How can I train my horse to lope slowly.?

Question

My horse has a tendancy to try and bolt whenever I ask her to go faster than a walk and even at a walk she tends to go a little faster than I'd like. How can I train her to slow down and let me dictate the speed. The biggest problem involves when I let her go at a lope, she almost immediately bolts and goes straight into a gallop as fast as she can. Because of this I'm having trouble testing saddles to get a really good fit at higher speeds. (I work on my horse and need my saddle to be really secure at high speeds but I'm affraid to go faster because she tends to run through the bit a little and it takes a lot of effort to stop her too)

Answer 1

Since you are obviously a western rider, using the word lope, I would like to suggest something I did on a young prospect that did the same. If it bolts, ask it to go faster. Make the horse work. If it is going to run, it is going to RUN! Once you have the horse moving and balanced begin to slow it, keeping pressure with the legs will maintain that yes, I want you to lope, no do not stop. As suggested above half halts are great. And if it does not work, you do it twice as much the second time. Eventually your horse will figure this out.

When your horse is walking you need to teach it that leg pressure means go. Do this by asking it to trot once. If it does not ask again twice as much. You may need a stick for this. Get the reaction. Once you have it, MAINTAIN IT!!! If the horse begins to slow... growl at it, yes... growl at it. If it bolts, Insteadof pulling it up allow it to continue, it seems that it is bolting because it knows you are going to just try to pull it up.

When a horse bolts the best way for me to deal with it, is to ask the horse to move even faster, which will usually get the horse on the bit, then I turn a circle and really work the horse at the speed. I also suggest lounging and, similar to a dog, teaching the horse voice commands and using very positive re-enforcement. A high pitch voice for example.

Answer 2

work with her in a 60 foot round pen, sounds like she is scared. In teh RPen she cant really bolt to bad and luckily for you, you can ride as fast as she can run.
I would get her in there, warm her up and ask for the lope, she can run in there untill she is comfortable with you on her. Once she figures out that your not going to kill her, she'll slow down on her own. Meanwhile, dont even try to slow her. When she begins to slow give her some praise, let her circle half a dozen times at a lope and then stop her, cool her and try again in a day or 2, I'd do this until you can bring her in , ask for a lope, and actually get one consistantly. Then you can move to a bigger arena, try it there a few times, and I think your dilemma will be solved for the most part.

Answer 3

Hummm she runs through the bit huh? First off when you start working on this keep in mind that she will not learn this concept in a few days. I experienced this problem on my 17hh Thoroughbred (he has an incredibly long back) so if he can do it your horse can too. Start off keeping her on a 20 meter circle. It is easier for a horse just starting to lope to stay in a circle. Do you warm up. Ask her to canter don't worry too much about the up transitions at first. Now this is where collection is key. A lope is a hard gate for a horse its not natural for them so they need to be collected to Carry this out. Center yourself and keep your seat. Rock your horse on to her hindquarters. Do this by half halting and encouraging her to get her hindquarters to reach under her. While doing this don't forget to properly bend her too. You don't want a dropped shoulder... When that shoulder drops her collection will shift from the hind end towards the front. Encouraging her to grab the bit. Collection will be nearly impossible. Sit up and GENTLY driver her on to the bit. Half halt halt, half halt and collect again. It is only until she is rounded through the top line that she will be able to lope. Dont try to too much at once. Always reward her for a job well done. Hope this helps.
Don't be afraid to contact a trainer if you need help accomplishing your goal. Trainers are willing to help you work through your problem.

Answer 4

Try half halts at each stride in your hands and legs than work in a circle and when she bolts pull her in a tight circle.sooner or later she will get tired of going in a circle and should behave

Answer 5

Have you longed her first? is she really fresh when you get on her?

I would try a lot of bending excercises.

What the last poster said: dont be afraid to consult a pro trainer.

Hope this helps

Lauren

Answer 6

http://www.gaitedhorses.net/AskTheTrainer/TrainerAnswer150.html

Teaching a Tennessee Walking horse to slow, but it is the same concept, Hope this helps