HGPaints
Posted : 7/23/2009 11:42:11 PM
There are so many things that we do with horses and don't completely understand why it works or where the method comes from.
For the record, I deal with this very similar to how you do, but would probably add in more technicalities. I don't just want to recognize that the horse is going fast in the trot, but why they are. This usually falls back to a balance issue. By reusing the constant straight transitions, you are encouraging the horse to find its balance a little more. Many horses that are going too quickly through gaits are actually falling forward, which is why they go faster, almost like a bike going down hill, when more weight is added to the front (bike rider moves forward) the bike goes faster. A rider on a horse doesn't have to move forward, as just being up there requires the horse to reasses its balance. I have never personally seen a horse trot out of control without a rider, fast maybe, but they usually find their balance without the rider much easier. Understanding how to use their body with a rider on board is as much as a physical task as it is a mental, and the physical dynamics of it is often overlooked.
If I had the horse here, I would probably start with ground work exercises to give him the best feel of balance on the ground without extra weight. Its much easier for those hind legs to figure out what to do without a top heavy rider on board. This would also give him more security through his body, and therefore more mental willingness to work with the person on his back.
I would then evaluate the walk undersaddle. The problem is usually appparent here, the horse will be heavy on the forehand, resulting in more swinging of your hips in the saddle. I would do a lot of walk, halt transitions, Giving the horse the option to stop when they lose their balance. The alternate that he has used in the past was go faster and use momentum to keep balance. I would then move to the trot transitions similar to the walk. I would slow to the walk whenever the momentum started taking over in the trot. The riders balance and feel is very important at this point. You will actually find the horse will start to take the slow option when they realize it is there. This is where many people get caught up in "this stupid horse won't keep trotting". I have never actually found this to be the true cause, but rather a loss of balance. If forced to move when their body is not properly balanced, it will create a holding pattern through the horse's whole body that would create problems down the road. I always keep these horses on a straight line, too much circling or turning compromises that even more.
Many horses can have physical issues and never truly show signs to the untrained eye. They are masters of disguise with their bodies and what usually appears as behavioral issues can just about always be linked to confusion, lack of teaching, or most commonly some underlying pain or discomfort.
So yes, you were doing the right thing. There are many ways to use your core, seat, and leg to enhance this, as well as breathing.
On a side note, I have 3 horses under 15 hh, I do love my little horses!