She's pulling on my hands! How can i fix it?

Question

My horse, Jodie, always pulls on my hands when ever we switch gaits. When I ask her to go from a trot to a walk, she pulls on my hands assuming that she can just stretch out her neck because we're walking. How can I fix this?

Answer 1

Give her her head. If you don't know what that means, you shouldn't be owning horses. By giving her her head, give her the reins, lean back, and ask for a "whoa". Only pull a LITTLE. Don't make her keep her head up while she's walking. Shes relaxing, you just worked her. Give her a break and  give her her head!

Answer 2

My horse does the same! When she does that don't let your hands give in to her, keep them tight in your riding position. Then send her back into a trot, keep going from trot to walk alot so that she get thats walking means not relaxing but means that she needs to pay attention for a new gait, eventually you will be able to relax with her at a walk. If that dosent work, have a crop in your hand and give her a small smack on the shoulder say "hey, pay attention, I don't like that!", then send her into a trot.

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

Usually in dressage the judges look to see if horses stretch out their necks and relax during the walk, which is a good thing. But if you don't like her doing this then bring down the reins a little then jerk them up (not too hard) so that she can feel the jerk and she will bring her head up. Then be sure to tighten the reins.  

Answer 4

You should be able to tell when shes going to put her head down and do the little jerky thing. So snap her head back up. Just because your walking dosent mean she can take all the rein she wants. Other than that. Just don't walk around. Walk with a purpose just like you would do when your cantering or trotting. Make sure you are being fair though, she does deserve to stretch some.

Answer 5

shes not trying to strectch her kneck...horses will do that in attempts to pull back because you are hanging on her mouth, remember to squeeze the reins and release while keeping your leg on a little for a down transistion

Answer 6

She needs to stretch her back. Its good for them. Loosen your reins a bit and shorten when you are going to trot again.

Answer 7

You can have your hands on her mouth and she is asking for more of her head back. My young mare has a very light mouth and when I get to tight in her mouth she starts pulling on my hand, when I give her more head she relaxes and listens.

Try relaxing and giving her head back, this should help :)

Answer 8

When she pulls, release. Don't give her something to pull on. I don't mean drop your reins, just release a bit, then continue contact. Light contact with bit play to say "heads up lady we are not done yet". Also, if you normally only walk her to warm up and cool down, do more walking between your gait changes. This way she won't assume that once you are walking her work is done.

I always liked the long stretched neck after a hard work out for my horse but never let them pick the time we went into cool down, relax mode. She should drop her neck only after you have let the reins out and leaned over to praise her for a job well done.

Be consistent and she will soon come around.

Good Luck :)

Answer 9

maybe try to flex when you transition.  (pull back alittle on your reins when you  change gait.  one then the other.)  this should get your horse round  

Answer 10

Pull her into a circle! I do that with my 5 year old but he asks to go faster!

Answer 11

To avoid this habit from ever beginning, I like to have little, subtle verbal cues to change gaits...verbal cues that only you and your horse hears and knows what it means...that way, start the transition with your verbal cue, then follow, slightly behind with your hands.  It appears to the judges that she is responding immediately to your hand cues, but in reality, she is actually responding to your verbal cues and you are only reinforcing the change with your reins.  It works both ways, transistioning up and transistioning down as well.

Answer 12

A horse I ride, Atty does the same thing. Mt trainer has me keep a strong core and my hands up. She also has me pull my wrist up slightly and play with the reins.

Answer 13

After transitioning from any gait back to a walk, you need to give her her head back.  Just like when you cue her to go into a trot first you tighten the reins a little to get her attention and then with your leg aids she moves forward.  Same with going into a canter..first you collect your horse by tightening the reins and ask for the canter.  After you ask your horse to slow down after the trot or canter once walking, you need to loosen up a little..not throw the reins away..maintain contact..just not as much when collecting.

I think it is just her way of saying okay..we're walking now..let go of my mouth..unless you want me to stop!!  I mean she is not trying to duck her head down to try and buck or run away is she?   Does she stop once you give her her head or pulls the reins from you?  

It is good that you were aware of this and you need to stop or chances are she'll get to be hard mouthed trying to get away from your "grip".