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Discussion on Horse takes off at Canter which makes me nervous | |
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Posted on Friday, Sep 1, 2000 - 2:04 pm: Hi, my name is Susan. Last year I have purchased a 7 year old paint mare. She is sweet,gentle and well broke. When I ride her on the trail and I ask her to lope, she goes from canter to gallop and I have a hard time stopping her. I know, that I can ride, but it soonest this happens I become afaid and loose my balance. Please, is there anyone out there who can help me?? |
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Posted on Friday, Sep 1, 2000 - 5:13 pm: SusanYou might want to spend a little time with a trainer working on your transitions - this will give you more confidence and will help your horse to understand your cues. You may also find out that you are (unknowingly) asking your horse to speed up. But bottom line, the best thing you can do is to look up and sit up. By looking up you stabilize yourself and by sitting up you center yourself and stop yourself from leaning forward...(leaning forward is a cue for the horse to go faster!) You actually want to do this BEFORE the horse starts to take off on you - do it as soon as you think the horse is thinking about doing it. And, for your safety, make sure you are wearing a helmet... Good luck! |
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Posted on Saturday, Sep 2, 2000 - 9:21 pm: Also don't forget that if he takes off on you the best thing to slow him down is to turn him and then keep turning him and he will slow down. I found that doing practice turns into the wall in the arena really helped me gain confidence. I found I can be right next to the wall and still turn him into it to reverse. When ever my horse thinks he should be the one to decide the speed, I keep doing turns till he realizes that I am the only one that decides where, when, and how fast we go. I totally agree that wearing a helmet is best - I do whenever I am on trail and probably should be doing it in the arena also. |
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Posted on Sunday, Sep 3, 2000 - 10:21 am: Thank you cheryl and Mary for your advise. I will try to do this next time. I took a lot of riding lessons back in Germany, but when I moved to Canada I haven't had a chance to go riding. Last year was my very first time in the saddle again after 19 years, so I think you know how I feel.Thank's again, Susan |
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Posted on Sunday, Sep 3, 2000 - 6:25 pm: Hi Susan,a flat-out gallop can be scary if you're not prepared for it (it can also be fun but that's when you decide it). My coach always says 'remember you can ride as fast as your horse can go' and she's right you can. The problem is that the rider becomes frightened and tenses up (a totally natural response) which makes it more difficult to follow the motion, which makes him/her more tense, etc., etc.,. The nice thing about galloping outside is that, unless there are dangers, you have all sorts of time/distance to get things back under control, unlike in an arena, enclosed space. Try to sit up, relax your knees, sink your heels and pelvis deep into the saddle, say 'whoa' firmly but quietly and do a series of gentle checks with the reins-no pulling! The idea is to ask, release, ask, release. That way the horse has nothing to fight. You can practise this in the arena. With my horse, I'll let him gallop for a while then say, very quietly, okay then and now he slows up to a nice rolling canter without any rein cues at all, just voice and seat. I'd also have something to grab onto in case I lost my balance at first. A western saddle has that handy horn. For english you can put a breast plate on, as the piece across the whithers is handy to grab. I've also seen people use a stirrup leather fastened around the neck. Never tried it myself, so I'm not sure how safe it is on the trail. good luck Teresa |
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Posted on Sunday, Sep 3, 2000 - 9:18 pm: I agree a gallop is great...but knowing you are able to stop and are in control is most important.....nothing fun about a runaway. I would say, work on keeping your horse at a pace YOU are comfortable with. BEFORE you start going too fast anticipate the speed up and do what ever you have to to slow down and maintain YOUR comfortable pace...start with half halts, take and give with the reins...if that doesn't work try a circle, pulley rein etc...don't let your horse decide the pace. DOn't let your horse get to point that he is going to fast for you. My horses speed just escalates if I don't keep half halting him every few strides.If you have a ring at home or small paddock to smooth thing out in that would be ideal. The mane is a great nature handle to help you balance. barbara |
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