against me at some point as well. I don't like to pull on them when they are like that because it may turn in to a tug of war.... a strong loping horse and a rider adding the wrong kind of contact is just that. The first step is getting their feet to slow and be comfortable before I can start adding some contact to ask for softness. In my opinion, you have to slow their feet to and their mind before you get any sort or suppleness that will allow their back to round, ect.... I do think that making sure their hip is underneath them and they are not dropping a shoulder is very important. I am sure that is what you meant. Even when they are racing around and you go to a smaller circle then back out again, always make sure you fix when they lean on you and drop. You at least want to instil keeping them up between your hands at each point.
After they learn collection at slower speed - when I am asking for the wither up, leg on at a lope I never ask with a steady pull - always get into the mouth and once in, then with alternating pressure again with each hand. Then you never get into the pulling match - they have nothing to brace on - cause I guarantee you won't win!
I agree! If they are relaxed at a walk and can jog quiet at a trot it helps them so much at a lope. Especially building the muscles slow and as you transition up to faster gaits! |
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  Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | A lot of times a horse will rush because they're not balanced. They''re heavy on the forehand their way of balancing is to rush even more forward. Half halts are good but for one that's very forward, I will either stop and back up & canter off OR stop and back up and do a roll back OR just do a rollback right when they start getting strong. That helps interrupt the thought process and helps redistribute the weight and get them balanced and carrying themselves a little better on their own without me having to collect them up. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 477
Location: Lost in the swamps | Yup totally agree! Out of balance, work on collection at all gaits will slow one up! |
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 Regular
Posts: 97
Location: Tennessee | I recently got a mare who was fast, rough & spazzy & wouldnt stop at a lope. When I got her home I would start by walking her up & down my driveway, anytime she would trot I would stop her & back her up a few steps. Did that till she would walk calmly, then the same thing a a trot, if she tried to lope she'd get stopped & backed up. When we got to loping I would pull back & if she tossed her head & wouldn't settle down, I would get her stopped & then you actually pull her head up by lifting with both hands & hold em there until she finds the best place for her head is down not up then you release. Doing this I got her comfortably loping & stopping in maybe 30 mins & didn't have a worn out horse afterward so we could keep riding. you can pm for any more info if you like :) |
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