Ridecamp: [RC] re: speed control

Saw this message and thought I might as well say
something. Background on me- This is my second post, I
have never competed in a ride,was planning for one in
September but the truck I was going to use is running
out of town without me-- very sad :( I have three
Arabs.

Anywho, I have a Arab gelding that is about 10 or 11
somewhere in there. That we rescued from starvation
about two years ago and he has not been ridden very
regular at all lately because of the mess he had to
get himself out of. The guy we bought him from
admitted to repeatedly hitting him on the head with a
pole while riding so he has a few trust issues. He has
a VERY big bouncy trot and really wants to go faster
but for the most part is controlled without to big of
a problem with a hackamore. His one main problem is
when faced with a straight away he gets really excited
and wants to run he responds well by being turned
around and pointed the opposite direction we were
going for a few seconds. Normally I have to do this
more than once but it works in helping him calm down
which circling has never done. We just go fast in a
small area. As a last resort I would recommend having
a corner handy that you can run into. It might also
help if you did short burst of whatever speed he is
wanting to go. (from one corner to another) It could
be he just has way to much energy.

I also agree that it is best over all if you can slow
him down before he gets to fast with half-halts other
stuff like that. With my main riding horse I have
spent some much time with him I can feel his muscles
thinking about going fast before we actually do so
that I can stop him before we start so if he you can
pay enough attention to what his muscles and he will
respond I would think that would be a good way to stay
slow.

Wow, that was long

Sara



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