Rushing Trot

[B W]

This has been addressed before but it was in the Training of the Rider section. I have talked about my horse rushing and I contributed it to me since I have only been riding english for about 5 months. I have trouble with the rising trot so yesterday I did some lunge lessons on a school horse. I had no problem at all and after the lunge lessons I even rode her in an arena at a trot and was posting fine. I then went to get my own horse and the young lady that was lunging me got on him first to see how he went. Well he rushed all over the place and she said "You're a better rider than me to ride this". She was kidding of course but now I'm thinking that it is my horse instead of me, not totally but more him than me. He is a very nice horse, not a mean bone in his body and I feel very safe on him. I am a 55 yr old lady who has taken up riding at age 53 so to feel safe on him you know he is nice. He was trained western. We think maybe was tried at reining or cutting, not sure. He turns quickly when you put your knee in his side and he neck reins. Anyway, I want to ride english. He is 8 yr old reg quarter horse but came from Throughbred lines so he has a Throughbred body and a Quarter Horse mind. Problem: Can anyone tell me how to train him not to rush the trot? Are there any books that deal with training that I could read? I am NOT a trainer but I think I could work on this particular thing with him so that I could trot him without the terrible rushing trot he does.Most books I've read only touch on this problem. When I ask for trot he goes good for about 3 strides then faster and faster until I feel off balanced and then I pull on him and then well, it's a vicious circle. I've tried circles and half halts (he doesn't know that either) but nothing works. I know this horse is going to take work and maybe some think I should get a trained horse but I don't want to sell my horse.Plus I have something to prove with him (It's a longer story). Any help with training would be greatly appreciated.

[myEllie]

My horse used to rush every gait. Here is what I did. I read about some Western trainers using it to teach their horses to go slow and I tried it. It worked for me. When you ask for a trot and he speeds up, let him. Let him trot as fast as he wants. It will take a while, but he will get tired and slow down, and then want to drop back to a walk. Don't let him. Make him keep trotting. Trot him for a while at this new slowed pace, then pull him up and walk awhile to end the lesson. It teaches them that going fast is not going to get them through and back into their stall any faster. You probably should lunge him first, so that he can get some of the pep out of him. If he is anything like my horse, you could be riding all day before he slows down.

[Speedy]

If I do that with mine, she gets faster and faster in trot, then breaks into canter and gets faster and faster in canter until we're motorbiking round the corners of the school!!!! And she can run all day!! The only thing that works (sometimes!) is keeping her on a circle and making her work correctly - but some days I just have to accept that she's feeling sharp and leave it - I put her on the lunge and she gallops, bucks etc until she's on her knees, blowing like a train and dripping with sweat. Oh well - I love her really!

[Lgd]

This may sound a bit weird, but do you actually keep the leg aid on when he rushes?

Often the reason that they run on in trot is because the horse is unbalanced and on the forehand, a bit like you running down a hill out of balance.
Pulling just gives the horse something to run against. Try keeping a soft but consistent contact, use half halts even if he does not respond very well yet (it will improve). Keep your leg on his side, it does not need to be a hard leg aid, the leg is there to keep the hind leg underneath and help him to improve his balance. Use rising (posting?) trot, (make sure your shoulders are not tipping forward and sending him faster) and very gradually slow your rise down, don't let him push you faster and faster.
If he lunges well try and teach him to slow down with your voice, then you can use this to help when you are on board.

[Penelope]

What works on my pony is making sure that I keep my rising the right tempo- it's always tempting to rise at the same speed as the horse getting gradually and gradually faster, but if you deliberately keep your rising (posting) rhythmical then often the horse will want to work at your rhythm as it is much easier! Often it helps to have some regualr beated music going on in the background!

[B W]

The lunging sounds like it may work. My horse responds to my voice to trot while on the ground but he throws his head when he does it but we run together and he stays right with me. I'll try and teach him to lunge and see if we can get voice commands. I can't trot him fast because I'll fall off. And I think he would break into a canter then a gallop. He is just a little stinker!

[corp]

Have you tried riding transitions? Your could use a 20m circle or the arena. Go forward to trot and say to yourself something like 'In five strides go forward to walk. In three strides go forward to halt'. Keep varying the number of strides. You can introduce halt and rein back to this routine as well. Build up gradually so that you can say to yourself 'walk, trot, walk, halt' etc in quick succession.

You need to work on getting your horse both listening to you and balanced.

Try to work off the track as much as possible, use serpentines, half circles etc. Give your horse lots of variety.

An excellent idea for improving balance is to go onto a 20m circle, in walk, reduce it to 6-10 metres( your horse will be able to go smaller as he becomes more supple and balanced) then leg yield out for a few strides in walk and then go forward to trot and gradually make the circle bigger. Don't trot for long. Go back down to the small circle and repeat. Do this several times and then trot large aroungdthe arena.

Don't forget to do this on both reins.

For yourself, keep your legs on, don't take them away from the horse's side. Try to learn to brace your back to slow him down. Think of it a bit like riding a bike with no brakes. How do you stop? Practice just stretching down, make sure it's not forward.

If you can get a friend to help you, ride your horse in walk on the lunge. Drop the reins and stretch your arms in front of you. Try to concentrate on stretching your fingers towards his ears and using just your back and legs to stop him.

These techniques are not difficult and they really do work. I teach disabled people using them.

Sue Corp

[floppy]

got nay hills you could trot up...?? that will slow him down...
but other than that there is alot of good advice..you have to find a way that clicks with your horse.

i always use my voice to encourage my horse to slow down.
i just say 'slowly ' and she slows down.

just make sur eyou arent leaning forwards and are sittign up correctly...i was always told to slow my rising to slow a rushing horse...but it never worked with my horse..worked with horses just not my one.

:rolleyes: