How do I slow my horse down?

1
Mar
2010

Circles can be used to slow a horse down

"Hello, I have a question about my mare. She gets very hyper when I canter her; it's not so much in the canter though, it's after it when she rushes in the trot and fights to go faster. I ride her in a Happy Mouth straight loop ring bit for flat work and a Dutch gag for jumping. Can you suggest anything I can do to improve her canter without putting her on a stronger bit, as otherwise I won't feel the benefit when I jump her? Thanks, Natalie."

H&C blogger and Olympic three day event rider Sharon Hunt replies: "Hi Natalie, try circling as soon as you go back to trot. Don't circle too small so that she is unbalanced and gets faster, but so she has to do something other than run at the hand. I would also then maybe circle one way, then the other and try and slow her with the leg still on so she accepts this. The idea of a circle is to ask her to slow down without having to use the hand, which she will object to. Hopefully eventually she will get the idea. Also make sure you slow your rising down too this will help. Sharon."