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Re: [RC] Slowing down speedy horse? - DESERTRYDR1

Teach her to walk.  It's a lot of work, but worth it.  There are places where 
it's unsafe to go faster than a walk, and she should do what YOU want, 
anyway.  I have an Arabian mare who is about the same.  She HATES to walk in 
company, particularly if she isn't the lead horse.  

I found my mare will walk fairly reliably on a loose rein, so I make her 
walk, and give her a loose rein.  It's really helpful to start this exercise in 
an 
arena, or some other confined spot, rather than out on the trail, so that she 
gets in her head that you will give her a loose rein when she walks.  If she 
breaks into a jig, bring her down fairly sharply, then give her a loose rein 
when she walks again.  Sometimes we get 2 steps, sometimes we get 10, sometimes 
we get a nice steady walk.  With this method you have to be absolutely 
persistent, never let her take a step of jig.  Eventually she will realize that 
it's 
more comfortable to just walk along.  (Sometimes eventually is months to 
years, and sometimes you have to go back and reschool, particularly if you ever 
let her get away with jigging because you are out with other people or are not 
paying as much attention)  It helps if you have a nice hill that you can let 
her run (pace or trot or whatever faster gait you want) up, right near the 
start 
of the ride.  That way she can get some of the excess energy out of her 
system, and may be more willing to walk.  

It also helps if you have sympathetic riding buddies who don't mind if you 
school a lot.  My girlfriend or I always have to school about something, though 
not necessarily the same thing, so we will always wait for the other, or 
whatever.  

My mare also just likes to GO, GO, GO.  She loves to go fast, and sometimes I 
think she goes fast just to get it over with, but here lately, the closer we 
get to the end of the ride, the slower she goes.  We usually get off and walk 
the last 1/2 to 1 mile, and my mare walks really fast until we get in sight of 
the trailer, then she pokes along and I almost have to drag her.  So maybe 
I'm just not riding her long enough to suit her. 

I wouldn't worry about damaging your mare by not letting her go as fast as 
she wants.  She HAS to learn to listen and do what you ask her.  There are 
times 
that both of your safety, even lives may depend on you being able to control 
her speed.  jeri

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