How can I balance my OTTB while riding him?

Question

K, so he's not actually mine, but I ride him in lessons once or twice a week.

So, he's an OTTB who gets excited and quick very easily, especially when we canter, he gets kind of crazy and if you just gave him all the reins, I see no reason why he wouldn't bring himself into a gallop sooner or later.

When I was riding him today, he tripped while cantering (like, a huge trip) and I fell off onto the fence.. and I'm a little nervous to try cantering him again next week since it was my first time cantering him and that happened.. lol. So, how can I help to balance him? What can I do? I know my trainer explains to me how, but I just want to hear it again and get some other tips. He falls kind of behind himself, goes too fast and trips. Half-halts don't really work enough to fully balance him.

Thanks!

Answer 1

ive had this problem alot because i train all kinds of horses. i agree that balancing yourself will help balance the horse, but you could also try to squeeze and release with your hands. Like every other stride squeeze and  then release the next stride. Also try sitting back and lifting your hands up. Make sure your not accidentally kicking him or something. And try to squeeze with your thy.  

Answer 2

The best way to balance him, is to balance yourself.  Make sure you are sitting back (even a little bit behind his center of gravity).  Your weight should be evenly distributed on both sides of him.  Keep your heels down and shoulders back.  Avoid making tight turns and getting too fast.  Make sure you stay relaxed, and help your horse remain calm.

Also, keep your horse's head up.  You can't throw the reins at him.  If he starts to stretch out, add a bit of leg and lift your inside rein.

Make sure he stays focused on you the whole time.  If he is distracted he may trip because he isn't paying attention to his feet.

Answer 3

he needs to be trotted and ridden by an experianced trainer to become balanced. It sounds like he is heavy on his front end and he needs to be trotted up into the bridle and ridden on his hind end instead of just barreling arond on his front end. He may be weak especially to the right so he needs to just be trotted like crazy and work on bending before he is cantered alot and jumped at all.

I would leave his training to your instructor and they should give you a balanced horse to get your confidence back and to teach you what it feels like to ride a well balanced horse so you can learn how to balance a track horse and ride him on his hind end.

Answer 4

OK, give me a couple of moments to offend some people, but, what the heck, it's what I do best sometimes.   No, he shouldn't be on the forehand, that is his problem, he need off of it and thrusting from the rear.  He also need to have a rider (I didn't say that you were immune from being offended) that is balanced, from front to back and from side to side, and capable of keeping his attention on what he is supposed to be doing.  Keep this horse doing something, and that doesn't mean going down the rail with the corners as his highlight of the day.  At every gait, stop him and reverse him, INTO the rail, #1 to keep him awake and paying attention #2 to keep him with his hind end under him.  Even if you have slack in your reins) you can still continue to lift the reins, communicate with him with all of your aids, keep him on your team, stay in his brain.  I simply can't imagine getting so out of touch with a horse that you are riding that he gets so far adrift that he stumbles into the fence...on the other hand, he may have something else going on that you have no control over...Bad trimming or shoeing, narcolepsy, not feeling well, etc. I have seen a lot of OTTB who are docile and willing, they need consistency and discipline and lots and lots of reinforcement.   I have a suggestion for you.  The next time that your instructor explains how to do something that you are not quite sure that you understand, stop, get off and ask her/him to show you what they mean.  If he/she can't, find another instructor.

Answer 5

in my last lesson actually the horse i was riding tripped in the corner where the footing was too deep while we were cantering. i managed to stay on, but i lost the reins. my instructor told me to hold my hands up higher so that he would pick his head up higher, and it worked and there was no more tripping :)

Answer 6

I work on my own horses feet and when the toes get too long she trips alot. So mabey see if the farrier can come out and work on her feet. Also sit alittle back to see if that helps too!

Answer 7

There are many problems that could be happening. I've actually had this happen to me twice. I understand and i know that it's really worrying. My horse is also quick and naturally clumsy. Work on your balance and feel of your horse. Make sure he is on the forhand, and is collected. Most horses that flip do it because they are strung out and quick. Push him into the bit and hold him there. Ask your trainer, but most importantly don't let this bash your confidence. No matter how good or bad things go, your riding a 1500 pound unpredictable animal. Get back on, relax, and work hard to correct the problem. One day it might even make a good story to tell the grandkids.