Slowing a Canter / Fresh horse

[LaMereDuChat]

I'm just getting back into riding after a break of around 20 years - we've also just bought a house with a field and a tumbledown stable, so I am keen to get a horse again after I have had some lessons to get my confidence up (and have rebuilt the stable!).

However, I seem to have developed a fear of cantering - I can't seem to recall how to slow a horse when hacking. It's fine in a lesson in the ring - but out and about, for instance when the horse knows it is on its way home from a hack, I always end up fighting to stop it running up the backside of the horse in front. If I apply pressure to the reins, the horse puts its nose up and pulls away, and we end up in a tug of war and I don't feel in control.

I'd really like some tips on how to get control back into this - at the moment I'm terrified of being kicked by the horse in front. I've asked for relatively ploddy cobs to ride each week, but I still can't get ti right and it is knocking my confidence. I used to own horses and be relatively good rider!

To slow a canter sit down deeply in the saddle ceasing to follow the movement as much , tightening your thighs and a check on the reins is how I'd slow the canter on a hack ideally. However on a riding school horse cantering en masse I don't know how responsive the horse will be.

Many thanks - I'll give it a go. Missed my ride today as the weather was rubbish, sadly. I've been doing it all bar the sitting down, so I'll try that - poor horse probably therefore thought I was trying to push him on!

Half half. Seat, voice, rein. Not letting the horse get out of control in the first place. Ever. I only hack. The horses I have access to are TBs. Ex racehorses. Very keen to rush off. Half halt seems to be the key. And treating the whole hack as a schooling session. Transitions, leg yielding, walking where you’d normally canter, swapping who’s in front. Always a rider, not a passenger.

Urgh yes the wind has been playing absolute havoc at the yard the last week, had an 'interesting' ride myself and my friend was almost literally blown off her horse! You did well to miss it

To slow down, as others have said, sit deep (you may need to feel as though you are leaning backwards if you like me are a natural huncher!), bottom well down into the saddle but try and stay relaxed rather than clenching and tensing, keep your hands low and wide, not clutched into your stomach (hold onto the saddle or neckstrap if you prefer). You'll never win a pulling match with a horse and it's not a good idea to try, but your weight being well back is usually enough to make a quiet horse slow down a bit as it's harder work for them carrying you this way, and also being in that position will keep you well balanced in the case of any jinks or spooks. It is great to get up into in a forward/light seat position with your weight off the horses back for a long fast canter but it is basically giving the horse a 'go' signal so I would only do it with confidence in my brakes at the other end!

Use your half halt aid too, but remember the release part of the half halt is just as important as the take/pressure (easily forgotten in the heat of the moment!), if you just do the first 'take' part without letting go again, you are basically just pulling/hanging on their mouth. Breathe out nice and slowly as you do the release and this should give the horse the signal to relax and steady.

In an emergency, if you really feel the horse is tanking you off and not listening, the best thing to do is try and turn their head right round to one side, you can also 'bridge' your reins which is a thing work riders do with TBs, get your instructor to show you but you basically you hold both reins with both hands creating a 'bridge' in the middle which gives you more power in the hand - neither of these things should be needed except in dire circumstances of course, but it might help you mentally to know you can do it if needed?

Also do remember most riding school horses are regularly allowed to go along their familiar routes virtually nose to tail with one another so your horse may not fully understand why you are trying to slow him down, of course it's not good practice or really safe but at least the horses generally are also highly unlikely to spook or tank off if they are with their mates. Your own horse (once you get him or her) is unlikely to have got into this habit in the first place so probably you won't have as many issues, so try not to worry too much about it!

Tbh it's not you, it's the horse. A riding school horse is used to doing whatever it does regardless of the rider, so if they canter on the way home (which tbh is really silly anyway) they canter on the way home, close behind the horse in front because that's what they do.

Thank you - I am a bit of a huncher, and was probably up and leaning forward in the canter, so not exactly saying 'calm down', which was why the pull and release of the reins wasn't doing what it should for me. I'll widen out my hands also - and thanks so much for the tip about bridging (good to know) and the mechanics of balance.

I'm sure I used to do all this automatically as a teenager as we used to go on beach gallops all the time! I'm going to ask for an instructional hack to get this all embedded in my brain...

Interestingly, my favourite schooling horse at the stable was bred to be a racehorse but didn't make the height. I used to ride him with a lot of success for about nine months, but then had to stop riding for a year owing to a relative's illness (they were dependent on me, and falling off and breaking something , then not being able to drive wasn't an option). He's up for sale and I'd love him, if I could get myself sorted out... I'm realistic though, and I have many hours to go before that point!

I used to ride work on racehorses, don’t get into a battle you’ll lose, bridge your reins to stop your hands getting yanked forwards, sit up, make sure you aren’t gripping with your heels and relax.

And remember if you’re getting a horse for home they are herd animals and will likely need a mate to live with or get very stressed

Thanks Lastqueen - getting into a losing battle was part of my problem - I quickly worked out this wasn't going to be my lucky day as cobs (however ploddy) are also quite well built... I'll be getting something bombproof for my 10 year old daughter also - we have just under 6 acres so plenty of room.

I'd be wary of buying an ex riding school horse. In my experience they are quite different beasts once they are in private homes.

Always ride with a neck strap. You can train them to slow down by pulling back gently with that instead of the reins/bit combo and it means an extra aid if you are out of your comfort zone, amd much better to use that instead of getting a stronger bit.

I would advise against an ex racehorse unless they are over 25 years old and used to seeing grass without going hell for leather

I'm going to ask for a loan first - I don't want to end up with a monster that either goes bonkers if not ridden four times a day, or is too scared to ride out alone without a whole horse herd in tow... anything else I should watch for?

Funnily enough I find with m ex-racer the best way to keep him steady is to ride him on a loose rein or on the buckle. The other way I manage it is to sit deep as others have said and breathe out low and hard through my lower back and push out my core muscles.

An ex racer and ex riding school horse is about the worst thing you could buy for your first horse in a while. Don't rush into buying, get your confidence and take your time.

One thing people often forget on a strong, forward horse is leg. You need to keep pushing the horse up into your hands (while sitting down in the saddle and sitting upright/slightly behind the movement. Simply using your hands means that the horse pulls against you and end up on the forehand and even harder to stop.

A loan is a good idea but even then horses can change as soon as they arrive at a new territory.

Having just one isn't ideal, two can be a pain if you take one out and the other is left shouting for his companion...

Best is to keep having lessons, loan one where you ride if you can do that they can keep an eye on things.

Another good option is to find out where your local Riding For Disabled is and help out there so you get lots of experience and also because they often allow helpers to ride the horses outside lesson times as the horses only get used in term time.

It keeps the horses happy and interested and they are nearly always available to be ridden at weekends and during the holidays.

These horses usually have a fantastic nature and they are all pretty much bombproof.

Also, the RDA are often offered horses that might be suitable from members of the public and are surplus to requirements. This is how a friend of mine got her horse.