BY: Angie Robinette-Dublin, AQHA Professional Horsewoman of
www.ferrellperformancehorses.com
Speed Control
It is said that if a horse is walking faster than you want it to walk it is a “run-a-way.” This is said because your horse is not listening to you, but is choosing its own speed. You are in the driver’s seat just like in a car. You decide the speed you want to travel, not your horse.
A horse has a “slow spot” (the shoulder) and a “go spot” (the hip or engine.) An important point is to practice at home as we do with all exercises before heading out on the trail. If you have control at home 90% of the time, you need to expect you will only have 50% control on the trail. Distractions of any kind impede your horse’s ability to respond so once you are solid without distractions, practice and train with them at home and then on the trail. YES…you do need to “train” while trail riding until your horse is solid on the trail!
Take the time to teach your horse to respond to your seat and one rein slow down cues and your seat and leg aids to speed up and slow down. Do this at the walk, trot, and canter. Don’t forget to also teach the all-important emergency stop, too.
Its easier to train all of this in a snaffle bit because it gives you one rein control side to side as well as front to back. However, you may have to take baby steps and work your way to using a snaffle on the trail with control if you have not been using one. Add steps so you stay safe whenever you need to in your training.
Your trail horse is a performance horse and just like a performance show horse learns it patterns at home first, you need to practice in a safe enclosure at home. Once you are confident you have the control you need, you can venture out to the beautiful wide-open spaces. Remember… your life may depend on it!
www.ferrellperformancehorses.com
Speed Control
It is said that if a horse is walking faster than you want it to walk it is a “run-a-way.” This is said because your horse is not listening to you, but is choosing its own speed. You are in the driver’s seat just like in a car. You decide the speed you want to travel, not your horse.
A horse has a “slow spot” (the shoulder) and a “go spot” (the hip or engine.) An important point is to practice at home as we do with all exercises before heading out on the trail. If you have control at home 90% of the time, you need to expect you will only have 50% control on the trail. Distractions of any kind impede your horse’s ability to respond so once you are solid without distractions, practice and train with them at home and then on the trail. YES…you do need to “train” while trail riding until your horse is solid on the trail!
Take the time to teach your horse to respond to your seat and one rein slow down cues and your seat and leg aids to speed up and slow down. Do this at the walk, trot, and canter. Don’t forget to also teach the all-important emergency stop, too.
Its easier to train all of this in a snaffle bit because it gives you one rein control side to side as well as front to back. However, you may have to take baby steps and work your way to using a snaffle on the trail with control if you have not been using one. Add steps so you stay safe whenever you need to in your training.
Your trail horse is a performance horse and just like a performance show horse learns it patterns at home first, you need to practice in a safe enclosure at home. Once you are confident you have the control you need, you can venture out to the beautiful wide-open spaces. Remember… your life may depend on it!
