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Discussion on Cue for slowing a trained reining horse? | |
Author | Message |
Member: Winger |
Posted on Tuesday, Sep 13, 2005 - 12:27 pm: Hi there..I am riding my friends 7 yr old 14.3 had mare who has had 2 yrs professonal reining training....She is very kind and forgiving of my mistakes but I don't want to ruin her training.I am an average rider and have spent alot of time educating myself but unfortunately I haven't spent alot of time riding such a well trained horse.My question is what is the cue to slow a horse down using a billy Allen curb bit...Most of my riding has been in a full cheek snaffle which I prefer..Thanks Lorraine |
Member: Alden |
Posted on Wednesday, Sep 14, 2005 - 9:27 am: I'll try and answer your question but it all depends on how the horse was trained. If you watch national level reining you notice that the reins hardly move. If he is trained to this level you may have a lot of problems.It doesn't matter the type of bit, the bit is just to communicate what the horse should do with the seat and leg cues she is receiving. The curb bit should just refine what she has learned with a snaffle bit. I would guess that a light lift of the reins combined with a deeper seat would stop this horse. Of course the horse could be so sensitive that this may produce a hard slid stop and fast reverse. If that is the case then you would have to refine your riding to match the horse. You may see about riding her with a snaffle, that would make you cues less refined helping you and the horse. I once rode a mustang that had become so sensitive to cues that all the rider had to do was think about the cues and the horse was reacting. He was pretty darn hard to ride, just as I would relax after getting him going we'd be in reverse, then a spin, or maybe back forward. It took me an afternoon to get in sync with that horse but he was never easy to ride. Good day, Alden |
Member: Winger |
Posted on Wednesday, Sep 14, 2005 - 11:28 am: Hi Alden I appreciate you answering my question..this mare is well trained but not top competition level...she was sold because she was a little on the slow side..Which works well for me...she is forgiving when you make mistakes but very responsive when you ask her right...I would rather ride her in a snaffle because I understand it better and I think it is softer when I make mistakes..I am gentle on her mouth and always give release and I ride with a loose rein ...my problem is because her training is finished her owners think that it is a backward step to ride in a snaffle, but I think it would keep her softer....She does stop with seat down and forward feet position but I'm not sure if slow down is pull release,pull release till I get the gait I need?Thanks again Lorraine |
Member: Winger |
Posted on Wednesday, Sep 14, 2005 - 6:24 pm: I have to make a correction on something I said earlier which was a misunderstanding on my part the owners have no problem with me using a snaffle bit so thats what I will use.Thanks Lorraine.. |
Member: Ramonah |
Posted on Tuesday, Sep 20, 2005 - 5:42 am: Try bumping your legs. I know that sounds weird, but that's how our horses in our barn are trained. You never want the judge to see your hands ever move. The cue to go faster, in the same gait, is a cluck along with a rhythm increase. If that doesn't work, pick up the reins and apply leg pressure. That way your horse won't change his gait, but will slow his speed. Make sure you stay relaxed. The more you tense, the faster he'll go. |