breaking gait

[Deleted]

I have a "new" horse, one that I owned several years ago. She's well broke, but rusty. ( I still have Angel, too.)

I have ridden Gracie three times now, and am having trouble keeping her at the walk. She just wants to jog. I can easily stop her and control her. However...I ask for the walk, she goes a few feet, and then jogs.

So far I have tried:

1. dis the hips...which she knows well, and does well. ( she pivots, bends, like butter)

2. stopping and backing and backing and backing.

3. strong correcting with the bridle.

Dissing the hips seems to help the most, but she still only goes a few feet at the walk and then jogs.

Any other ideas?

Thanks!

[cyndi]

You have "Lyons on Horses", don't you? I was just reading chapter one and John is talking about 'laziness' on page 12, and how we need to get movement, even if it's not what we asked for. He mentions that if a horse trots when he wants it to walk, he does a few trotting exercises. He'll trot him a few steps, turn to the left, trot a few steps, turn to the right, and also back the horse up. Sounds like what you've been doing

[MaryS]

I agree with trotting exercises. But ask for the trot. Then trot until Gracie is tired and starts to slow down. Then stop and ask for walk.

Don't know if it will work. It really depends on the horse.

[ghostrider]

1. stay out of her mouth, let her get her way, don't fight her on speed.
2. serpentines
3. serpentines
4. serpentines
Yup take her out and do nothing but direct her left and right. Don't try and stop her, don't try to speed her up just let her go but make her do serpentine after serpentine after serpentine.
Serpentines slow them down because they have to turn. If everytime she gets her heart set on speeding up she has to slow down to do a right or left turn into a serpentine she'll get tired out and start waiting for you to tell her where to go. She won't speed up because she'll be anticipating which direction you're going to ask.

[vsolubo]

I agree with the above, but also check to make sure your legs are not on her. She may think you're asking her to go faster, even when you're not. You may be holding on tighter with your legs than you think you are.

[Deleted]

This is great! Thank you! Once I get weather for it I'll try the serpentines. That makes total sense!

V...I'm trying to be real conscious of leg as I ride Angel mostly with leg.