too forward going, help

[pruts]

Hi,
i don't know how i'm doing it but every horse i get on becomes too forward going. In the beginning i thought the horse was just forward going, but have this problem with all four horses i have been ridden so far. Really annoying, but don't know how to solve it. When i relax more and try to follow the movement of their pace, they even get faster. Is iit because i'm not sitting back enough? my legs are too tensed? Problem is that because of that i try to slow them down with the reins what's annoying them. But don't know the alternative since i don't want them tail biting the horse in front of me?

Help please, one horse is getting unpatient with me (and so she should probably but i don't know my problem so can't help it really).

[Skib]

but don't know how to solve it. When i relax more and try to follow the movement of their pace, they even get faster.

That happens to me. And the answer is yes. Of course, they do. If you sit deep and relaxed and allow the horse to move easily under you, (all the good things you are supposed to do) of course the horse goes faster.
Is it because i'm not sitting back enough?
No. If you sit back further and deeper the horse may understand that as a request to canter or keep cantering faster.
I learned that too. Because one cue for canter is just to shorten up the reins and tip back a little.

The remedy is (or rather several)
1. Ask someone like your teacher to teach you downward transitions, by bracing your back. That was a gap in my education. So I learned them this summer.
Bracing your back and sitting up tall will lift your seat slightly out of the saddle and that will slow down the horse.
2. Practice slowing down rising trot by slowing your rise and tightening your thighs. The stiffer the more they constrict the horse so the harder it is for the horse to move. Then relax them and speed your rising and the horse will trot faster.

If you can slow the trot, the horse ought to transition into a slow controled canter. You need to use your back and the reins too of course. One way to prevent your horse barging into the horse in front is to follow a rule I learned in America. Make sure the horse in front of you is far enough ahead to allow you to see his hind feet. That leaves a safe gap before you start cantering (or trotting). Like leaving a safe distance between cars on the motor way.

Since you and I seem to have the same "problem" let me say that I gather we are lucky. I am told I have a good seat. Whatever you do, go on riding in a relaxed way, let the horse move easily under you, because that is central to good riding, but at the same time one should try to develop these additional skills to control the horse more when you dont want it to go so fast or to accelerate.

And if you are relaxed, make sure your legs are not banging on the horse which would also signal him to go farther.

[Herbie's mummy]

when trotting just rise alot slower.

[hot-to-trot]

I wanted to ask you guys too, i lean forward too much (my mom videotaped me and i saw it) everytime i trot i fall on the horse's neck with my hands, do not have any idea how to stop it, it seems to me that i am completely straight, but on the video i lean, this is so frustrating! Anyone has that problem, or am i a freak of nature?

[Marmite]

For the leaning forward thing i'd say that, because you feel you're riding straight, you should make yourself feel as though you're leaning back. This should bring you to the right level. For slowing down, echo what every one else has said, and try gentle sponging (like your rein is a sponge, and you're squeezing it) on your outside rein, to try to contain some of the forward movement in the bridle. Good luck!!!!!

[hot-to-trot]

thanks for the reply, i was much better this time around, however a new problem came up, the horse i was on, is young, this never happened with me before, but he kept getting spooked the whole time i was training, i am not sure if he was just having a bad day, or is it me? Could it be that he doesn't feel confident with me, should i be more strict?
Couple of times he bucked so sudden, i almost fell off. It wasn't for no reason of course, first there was a horse jumping, while i was just doing flatwork, and that got him exited, then there was a person swinging her arms (i know, stupid), and he started running, after that i got all shaken up and couldn't really do much, i felt that he will go crazy again!
I thought i was doing so well untill now!
My boyfriend says it's because i don't feel confident in myself and the horse feels it, could it be true?:(

[pruts]

hi you all. Thanks for the advice, especially skib! i will try out your advice defenitely.

[wanabe]

pruts -- are you speaking of too fast at a walking pace? I ask because of your phrase "since i don't want them tail biting the horse in front of me?".

[Wally]

Sounds like to are gripping with your leg!

[pruts]

hija,
yes, i did grip with my legs in the beginning, especially in canter. This made me do some spectacular rounds in the school :D (still shaking). Now, i learned not to do that anymore and the canters are really nice (if i have control from the moment i start to canter). Trot and walk still are way too fast though (except for sitting trot, that's ok), actually, now i start to think of it, maybe i still do grip with my legs in rising trot, not in walk, this i checked out the other lesson. i will check it out for sure this evening. thanks!

[Afellpony]

That's what's interesting (and exciting) about riding youngsters. One day there as calm as any old plod will be and the next they're leaping all over the place, pretending there's a lion in the hedge!

[Susara]

the horse i was on, is young, this never happened with me before, but he kept getting spooked the whole time i was training, i am not sure if he was just having a bad day, or is it me? Could it be that he doesn't feel confident with me, should i be more strict?

I have exactly the same problem with my youngster suddenly. He used to be so relaxed and calm and obedient, and suddenly this week he's napping like a school pony.

My trainer says it could be many things; he's going through a growth spurt which makes him unbalanced and emotional, he might simply have had a bad day, he could be in a 'teenager' phase where he's trying to figure out what his relationship to the rest of the world is so he's trying out boundaries. Another horse in the arena could easily have upset him. Perhaps he's teething and that's making him uncomfortable. Also we've had windy weather which means they get upset by weird noises far off that we don't even hear. It could be any of these.

My own lack of confidence & experience and my bad habits (like clinging with my legs when I get worried) didn't help the situation. But don't let other people upset you too much by blaming your lack of confidence etc - youngsters are tricky to ride and even experienced people need lots of patience and skill with them.

Everyone needs to learn somewhere. It's not ideal to learn on a youngster so you're having a more difficult time than others - but then you'll also learn more.

At least that's what I told myself after my own rather demoralising lesson :-)