Slow down at trot

I have problems slowing down my qh at the trot. I assume she gets too excited, so she's always very fast trotting. Plus try to move to canter or even buck at times. I tried to make her go in smaller circles, but it doesn't seem to be helping much: she's as fast in smaller circles as well, and just keep going and going. Any suggestions, please, on how to relax her and make her trot slowly? Thanks in advance!

OK. Just seen another topic on that, so little bit more info. She's not getting nervious or anything - just wants to rush. Also I don't kick her by accident, and don't carry spurs or whip. :) And I use french link and don't plan on harsher bit.

Hm, have you tried half-halts? In other words, checking her back with the reins? That should help. ;) & sitting back to the trot more while you check her back should also slow her down, & then try posting again. ;)

Thanks! I havn't. Will certainly try. Will try anything. He-he! I wouldn't really mind going fast, but fast usually turn to bucking, which is not good for sure.

Hi, Kitten Val,
I posted this in another thread, but I think it would help you as well:

have a few exercises to deal with a rushy horse:

1) set up trot poles - this makes your horse think about her feet and therefore slow down a bit. Make sure that they are spaced right for your horse's stride; not too close together, but not too far apart at all... if it feels like you're posting "big" and your horse is "skipping" to make the next pole, then they're probably too long; if you feel like you're on a jackhammer, they're too close. A variation of this (to work on collection, not being slow!! Is to raise one end of each pole so it looks like spaced out crossrails - this will make your horse's back work as well.

2) Circle spirals - start at a 20m circle, trotting of course, and spiral (slowly) down to a 5-10m circle, whatever your horse can handle, then leg yield back out to the bigger circle, and repeat.

3) Circle whenever she gets rushy, and keep circling until she comes back down to the speed that you want.

4) Work on your own tempo - do a posting trot, and sing a little song (even your ABCs) to get a tempo for yourself, then try to get your horse to match your body. When your horse is truely balanced, they will have a perfectly 1-2-1-2 trot without any rein contact... which brings me to my next point:

5) Work on balance. You want to work on your flatwork (dressage!! Hehe) and bending, and working into your hands and getting proper carraige of the horse's body. If you have a trainer, they might have different exercises to work on balance.

6) Transitions - do lots of walk-trot-walk transitions, take her (his?) mind off of just plain trotting.

7) Don't stress him/her out.. horses can get stressed and rushy when they don't understand things, so take it slow and easy don't forget to breathe... remember, horses get antsy when you get nervous, so make sure you're cool as a cucumber

Thanks a lot, JustDressage!

Sorry for stupid question, but... I read about half halt and tried to do it but doesn't seem to be working. Could you explain what is t, please, in "easy" words? Maybe I just have no understanding of it, when try to do. :)

Whenever she goes too fast simply bend her nose to the rail using your outside rein to slow her. Run your hand down the rein and ask her to bend her head around and do it slowly. There's no need to rush, if you do that may just upset her. When you bend bring your hand to your theigh NOT behind your hip. If you pull your hand behind your hip that will throw you off balance.

Here's the sequence you should go through:
** Relax your body and "trot" in your body at the rate you want her to trot at.
**Slide your hand down the rein.
**Slowly close each finger.
**And finally bend her around until she slows. When she does release immediately.

Soon when you simply relax or start to slide your hand down she should slow down and meet your tempo but you have to be consistant with it.

Half-halting or checking back is simple; I do it a lot if my horse gets too fast. ;)

You simply take the reins (usually in both hands) & slowly pull back, then release. Pull back, release, until she slows her trot a bit. Don't use too much force pulling back remember; you just want her to slow down her pace. But just enough to have a bit of contact on the mouth. :)
Hope I explained it well!

All, thanks a lot!

Will try tomorrow (rainy today :( ).

Your horse will trot to how fast you are posting. If you are posting with your horses rushy trot then he/she will keep going at that pace. When they rush just keep your posting at a good 1-2 rythm, and try to sit your butt deep in the saddle.

Half halts are just closing your inside reins fingers tighter around your reins, and then releasing and repeat until they slow and give to your pressure. Only use your inside rein to squeeze and keep your outside rein steady. All you have to do it squeeze your fingers and tighten your fore arm and then release the pressure.