Jogging

[Anne]

(Thanks Karl re: One Step Forward/100 Back!
As for the instructor you mentioned ... with that kind of attitude .... Good Riddance! I hope your next tutor is a great improvement ...!)

Unexpected new problem .... Jogging!

Was out hacking yesterday, and my horse, who is so responsive and co-operative, not to mention much more relaxed than in the school (probably because I am too!)decided she wanted to join 2 riders we came across at the equivalent of a T/Junction Bridleway (hope that makes sense .. ) who asked if they minded if they trotted on ... Normally this has not presented a problem, but for some reason this time she started revving up her engine and I found it very difficult to bring her back down to walk from a very animated jogging!

I was with a very experienced rider and she talked me through it very calmly, and all was eventually brought down a few gears! I must admit I stiffened up when I thought she was going to charge off ... just about the worst thing I could do I know, but the other thing was, that she told me in order to calm things down a bit afterward, I should lengthen her stride by giving the reins, and holding them a little above waist level, sitting still, without tipping forward, and very relaxed .... I forget what she called this, but it certainly worked .... can anyone comment both on this, and on how they cope with "jogging"?

Grateful for any advice ...

Anne

 

[Anne]

Hello Everyone .... : )

Any comments anyone on "jogging" posting I sent on 13th?

So many postings to read through it's sometimes impossible to catch up I know ... but would really appreciate any input on this one ...

Many Thanks ...

Anne

 

[Myrmex]

For what it's worth, I think your friend gave you some excellent advice. My horses don't tend to jog - they just walk faster and faster - but half-halts get their attention back on me and off the distraction (as well as relaxing seat, legs etc).

 

[clairev]

I find that when riding Minstrel out on his own (he is a bit nappy) that he always get revved up if he spots anything remotely like the shape of another horse in the far distance. The very worst thing you can do is tense up and tighten the reins - as I found out in the beginning! I know it's difficult but the best thing to do is to keep calm and NOT pull on the reins. I used to get very tensed up and Minstrel would then get even more worked up but then I noticed my daughter (who liked it when he speeded up) just let him break into a trot if he wanted to and then he would go backinto a walk and settle down when he knew the rider wasn't going to fight against him. What makes me laugh is the fact when we do come across another horse he gets all fired up but when we actually get up to the horse he just passes it as if it doesn't bother him in the slightest!

 

[Anne]

Thanks for comments both ...

Just to add however that it isn't the speeding up I mind, in fact I love to fast canter and gallop if it's somewhere like the Downs where I used to ride, or Exmoor, where space isn't a problem and the horses can spread out ... but where I ride now, the Bridleways where you would walk, aren't very wide and you just can't allow a horse to suddenly take off into trot in case it doesn't slow down, and you are in danger of cannoning into the horses it's following ... I should have mentioned that was really the problem, rather than the speeding up in itself .... but I take the point about tension ... I do sometimes tense up in situations like the above, and I'll have to work on being more relaxed for the next time it happens, which I'm sure it will ... wouldn't it be great if we all had access to Exmoor... it's a fantastic hacking area and just the place to get rid of worries and depressions ....

Thanks again ....

Anne