Foal
Join Date: Sep 2018
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Working with a very trotty horse
My RMH loves to just trot trot trot. Now on a flat, firm surface he is perfect and will do a beautiful running walk, with even four beats. But when I take him into grass or into an arena, and cue him to speed up (just a little nudge or cluck), he grabs the bit and just hard trots very quickly. At this point pulling on the reins slows him down very little, so I do take him in small circles but it just makes him more agitated every time. It repeats and repeats - hard trotting, circles, a little walking, and more trotting. I only have this problem in grass or in the arena. Ideas?.. He is barefoot at the moment.
I would probably try doing lots of walk-trot-walk transitions with only a few steps in each gait. That way he'll start to expect a down transition and may not feel the need to burn rubber. Once (if) he gets this, make the intervals between transition longer and, most importantly, no rein pressure as long as he maintains speed. If he does speed up, down transition to walk - not punitively or as a correction, just as a matter of course. The positive reinforcement comes when he does maintain speed, you stay in neutral, give him an affectionate rub on the neck, and tell him he's the best thing since sliced bread. If you really want to drive the point home, call it quits as soon as he maintains speed on a loose rein for an entire arena length. Then build on that.
Consider the difference in footfalls between the walk and the trot. The walk is a four-beat gait with three feet generally on the ground at any one time. The trot is a two-beat gait with two feet on the ground at any one time and a period of suspension between the beats.
Your horse may find the trot more fun generally. On harder surfaces, however, he may choose the running walk since he can spread his weight over three feet reducing any discomfort from impact.
Your horse may find the trot more fun generally. On harder surfaces, however, he may choose the running walk since he can spread his weight over three feet reducing any discomfort from impact.
Quote:
Originally Posted by stormytherockymountain View Post
Now on a flat, firm surface he is perfect and will do a beautiful running walk, with even four beats. But when I take him into grass or into an arena, and cue him to speed up (just a little nudge or cluck), he grabs the bit and just hard trots very quickly.
How fit is he?
Some horses prefer to trot. My foxtrotter has a huge trot and that is her preferred gait. She did not foxtrot at all until i had conditioned her for 3 months. Now she will foxtrot but i have to half halt and hold her in the gait. She struggles to hold the gait if conditions get rough- uneven footing, roots, or branches down, or hills, often result in her breaking gait. I try to pick ideal conditions when asking her to gait. She tends to be lazy and gaiting is work.
I like having the option of gaiting or not. I expect her to do both.
I like having the option of gaiting or not. I expect her to do both.
Find the spot the horse gaits, and only do the gait. Make a cue for it....shift your weight back, lift your hands a bit, whatever works for you. Go ONLY between walk and the gait. If he breaks, return to walk, and start over, emphasizing your cues. Turning a baited horse in a circle is counter productive. The gaits are laterally based, and difficult to maintain in a small circle, but a trot, being diagonal, is easy on a circle.
As he gets set in his gait, go from your smooth surface to grass, only long enough to test ar first, then gradually add time.
As he gets set in his gait, go from your smooth surface to grass, only long enough to test ar first, then gradually add time.
I don't break horses, I FIX them!
Send him to me! I want a gaited horse that will also Trot!! 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mmshiro View Post
I would probably try doing lots of walk-trot-walk transitions with only a few steps in each gait. That way he'll start to expect a down transition and may not feel the need to burn rubber. Once (if) he gets this, make the intervals between transition longer and, most importantly, no rein pressure as long as he maintains speed. If he does speed up, down transition to walk - not punitively or as a correction, just as a matter of course. The positive reinforcement comes when he does maintain speed, you stay in neutral, give him an affectionate rub on the neck, and tell him he's the best thing since sliced bread. If you really want to drive the point home, call it quits as soon as he maintains speed on a loose rein for an entire arena length. Then build on that.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TXhorseman View Post
Consider the difference in footfalls between the walk and the trot. The walk is a four-beat gait with three feet generally on the ground at any one time. The trot is a two-beat gait with two feet on the ground at any one time and a period of suspension between the beats.
Your horse may find the trot more fun generally. On harder surfaces, however, he may choose the running walk since he can spread his weight over three feet reducing any discomfort from impact.
Your horse may find the trot more fun generally. On harder surfaces, however, he may choose the running walk since he can spread his weight over three feet reducing any discomfort from impact.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SwissMiss View Post
Gaiting on the flat surface is generally "easy", whereas doing the same in the grass may just require enough of additional strength and coordination throwing him off and he choses the easier gait - trot.
How fit is he?
How fit is he?
Quote:
Originally Posted by 4horses View Post
Some horses prefer to trot. My foxtrotter has a huge trot and that is her preferred gait. She did not foxtrot at all until i had conditioned her for 3 months. Now she will foxtrot but i have to half halt and hold her in the gait. She struggles to hold the gait if conditions get rough- uneven footing, roots, or branches down, or hills, often result in her breaking gait. I try to pick ideal conditions when asking her to gait. She tends to be lazy and gaiting is work.
I like having the option of gaiting or not. I expect her to do both.
I like having the option of gaiting or not. I expect her to do both.
Quote:
Originally Posted by greentree View Post
Find the spot the horse gaits, and only do the gait. Make a cue for it....shift your weight back, lift your hands a bit, whatever works for you. Go ONLY between walk and the gait. If he breaks, return to walk, and start over, emphasizing your cues. Turning a baited horse in a circle is counter productive. The gaits are laterally based, and difficult to maintain in a small circle, but a trot, being diagonal, is easy on a circle.
As he gets set in his gait, go from your smooth surface to grass, only long enough to test ar first, then gradually add time.
As he gets set in his gait, go from your smooth surface to grass, only long enough to test ar first, then gradually add time.
Just thinking out loud....is he definitely doing a RW and not a saddle rack on flat? RMHs (and all horses) can do any gaits, but the approach to maintaining it may be different.
I've only worked with pacey /lateral horses and it strikes me that doing the opposite might be helpful. Lee Ziegler was a mentor to me. Her book, Easy Gaited Horses, has a wealth of information.
I wish you the very best.
I've only worked with pacey /lateral horses and it strikes me that doing the opposite might be helpful. Lee Ziegler was a mentor to me. Her book, Easy Gaited Horses, has a wealth of information.
I wish you the very best.
Quote:
Originally Posted by gaitgatsby View Post
Just thinking out loud....is he definitely doing a RW and not a saddle rack on flat? RMHs (and all horses) can do any gaits, but the approach to maintaining it may be different.
I've only worked with pacey /lateral horses and it strikes me that doing the opposite might be helpful. Lee Ziegler was a mentor to me. Her book, Easy Gaited Horses, has a wealth of information.
I wish you the very best.
I've only worked with pacey /lateral horses and it strikes me that doing the opposite might be helpful. Lee Ziegler was a mentor to me. Her book, Easy Gaited Horses, has a wealth of information.
I wish you the very best.
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