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Lysanne (I KNOW I didn't spell that right):
My idiot ex-racehorse had the same problem. First, I had to take the bit
out of his mouth - we ride in an English hackamore (short shanks) with a padded
noseband and a leather chinstrap. He would lean into a snaffle at speed
and panic with a curb. That way, sudden movements on either part (mine or
his) didn't lead to a postive feedback loop, and gradually, he learned to settle
down. As a sensitive horse, he has picked up my largely unconscious
signals for turns and half halts (picking up one rein, changing my grip from one
to two hands). We wouldn't win a thing in a horsemanship class, but it
works for us. Now, if I could just get him to back out of a trailer!
The hardest part was letting him know that going faster was NEVER the right
answer. It was a process that took 2-3 years, but a less wired horse
would likely learn more quickly. After being told for the first two years
of training that faster was ALWAYS right, it's no wonder he has a complex.
Good luck!
Laurie in Clare Michigan, who actually got to RIDE
yesterday. Just waiting for my son to grow up. .
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