Without seeing what is going on I can give you a couple things to think about that might help.
Ride the same large circle but transition from fast to slow in the center of the arena where you would normally start your slow small circle. If the horse is getting too smart about this trying to do it on his own you could just do continuous circles and transition up and down at various points.
He needs to rate to whatever speed he is asked for so the purpose here is just to get that down. As a rider you want to learn to support the horse with your seat and balance. So if this is really good you will be able to speed up and slow down with your seat and "energy level". Might take a while to get it but that is what this maneuver in the Reining pattern is supposed to be showing.
Once that is pretty good I would start tightening the slow part of the circle and going back out wide for the fast. It can be just a little bit smaller at a time on the slow, and that might be the best approach for a horse that dives in.
Examine what you are doing as well. Make sure you aren't changing your horse's balance with how you are sitting him by leaning in or out. The horse will lean a little one way or the other but the rider should be as close to perpendicular to the ground as they can, this helps the horse not have to adjust to our weight/balance or overcompensate for it.
This is a pretty good run by Casey Deary on America's Supermodel. Watch his transition on the circles and you'll notice that big change in his seat. Casey is an aggressive rider, but pretty correct so he might be one to study. Good luck!
Ride the same large circle but transition from fast to slow in the center of the arena where you would normally start your slow small circle. If the horse is getting too smart about this trying to do it on his own you could just do continuous circles and transition up and down at various points.
He needs to rate to whatever speed he is asked for so the purpose here is just to get that down. As a rider you want to learn to support the horse with your seat and balance. So if this is really good you will be able to speed up and slow down with your seat and "energy level". Might take a while to get it but that is what this maneuver in the Reining pattern is supposed to be showing.
Once that is pretty good I would start tightening the slow part of the circle and going back out wide for the fast. It can be just a little bit smaller at a time on the slow, and that might be the best approach for a horse that dives in.
Examine what you are doing as well. Make sure you aren't changing your horse's balance with how you are sitting him by leaning in or out. The horse will lean a little one way or the other but the rider should be as close to perpendicular to the ground as they can, this helps the horse not have to adjust to our weight/balance or overcompensate for it.
This is a pretty good run by Casey Deary on America's Supermodel. Watch his transition on the circles and you'll notice that big change in his seat. Casey is an aggressive rider, but pretty correct so he might be one to study. Good luck!
