Need some tips :)

[Sunkist]

Hi Everyone,

I ride this lovely horse, Molly, she's really sweet and LOVES going fast once you mount. The thing is I really need to work on slowing her down. For instance: We were doing sitting trot with-out stirrups and she always goes quick so there I am bouncing on her back, trying my hardest to try and slow her down and stay in sitting trot.

Does anyone have advise for sitting trot, and slowing down a speedy horse?


Here's the pretty girl!
http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2478745030069519700SDJByT?vhost=pets

Thank you so much!
God Bless! <3

[Ladyknight]

Well, consistent half halts would help, but I always find that thinking slow and smooth helps your body thus the horse get the general idea. When you think slow, you relax your body. it becomes heavier and the horse senses no tension and comcined with half halts this shouls work. Unless she has no other trot gear, just fast and bumpy:D I met a horse like that once

[bevy]

Try lungeing her at trot, then you can see if she is one of these sewing-machine-needle trotters( seem to go up and down at rapid rate of knots and get nowhere). If you can get her to lunge at the pace you want, get someone to lunge you in the saddle at that pace.

[dilaika]

sometimes you have to go against all your instincts...don't pull, lol. Like someone else said, use lots of half-halts. Make sure that you're not pulling consistantly, than she can just lean against it, make it a definite squeeze release. You can also do a strong check with the outside rein every once in a while. (As you can probably tell - pull on my horse and he gets faster). Also, be aware of your legs. If she's being speedy when you are trotting without stirrups, make sure that you're not gripping too hard with your lower leg and telling her to move on, think about stretching your leg down and around.

You might try having someone lunge you at the trot...that way you can try different things such as dropping the reins and try to see what helps and what hurts

[Joyscarer]

I'd go more with my slowing using my seat. :)

[Julz]

forget sitting trot just now,and slow your rising, to slow her pace...sounds silly but it does work... count in your head.... 1,2,1,2,1,2...etc, real slow.... do lots of circles, serpentines, so she isnt just motoring round the school, and lots of bend changes... ask her to go really deep into her corners and bend properly round your circles... make as much use of the school as possible.

if you carry on trying to do sitting trot you may actually, without intention, be hurting her. Keep your stirrups and just occassionally do a couple strides sitting, but only when you have got her to slow down...otherwise it'll be really uncomfortable for her and you....

[Sunkist]

Thanks everyone! I'm gonna try those tips out...wish me the best!
God Bless!

forget sitting trot just now,and slow your rising, to slow her pace...sounds silly but it does work... count in your head.... 1,2,1,2,1,2...etc, real slow.... do lots of circles, serpentines, so she isnt just motoring round the school, and lots of bend changes... ask her to go really deep into her corners and bend properly round your circles... make as much use of the school as possible.

if you carry on trying to do sitting trot you may actually, without intention, be hurting her. Keep your stirrups and just occassionally do a couple strides sitting, but only when you have got her to slow down...otherwise it'll be really uncomfortable for her and you....

Yeah, that's one thing I am afraid of- hurting her.
I'll keep this advise in mind.
Thank you so much Julz!