Slowing Down

[K]

I ride a 15.2hh TB mare. She is beautifully behaved from the ground.

I am currently trying to increase her fitness and muscle after time off work. I have been walking for the last four weeks or so and she is now looking and feeling better, so I would like to start some trotting.

I school in a field and have begun to hack her out alone (she has a strong pair bond that I am trying to train her to leave behind sometimes!)

Her back, teeth and tack have been checked.

When I ask her to trot, she races and immediately wants to break into canter. All the time we have been walking, I have had to use half halts and transitions to stop her jogging. She just seems to want to rush everywhere. It normally takes me at least half an hour to get her to walk and she is lunged before work as well! She is so sensitive to the leg, I normally hardley have to touch her to get her to move away from it.

I have yet to get more than a few strides of trot out of her, and certainly nothing balanced or rhythmic. She has been well schooled in the past and every now and again she softens her back and accepts the bit, working from behind.

Am I expecting too much too soon? Can anyone give me any tips on schooling excercises?

[Maci]

Maybe she's still energentic and 'hyper' from having all that time cooped up, with nothing to do? Try lunging her trotting and cantering. If you can't handle lunging her while she's going fast, have an experienced rider do it.

Also, take into thought that Thoughroughbreds are just 'hyper' by nature. But this is no reason, for her to misbehave.... Sorry to say, but I'm not sure!

Just A Thought!
Maci :)

[Edited by Maci on 18th Oct 2000 at 08:30 PM]

[Sharon H]

You may find it beneficial NOT to lunge before riding. It isn't always a good idea as it can actually have the opposite effect from the one that you want. By lunging beforehand you are warming the horse up and making it raring to go if you see what I mean. Lunging can wind some horses up as well and make them more excitable. Is she stabled? Do you take her out straight from the stable? Could you try working her after a turnout period instead? If you go to http://www.intelligenthorsemanship.co.uk and look on the discussion group there is an interesting thread on jogging horses which maybe of some use to you. It is called 'jig-jogging, how can we stop it?'