Horse Training - How to Get Your Horse to Slow Down

Here's a simple exercise to get your horse to slowThe less control you have, the fewer steps you will
down, whether at the walk, trot, or canter. Speedallow. Let's assume your horse is a real wild character
control, or 'rate', is within the grasp of any horse ownerand start small.
willing to work consistently toward a more rewardingWhen your horse is walking quietly and obediently, ask
and enjoyable relationship with their horse.for a trot. Let him trot only three strides, then calmly
Three Reasons Horses Go Too Fastask him to drop back to a walk. Expect your horse to
resist you at first, after all, he wants to head out. Don't
1. The horse is scared.punish, don't get tense. Just take your time and firmly
2. The horse has its own agenda.insist your horse walk along the fence. At the beginning
3. The horse is willing, but the horse and rider aren'tit may take you fifty feet to get him to walk. Don't
communicating properly.worry, that's normal.
The answer in all three cases is the same - leadership.Walk until your horse is quiet and soft again, then ask
You must establish yourself as the leader, and, whenfor three trot strides again. Once you have three
you talk horses, that means that you must controlstrides, bring your horse back to a walk. Repeat as
where, when, and how your horse moves.many times as necessary until your horse seems to
Exercise to Slow Your Horsebe getting the message and is consistently making
Whether you ride in an arena or pasture, begin byquiet walk-trot transitions.
using the fence as a guide. If no fence is available,If you have to battle to get to first base, take it and
begin the exercise by riding a sixty foot circle. This isstop. Pat your horse and let him know you appreciate
big enough to work at the walk and trot. Once youhis effort. Once you've both aired up a little, go back to
have good speed control at the trot it will be a fairlythe fence and go the other way. Every horse is
simple matter to advance to the lope or canter. Todifferent. You may get total control of your horse's
work at a faster speed you need to ride a largerspeed in one lesson. It may take many lessons. Just be
circle. Make sure your horse understands where thesure to stop each lesson on a high note, so you can
circle is before starting your transitions.honestly pat your horse and say, "Good job!"
Transitions Are KeyPerfecting Speed Control
The exercise to slow your horse is built uponOnce your horse understands what you want, and is
transitions from one gait to another. In essence, youconvinced you fully intend to be the leader, you can
are teaching your horse to move up in gait (walk tostart working on making your transitions pretty and
trot, or trot to canter) and down one gait (trot to walk,soft. As your horse begins to look for your cue to
canter to trot.) Teaching transitions keeps your horsedown-shift, you can trot longer and longer distances on
focused and waiting for your next cue. The result willa nice loose rein. As soon as you feel your horse
be a horse that is always ready to slow down, orspeed up, drop to a walk, organize and go back to the
prepared to gear up quietly.exercise. To gain control at the walk or canter, follow
Exercise Directionsthe same steps as the trot. Teach walk-stop-walk
The exercise is taught the same way, no mattertransitions, or trot-canter-trot transitions.
which gait needs attention. The following stepsMaintenance
address the trot. Always be sure to have control atRoutine maintenance is necessary in all horse
the walk before advancing to the trot, and then themaneuvers to keep your horse tuned and responsive.
canter. Start by walking along the fence. Since youSpeed control is no different. Every time you horse
know your horse will trot too fast, decide in advancethinks about taking charge of the gas pedal again, go
how many trot strides you will allow before asking.back and ride a transitions refresher lesson.