Help I cant slow my horse down?

[Fiona]

I have had my pure Arabian mare for about a year and a half yet I still cant do a slow canter circle. She always want's to rush and weve tryed nearly everything except stronger bits. It is so frustrating because we cant show here because of this.
Does anyone have any suggestions?

[chiz]

Hi

Is there any reason why you haven't tried her in a different bit? This is the route I would possibly go down. Maybe try chatting to your instructor as they may have a few ideas about schooling exercises that may help or they may be able to advise on a different bit.

Good luck and please let me know how you get on.

Kind Regards

Chiz

[Nadia]

Hi, I have two Arabs and have been competing county level for an owner as well for the past couple of years and all Arabs are shown in either a double bridle or rugby pelham, so you have no need to worry about using stronger bits in that respect. Fom just a schooling point of view, maybe you should look into the alternative bits as it is much better to be able to ride with a decent bit and soft hands rather than a mild bit that you have to hang on to. Let us know how you get on!

[Fiona]

Thanks guys I think it's about time I try a new bit and hopefully I can slow down this bag of energy down. I really enjoy riding my horse but it's disaponting when you can't get
things to go right. I'll make sure I kept you
posted as to what happens and hopefully I'll have some good news!
By the way I bet you didn't know I from Australia everbody else seems to be from the
England area anyway thanks for the replying.
yours Fiona.
P.S if anybodys interested in writing to me my email is f.e.b@mailcity.com

[Riki]

Hi!
I agry with th other. But don't go to far with the other bites. If you start using stronger and stronger bites, eventually, it wil do the opposite. She'll get use to all of them, and you won't be able to control her at all. But do try a stronger one.What are you using?
Maybe you should first let her take out the energy, when you first get her out of the stable.
Try singneling her with the outer hand too. This should slow her down.
Riki

[Jen]

Hi, I've got an arab called Whizzy and I ride him in a continental (3 ring) snaffle. He seems to like this bit because it is not severe on his sensitive mouth! I ride with the reins on the second ring down which puts a bit of pressure on the top of Whizzy's head when I pull the reins. This stops him from putting his head up and he listens to me instead of just running on like he used to. When I school him, I do lots of transitions so he knows he has to stop when I put my weight down onto his back

[Sailor]

HI-
I hope this can come to some kind of good use- I have 3 sugggestions that I hope can help you...


1. Here is what I think, you may want to try another bit but if this does not work stay with it and dont get any harder bit.
You wouldn't want him to get hardmouth!


2. I would lunge her before a ride or turn her out for a while. How often do you ride her if not everyday if possible try to ride her a little more that might use some of that energy-


3. If you still have problems she must have endless energy but that great you wouldn't want a horse with no spunk. try a little dressage movements with her when you want her to slow down or stop sit up straight and release some of the wight or presure from the back end (seat) this will make your horse collect herself and should slow down

And remember don't get fusterated-
When you want to slow down try saying
eeaasssyyy (easy) real slow and calm. It might work- it's worth a try!

[connie]

I did not see what type of bit you are using now, and are you riding her english hunt seat, saddle seat, or western?
I suggest you lunge her or turn her out for a while first before you ride. Make sure you are not giving her mixed signals with you legs and hands. Do you use a martingale? How old is the horse? How much training has this horse had? Are you riding in an arena? inside or outside? All this must be considered before changing bits. Please be patient with her. It took me 6 months to slow my Arab mare down, but now she has the most beautiful slow canter you could ask for. It was worth the patience.
Good luck!

[Fiona]

I have recently changed my bit from a plain snaffel to a spanish snaffel. It has helped a lot in slowing her down on hacks ect but I can't get her into a slow steady canter after months of trying. I always try a very slow trot before the transition into canter but she cant under stand not to go into a fast trot just before the aid. and when I try to slow her down whilst in the canter she only thinks we have stop. The bit has helped alot but I still can't get it through to her about slowing down.

[Sarah]

Hi Fiona,

I have exactly the same problem with my 5yo Welsh cob. After having tried all the tips outlined above, I changed riding teacher. She said she reckoned that my horse didn't fully understand the canter aid so just ran faster in trot till she fell into canter. Taking her right back to basics and showing her the aids has really started to pay off - so my advice is to get a good instructor!

It could also be worth having her back checked and her saddle refitted as this could be causing her discomfort and making her run.

[Sonya]

Hi Fiona
I can sympathise with your problem. I am training a warmblood mare who is very sensitive and she thinks that cantering is just the most exciting thing to do. If your horse is working well in the other paces and is responsive to the bit I would try to resist the temptation to go for a stronger bit. I think the biggest help is to ride in an enclosed arena, then they have nowhere to rush off to. If this is not possible then at least mark out an area with poles and tyres and stuff and work whithin it until she gets the idea that she must stay inside the poles. If you are doing dressage then make sure the trot is calm and balanced before asking for the canter. The way I would slow her down would depend on why she is rushing. Is she excited and hot or just unbalanced and going faster to keep her balance? If she finds cantering exciting then just do small amounts and as soon as she starts to rush bring her back to trot and walk. Lots of transitions. And make sure you work her till she is quite calm before starting the canter work. If she is just unbalanced, do lots of half haults (sit down, drive her up from behind and "catch" the energy with your hands). Don't hang on to her though or she will never be nice and light. I think the most important thing is to keep her on the bit. As soon as the head comes up the back gets hollow and you lose a lot of control. Good luck.

[Tina]

I agree with Sara, you may want to change instructors or get one if you don't have one. As another person said, your horse may be misunderstanding you aids to canter. How are you asking for the canter? You should be moving your outside leg back from the girth while squeezing with the inside leg AT the girth. If you are using bothe legs at the girth your horse thinks you want her to trot faster and then you're chasing her into the canter. I would do lots of downward transistions to teach the meaning of half-halts, then start asking for transitions within the same gait. Then get to the canter from a half-halt and then do lots of downwards from the canter to the trot. Make sure you are on a cicle that is large enough to help your horse balance.. Too small and they will fall into the circle and speed up. I would not automatically change to a stronger bit until you have exhausted all other methods of goo training. There is no substitute for patience and good instruction.

[Erika]

When i first began riding (training) the 7 yr. old Arab. gelding that i ride, he had the
same problem! The best way i found to slow him down, was to ask for a walk-canter transition, canter for 6 strides (approx.), and ask for a canter-halt transition. Once, he halted, i would ask him to back up a couple of steps, and start over again. I hope this will help... remember, the best thing you can do is sit back and not lean forward.
Good luck