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[RC] Teaching a horse to walk faster... - kazevedoOn Jun 1, 2005, at 5:42 PM, Stacy Sadar wrote: <<<Try training with someone else on parts of the trail.? My Arab walks very SLOOOOOW.? So slow that we have to trot to catch up to anyone because he falls so far behind when we all walk.? But he has a nice trot speed.? I like the slow walk because it lowers his heart rate very nice.? He has a nice trot and canter speed though.?>>> I, too, have an arab who walks slow, it's like he spends more energy holding himself back when his front feet hit, then actually propelling himself forward during the stride (if that makes sense). That's good that you like the slow walk Stacy (I wish I did), but it annoys me quite a bit- I'd like to be able to ask for a faster walk when need be. Earlier this week we went on a beach ride at a walk with 4 fast-walking horses, and my arab (15 hands, long legs) could not keep up at a walk not matter what I tried. I "paddled" much of the way, and tried a few different things, but he just didn't *get* how to do it. I was tired after a couple miles of falling behind and trotting to catch up so I let him do a slow, slow trot that was the same speed as the others' walks <sigh>. I've asked one of my mentors about how to develop his walk, and here are two ways to do it (both with which she's had success): 1. Do a multiday or slow endurance ride with a horse that has a fast walk. It might "click" in the horses mind after all those miles of (mostly) walking how to extend and push for a nice strong walk. (My friend said this really worked for her mare... and that mare was one of the horses I rode with two days ago at the beach... I can hardly believe that horse ever walked slow, her walk is enormous!). 2. Ride everyday in the arena with the intention of lengthening the stride at the walk. Ask for a faster walk without letting the horse trot (keep good contact w/ reins). It's good to have a crop or dressage whip to tap the horse if s/he doesn't accelerate with leg, seat, and/or voice command. I hope I might be able to teach my horse how to walk faster, I know he's capable of it. Just thought I'd share with anyone interested those two suggestions I've run across. Happy Trails, Katie ------------------------------------------------- This mail sent through IMP: http://horde.org/imp/ =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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