Slowing down and controlling the canter

[TacheteTreasures]

My horse is a speed demon! I try half halts, smaller circles, and lots of transitions and it helped alot, but she is still really speedy. Any suggestions?
Here is a video: 100_1994.flv video by Malbri - Photobucket
I know I really need to start taking lessons again, but it's a struggle with time.

[FatSpottedAppy]

Gosh.. that reminds me so much of Tyke.. Only I don't have an arena to work in. I'm interested in hearing what you guys have to say.

[TacheteTreasures]

And I also wonder if it's something I'm doing with my seat that I do differently bareback, because I can control her more easily bareback.

[prissy18]

Do lots of smaller circles. Also do you show? You might wanna work on her headset a little. She seems to tick her nose ou and when hey do that they can go faster and take your reins easier and get away wioth alot more imo. Also sit deep and put all your weight in you heels. It will slow the horse down.

[TacheteTreasures]

How should I work on her headset?

[prissy18]

You can do a few different things. I use a raining fork sometimes. I also have ued draw reins. But lots of bending will help also. If you do use draw reins make sure you have someone with you to teach you the proper way to use them.

[TacheteTreasures]

Are using side reins when lunging something that would help with headset and balance?

[ImaBronsonBear]

Smaller circles, figure eights, make her work at the canter. Also, make her control that energy and instead of letting it all out the front, bring it back and make her rock onto her hindquarters. Does that even make sense? Like, go onto a circle, then push, push, push with your inside leg and outside leg to get (even more!) energy from behind, then use the reins to make her contain it and slow down.

Also, DO NOT work on her headset. A true headset comes back to front, and when you've got her collected, it'll just naturally happen. Sure, you can get her to break at the poll now, but that has nothing to do with collection, it just means that they're falling on their forehand and bending their heads to their chests.

[Me'N'Chic]

I go through this with CHIC--I am interested in your replies also! Good Luck!

[prissy18]

Side reins i've never used my rainer did on misty for awhile. She slowed down and collected and gave me her head after my trainer worked her in them. To bronson i understand what your saying thanks for correcting me. O and if your saying get the horse under them self couldnt she do alot of backing?

[ImaBronsonBear]

To bronson i understand what your saying thanks for correcting me. O and if your saying get the horse under them self couldnt she do alot of backing?

Yes, that helps a little bit, it rocks them back on their hindquarters because they're going backwards. Although it does build up their back muscles, it usually only helps when they're backing.;) Then when you walk/trot/canter off after they back up they can get all strung out again. That's when you need to begin to engage them.:)

[HeartofSteel]

I didn't think her canter was fast at all, that was her natural canter from I can tell. Are you wanting a slower more western lope? I'm confused lol

[elevenelevenxo]

Are using side reins when lunging something that would help with headset and balance?

I wouldn't use draw reins, and like ImaB said, true headset comes from back to front through proper collection.

Side reins might help balance her. What they do is teach the horse a comfortable way of carrying themselves (what we call a proper head set). If you have a horse that resists and wants to travel in an inverted frame, side reins will make THAT way of going uncomfortable and kind of gives the horse control of training itself. When they stretch down and give to the bit, they get a release of pressure, as opposed to when they hold their head high like they're used to. Eventually they'll learn it's more comfortable to travel the correct way. BUT you just need to keep in mind side reins are a tool to help, not cure the problem. ;) Like ImaB said again, you'll be able to get her to tuck her nose in, but the rest of her won't follow, which is why you don't want to solely work with the side reins and headset. You don't want to use them each and every time you longe and you want to take baby steps if Schatze has never been in them.

The other benefit of side reins is they provide consistent contact, as opposed to a rider's contact, that isn't always consistent, especially when we get nervous or if the rhythm of the horse isn't steady.

The advice given to me in slowing down Rebel's trot is small circles. Maybe work on the ground and longe in smaller circles (not too often and not for too long), then work your way to larger circles and undersaddle work. That's what I'd do anyway. :)

[Spyder]

I don't really see a lot of speed. I do see a lack of balance though. I see a trot that is unbalanced and is running into the canter so the horse is in a continual state of trying to get himself together. If you did any half halts I didn't see them so I am left wondering if you know what they are or how to apply them or WHEN to apply them. I see inconsistant contact with the reins and basically a rider that is a passanger along for the ride.

Circles and the suggestions already made will help but are useless if you don't know how to actually do them. You can circle forever but circles not done correctly will solve nothing. I also don't think any additional piece of equipment will help because the problem lays in your preparation in the gaits and transition to a different gait. This is evident in the downward transitions as much as the upward ones.

[elevenelevenxo]

I didn't think her canter was fast at all, that was her natural canter from I can tell. Are you wanting a slower more western lope? I'm confused lol

I do have to agree. :) She's got a nice English canter from what I can tell. I'll have to post video of Rebel's canter....or hand gallop.....LOL.

[JennyandJosey]

I didn't think her canter was fast at all, that was her natural canter from I can tell. Are you wanting a slower more western lope? I'm confused lol

Another agreement...I really didn't think she looked that fast.

[TacheteTreasures]

Well I guess what I really just need is her to be more balanced, not slower

[HeartofSteel]

I do think she needs more balance, lots of good transitions will help that.

[TacheteTreasures]

Okay so get a nice calm trot with good bend, half halt, ask for the canter, and if she races into it should I bring her back down to a trot and try again, or ask her to collect herself in that canter and she will learn to pick it up more collected?

[HeartofSteel]

Work on nice steady walk-trot, trot-walk, walk- halt, trot-halt transitions. Make sure she is doing them nicely and that she is starting the movement from her hind end. Don't let her front end run away in the transitions. When you do Canter transitions and actually on your other transitions do them on a nice big even circle. When you ask for the canter make sure you have her prepared as much as she can be, don't allow the fast trot into the canter. If she starts trotting fast slow her back down and prepare and ask again. Don't do more than 5 strides of canter before you go back to a trot and prepare and ask again. Don't give her time to get fast and unbalanced.

I just watched the video again and a thought of a few more things. When you asked her to canter you were posting into your canter, no posting into the canter :) Start sitting a few strides before you want to canter and get her ready for it. Make sure your bending her around your inside leg into your outside rein, that is her balancing rein. Push her into that outside rein, around your inside leg and make a nice even bend for your circles.

[mypaintpony]

I would not call that horse a "speed demon" as I see that the trot is slow and you can post to it. The canter is not so bad either. I would canter the horse in a big 20 meter or so circles and from there go back to the rail. She looks like she's comfortable to ride.