Hmmm

Ive been reading a lot about people who are trying to develop that nice slow lope in their horses.....well I'm having a tiny issue here, my guy is not transitioning from large fast to small slow very well. He seems to be in one heck of a rush all the time. I've been keeping my hands down on a nice slack rein (he's quite sensitive and does so much better without me on his face!) asking nicely for the lope, but once I get the lope from a standstill I am finding he is not responsive to my seat cues and me using my brakes (weight in the stirrups) he just keeps on chugging, so I shush him down and get a few strides of nice slow and then we break the gait into a trot! I've been picking him up and collecting him whilst urging him on with my heels, but he just seems to be going the same speed but hyper collected (not over flexed though) and eventually he breaks the gait into a trot.....hmmmm any ideas? Perhaps it's time for me to put my spurs on to pick him up to slow him down but keep the impulsive there to continue the slow lope??
Kind of confused, read lots of different things......he's not out of control by any means, it's just this transition I'm after.....he knows how to do this, I think he's pulling my leg!! Tips?
Oooops forgot to add, he is doing everything else nicely for me, and he does stop for me whilst loping.....it's just getting the desired speed....ain't happening!

Have you tried circles? As soon as you ask for the transition and he goes faster, circle him smaller and smaller circles until you get your correct speed then let him and go and repeat. I've been told that by many Western Pleasure and Reining judges.

Haha I read the original post and thought wow, that sounds like me! Then I realized it was me who wrote this post what seems to be eons ago! LOL! Duh I forgot!

Well I put my spurs on to pick him up and he has transformed!!!! He was pulling my leg!!!! He just got smart and I didn't have him collected enough so he was on the fore just chugging along! Thanks for your reply, yes we are doing lovely circles/ovals now!!!

Beside sinking your weight down are you actually slowing your seat up to?

I would work in a larger circle. Stop. Then into small with super clear cues. Repeat until you can phase out the stop. Also, try slowing him up from just a regular lope instead of the speed then work on speed once he has it down solid.
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