Slow down!?

Question

OK, I already asked this question before but got lots of weird answers because I don't think I gave you guys enough background. My mare, Millie, has a lot of trouble with her downward transition from a canter to a trot. Now, she is only five years old, so could the problem be she is unbalanced? Lately I have been taking her to a new place, and though she is not unresponsive to my cues to slow down, she just takes her time to slow down. I keep my cues soft, and though she notices them, she takes a few seconds after before she even slows her canter. Now, she is kept in a 3-acre pasture so this is not because of pent up energy or anything. She does the same thing in her home pasture when I ride her, so it is not because she is excited. To slow her down, I have tried a dressage method (even though I ride western) by squeezing her sides and pulling back on the reins to gather herself underneath her and shorten her stride until she stops. Should I continue this? Thanks! :)

Answer 1

My Morgan was fast at the canter and the downward transitions so I would immediately put him on a large circle to slow him down and force him to focus and center himself.  After a few circles he would relax and gather himself in a more balanced stride.  I half-halted throughout and sat quietly in the saddle.

Taking your horse over cavaletti on a circle should help her with her balance as well.

Good luck!

Answer 2

If she's impulsive, ride her in circles. She will realize, after a few circles, that this is no new territory and why should I be going so fast to see what I've already seen 4, 5, or more times?

She is probably unbalanced too. I would immediately stop pulling the reins and squeezing with your legs, because that's mixed messages for her. You're telling her (in her eyes, even though you mean differently) to go fast and slow at the same time. Eventually, she'll start bucking, rearing, crow hopping, etc. to get away from pressure all over.

Good luck!

Answer 3

I wouldn't continue the dressage method (which is generally used for English riding horses) as when you use your legs it is a sign to walk on / speed up and pulling back on the reins (asking to stop) and as she is still young she will be easily confused.

I would get her teeth checked as it may be a mouth problem which is causing her to not stop when told straight away. This could also be linked to the bit used, I'd suggest using a rubber bit if you're currently using a metallic one.

Make sure you sit deep in the seat, that your reins are of equal length (mark them if you feel this would be helpful) and that your leg is NOT on.

Remember that she is only a yearling and that although she is slowing down eventually, she is still learning and will become more responsive the more you work with her.

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Answer 4

Yes, I think you're absolutely right in thinking that she is having these problems because she's unbalanced.  She's still a kid and, naturally, hasn't had enough time to learn how to balance herself and a rider during all three gaits and their transitions.  That's OK!  There's a difference between her knowing what you want and needing time to respond, and her knowing what you want but taking her sweet old time to actually do it.  It sounds to me like she is listening and paying attention and not blowing you off, and as long as that is the case then I'd say she simply needs some more time and experience to get it right.

It sounds like you're doing half halts, which is fine, so long as she understands them.  I think you're on the right track.  Keep working her consistently, and let her develop her body and her sense of balance.  She will get it in time.

Answer 5

Give her a verbal cue before you give her the signal. This will give her a chance to think about what is coming next and prepare herself. Make sure you keep your seat deep in the saddle as you cue her with your legs and that you have her working on her hind end before you ask her anything so she doesn't have to shift her weight from front to back.

Answer 6

If I were you, it doesn't seem like its working, so I would try doing something different. You can try::.

_-_to RELAX AND GENTLY PULL BACK.

-_-   Sit back in the saddle, and pull back on the reins GENTLY!!! mares are moody horses and so yah you dont wanna pull back too hard.

Well, Hope this heklps!

Answer 7

i think she is unbalenced cause she is young and is still learing to teach her i would ride english to help her ballance and it will be lighter and she might just respon to it better cause she will not have as much weight on he back  and dont continue it when you are riding at a canter ask he to go a little slower and when she is going a little slower make her go back to a ful canter than ask her toslow down even more than last time kep doing this and she will get the hang of this