trot into walk

[Pibstar]

hi, Mollie has a very bad transition from trot into walk. its so defined/sudden, it is fine from walk into trot. what can i do to improve this?

[Skyhuntress]

My guess would be that when you ask, you just pull back on the reins and consequently, its like her motor dies and she falls flat rather then keeping her back lifted and sort of gliding into the downwards transition.
Instead, try keeping your leg on her, sitting down deeply in the saddle and giving a half halt (some horses require a more persistant half halt if they aren't fine tuned yet to responding to one :))

[Mehitabel]

it's quite common for downward transitions to be very abrupt, as if the horse stops dead and the slower pace loses all impulsion. is that what's happening? keep the leg on through the transition and ask for an active forward walk immediately.

[KateWooten]

What have you tried so far ? I think I would try doing lots of halt-walk transitions first off ... lots and lots - like maybe a hundred or so in a session, or 20 down the long side of an arena, say ... and aim to have the horse halt on just a seat signal. The do the same for walk-trot and back. A hundred transitions. Try doing walk-trot-walk, without rushing, but bring the number of trot strides down gradually, to less than one. Then finally, to zero, so that it becomes just an idea of an upwards and then a downwards transition. Aim for the horse to stay soft throughout each transition. Then maybe do the whole sequence from halt through trot and back a lot too.

Is it just the abruptness of the transition that is a problem, or is there also tenseness / hollowing too ?

[Pibstar]

thanks - i will try keep pushing on with the leg. I dont touch the reins - i use my voice.

[Pibstar]

What have you tried so far ?

Is it just the abruptness of the transition that is a problem, or is there also tenseness / hollowing too ?

No tried much yet - by i will do what you suggested. yes just the abruptness.

thanks:)

[neen]

Second Kate, transitions, transitions, transitions. Keep it so that she doesn't know what's coming next -- e.g. trot 5 strides then walk 3 then trot 3 then halt. The mix it up again. That really gets them moving forward and because they don't know what's coming next they don't want to slump in case it's too much effort to get moving again!

Fluke's a bit of a downward slumper, given the chance -- it's like trot-trot-trot-trot-OHTHANKGOD(SLUMP). But a few minutes of transitions persuades him this isn't worth the energy saved and he decides it's actually easier to maintain some impulsion because you never know when you'll need it ;)

[Pibstar]

well put neen - thanks;)

[KateWooten]

Also, another thing you could do, perhaps you could find another pony to go on hacks with - one who's been cured of the trot-trot-trot-slump thing, for example. It's always easier to keep good forward momentum going when you have someone fun to ride with :D

[neen]

Hm, Kate -- who could you possibly mean? :confused: :D
Great idea, though! :D

[coss]

what worked for my horse is to do the 5,4,3,2,1,0. go on a circle in trot, collect the trot slightly and ask for walk, walk for 5 steps and pick up trot, next time only walk 4 steps and so on until you only half halt. change the rein and start again. repeat as necessary. it makes them more forward in their walk as they are waiting for you to ask for trot