[VelveteenPony]

What are some good exercises to help a young horse move out smoothly, at a regular pace and with a straight body?
We've got the walk down perfectly, she moves at an even tempo, on a loose or short rein, bends around my inside leg, and doesn't rush.
I want to achieve this at the trot now, but she tends to speed around to balance herself and continuously bends to the outside (this is party due to just having moved to a new barn and she wants to have a look at everything). When I use my inside leg, instead of bending like she does at the walk, she SCOOTS up into the canter and gets very excited and hops around (she is definitely not ready for the canter yet). I keep slowing her down with half halts, but it has just resulted in a speed up, slow down, speed up, slow down pattern.
Any suggestions?
Thanks!

[IIIBarsV]

Actually, "speed up, slow down" is about what it'll take for a while until she learns differently. Gentle corrections, keep asking.

One exercise that really helps develop an even-paced, balanced trot is serpentining; actually, more like changing direction every time the horse speeds up or "falls on the forehand". Ride two handed, on relaxed reins that still allow you easy contact by squeezing your hand shut. Use your legs to help balance- try to coordinate the legs so that when your right hand is asking, your right leg is right there as well. Incorporate some outside rein, too, to prevent over-bending or losing control of the shoulder. (Basically this comes down to keeping your hands square and moving them simultaneously in the same direction... direct reining and neckreining at once.

The constant directional changes (just go anywhere, back and forth, every two, three, four steps) will not only keep her on her toes and actively trying to balance, it will also tune up your directional controls and set a basis for neckreining and leg-steering eventually. It's a great low-key exercise to build up some strength and develop some confidence (for the horse, I mean.)

[JBandRio]

Originally Posted by VelveteenPony

What are some good exercises to help a young horse move out smoothly, at a regular pace and with a straight body?

Straight body? LOLOL!! Sorry, but "straight" is very relative. Greenies aren't straight. Not at all. But they can and should learn, early on, to be "relatively" straight. Mostly it's about constantly putting the shoulders back in front of the haunches, if you go by the principles of Dressage. Other disciplines might have a different perspective, such as moving the haunches back in line with the shoulders. There are obvious exceptions to moving the shoulders, but it's really like thinking about the horse as a rear-wheel drive car. The power comes from behind, and what the flight path of the car is depends on what you're doing with the steering wheel (shoulders), the gas pedal (legs) and the breaks (hands). Too much gas and you fishtail. Too much hand and you fishtail. Too much steering wheel and you don't have a lot of forward power either.

We've got the walk down perfectly, she moves at an even tempo, on a loose or short rein, bends around my inside leg, and doesn't rush.

It's probably not perfect, but it sounds like a really, really, really great start

I want to achieve this at the trot now, but she tends to speed around to balance herself and continuously bends to the outside (this is party due to just having moved to a new barn and she wants to have a look at everything).

You said it - she speeds up to balance herself. This is why circles are really really helpful. They force the horse to do some rebalancing on their own, but they don't give a lot of room to speed up. Keep the contact with your outside rein, and use a wide opening inside rein to direct her head back to the inside a bit every time she counter bends. Just keep sitting up, shoulders back, inside leg at the girth, outside leg behind the girth, outside contact, inside leg to outside hand. Make the circles smaller if she speeds up - forces her to slow down. Don't make the circles too large or she won't have reason to try to balance. Her natural circle is probably a lot smaller than you think. Work on it at the walk. You will probably find that it's 15m or even 10m where she's comfortable walking the circle by moving her shoulders over every step. The trot circle will be bigger, but not necessarily by a lot.

When I use my inside leg, instead of bending like she does at the walk, she SCOOTS up into the canter and gets very excited and hops around (she is definitely not ready for the canter yet).

Just quietly bring her back to a trot and try again. This description is one reason why I think her walk isn't really as perfect as it seems Go back to some groundwork if you need to - walk beside her, at her shoulder, bridle on her, reins in your hand as if riding (so your outside hand will be up at her wither, keeping contact. User your inside rein to ask for bend, and use a whip in your inside hand to also ask her, at the girth, so bend around it and step sideways. Use a railing to ask her to do the same sort of bend, but walk straight. Very very helpful exercises.

I keep slowing her down with half halts,

How are you doing the hh's, and how did you introduce them to her? I'm guessing she really doesn't understand them at this point.

but it has just resulted in a speed up, slow down, speed up, slow down pattern.
Any suggestions?
Thanks!

Greenies are all about slower and faster for balance. If she doesn't really understand a hh yet, then incorporate it into something else that makes it more intuitive for her. Some loop pattern (circles are really excellent, as they are predictable after a few circles and they let the horse think about how to adapt to them, which helps build strength and balance), with serpentines being useful but not necessarily for every slower/faster issue. They force a horse to rebalance with every loop, and at some point that can frazzle a greenie.

Try to keep your posting exactly the same. If she speeds up, that will put her out of synch with you, and smart horses will try to get back in synch with you. If she slows down to the pace you want, leave her be, but if she slows down too much, push her forward again.

[VelveteenPony]

Thank you BarsV, you are in agreement with my trainer that is exactly what he suggested! I'll be trying that next time I go out to work her.

Originally Posted by JBandRio

Straight body? LOLOL!! Sorry, but "straight" is very relative. Greenies aren't straight. Not at all. But they can and should learn, early on, to be "relatively" straight. Mostly it's about constantly putting the shoulders back in front of the haunches, if you go by the principles of Dressage. Other disciplines might have a different perspective, such as moving the haunches back in line with the shoulders. There are obvious exceptions to moving the shoulders, but it's really like thinking about the horse as a rear-wheel drive car. The power comes from behind, and what the flight path of the car is depends on what you're doing with the steering wheel (shoulders), the gas pedal (legs) and the breaks (hands). Too much gas and you fishtail. Too much hand and you fishtail. Too much steering wheel and you don't have a lot of forward power either.


It's probably not perfect, but it sounds like a really, really, really great start


You said it - she speeds up to balance herself. This is why circles are really really helpful. They force the horse to do some rebalancing on their own, but they don't give a lot of room to speed up. Keep the contact with your outside rein, and use a wide opening inside rein to direct her head back to the inside a bit every time she counter bends. Just keep sitting up, shoulders back, inside leg at the girth, outside leg behind the girth, outside contact, inside leg to outside hand. Make the circles smaller if she speeds up - forces her to slow down. Don't make the circles too large or she won't have reason to try to balance. Her natural circle is probably a lot smaller than you think. Work on it at the walk. You will probably find that it's 15m or even 10m where she's comfortable walking the circle by moving her shoulders over every step. The trot circle will be bigger, but not necessarily by a lot.


Just quietly bring her back to a trot and try again. This description is one reason why I think her walk isn't really as perfect as it seems Go back to some groundwork if you need to - walk beside her, at her shoulder, bridle on her, reins in your hand as if riding (so your outside hand will be up at her wither, keeping contact. User your inside rein to ask for bend, and use a whip in your inside hand to also ask her, at the girth, so bend around it and step sideways. Use a railing to ask her to do the same sort of bend, but walk straight. Very very helpful exercises.


How are you doing the hh's, and how did you introduce them to her? I'm guessing she really doesn't understand them at this point.


Greenies are all about slower and faster for balance. If she doesn't really understand a hh yet, then incorporate it into something else that makes it more intuitive for her. Some loop pattern (circles are really excellent, as they are predictable after a few circles and they let the horse think about how to adapt to them, which helps build strength and balance), with serpentines being useful but not necessarily for every slower/faster issue. They force a horse to rebalance with every loop, and at some point that can frazzle a greenie.

Try to keep your posting exactly the same. If she speeds up, that will put her out of synch with you, and smart horses will try to get back in synch with you. If she slows down to the pace you want, leave her be, but if she slows down too much, push her forward again.

I don't expect her to suddenly snap into perfect ruler like straightness- but I don't think that's an unreasonable goal at all to work toward. I would like to do something to encourage her to be straighter even if the results are a long way off.

Okay lol maybe I'm a little overzealous about the progress we've made- I know nothing is ever "perfect" but I'm really, really proud of her.

Thank you for the advice- using circles to slow her down definitely makes a lot of sense. You're right about the size of the circles- my girl can make some pretty amazingly tight turns.

I will most certainly try getting off her and asking her to bend from the ground. I did a lot of that when my trainer and I first started her, but I haven't been practising as much. Using a whip is a good idea instead of using my hand like I was because it will translate to when I'm in the saddle and I can still use a whip.

I guess it's kind of pretentious of me to call it a half halt because no, she doesn't respond to it like a trained horse. I kind of do a give and take with the reins while squeezing her a little bit so that she doesn't "die down". But she doesnt collect herself or engage and I don't really expect her to. I just kind of use it when she gets too wiggly, fast, or strung out and it helps a little.

I should really work on my own posting rhythm because I tend to match her pace which I know doesn't help. I have noticed that when I really relax and think slow she does take it down a notch. But I didn't realize until now that that's probably because calming myself down slows the pace at which I post and she follows suit.

Thanks for taking the time to help me out! I really appreciate it!

[Rhythm 'n Blues]

Originally Posted by VelveteenPony

I should really work on my own posting rhythm because I tend to match her pace which I know doesn't help. I have noticed tht when I really relax and think slow she does take it down a notch. But I didn't realize until now that that's probably because calming myself down slows that pace at which I post and she follows suit.

I like to tell people to remember that the rider is the beat keeper....they set the pace, and keep the rhythm. If you allow the horse to do that, then you aren't really the one calling the shots, the horse is.......it's like allow your horse to walk off as you mount. So....be the beat keeper you were meant to be! hahahah

[JBandRio]

Originally Posted by VelveteenPony

I don't expect her to suddenly snap into perfect ruler like straightness- but I don't think that's an unreasonable goal at all to work toward. I would like to do something to encourage her to be straighter even if the results are a long way off.

Remember, even GP Dressage riders constantly strive to help make their horses more and more straight Straight always has to be a goal. There is greenie straight (which is really crooked compared to a very well-trained horse) and there are all sorts of progressions beyond that. Your whole goal of riding is to ask for more and more straight

Thank you for the advice- using circles to slow her down definitely makes a lot of sense. You're right about the size of the circles- my girl can make some pretty amazingly tight turns.

They can indeed make very tight turns, but not necessarily in proper form. That is what you want - you want the circle to be small enough to encourage better and better form, but not so small that they don't have the strength or balance to do it properly.

I will most certainly try getting off her and asking her to bend from the ground. I did a lot of that when my trainer and I first started her, but I haven't been practising as much. Using a whip is a good idea instead of using my hand like I was because it will translate to when I'm in the saddle and I can still use a whip.

The whip allows you to keep your hands on the reins as if you were riding, yet still have a "leg" to use on her side.

I guess it's kind of pretentious of me to call it a half halt because no, she doesn't respond to it like a trained horse.

not really pretentious, just didn't know what you really meant by it Greenie half halts have to be more obvious than well-trained-horse half halts.

I kind of do a give and take with the reins while squeezing her a little bit so that she doesn't "die down". But she doesnt collect herself or engage and I don't really expect her to. I just kind of use it when she gets too wiggly, fast, or strung out and it helps a little.

You SHOULD expect her to collect and engage a bit when you do a half-halt - that is the entire reason for one But, the half-halt is not just a give and take with both reins and a squeeze with your leg. Ideally it's a moment in time when your body "stops" but then you ask her to continue on. Outside rein with no more, or less give for what you're doing, leg applied or at least not let off, seat slowing/stopping. Don't expect her to know what all that means from the start though. Start by making sure she knows how to halt from a walk. Then ask her to allllmost halt and send her forward again. Ride her INTO the half-halt, it is not a backward movement - nothing is a backward movement, not even a rein-back From the trot, get your t/w transitions, and then ask her to allllmost walk before sending her forward again. Lots and lots and lots of those repetitions. Same with canter-trot.

I should really work on my own posting rhythm because I tend to match her pace which I know doesn't help. I have noticed that when I really relax and think slow she does take it down a notch. But I didn't realize until now that that's probably because calming myself down slows the pace at which I post and she follows suit.

There you go

The less experience you have, the longer it takes to get through the greenie stage. Make sure you give her enough time with the same, consistent aids to learn something. After a reasonable amount of time though, don't be afraid to try something new to see if she needs an "a-ha!" moment to get it.

[VelveteenPony]

Okay thank you for the advice!
And don't worry I'm working with a trainer five days a week. I'm just looking for a little extra guidance.