How to get a horse to extend his trot?

Question

im riding an older thoroughbred right now and he has a very short fast trot...when my trainer asks me to extend it a bit more, not going faster just extending the stride he just gets slower but doesnt feel like he is extending it at all! he just takes very short steps...any ideas on how to work on extending his trot better?

Answer 1

Many horses - especially thoroughbreds - tend to have short, fast strides. A good way to fix this is by gently holding his mouth but pressing (squeezing) him forward. When you're pressing him forward, alternate between your left and right leg. This way, you're encouraging forward movement without letting him canter or go too fast; you're also ensuring that he's up under himself, creating better balance.

Remember that once he does extend his stride it may seem slower, because his movements will be longer and smoother.

I hope this helps, and good luck!

Answer 2

First the horse needs to be on your aids. Leg, seat and hands.

When you want him to extend his trot you need to hold the energy back with your calm and quiet hands and push him forward from your seat and leg. The energy from his rear end can't go through your hands (running on the forehand) so he will extend in the back.

Why do you not ask your trainer this question?