Article Index

Unconscious Abuse

Repeat

Rest and Digest

Sometimes Wrong is Right

Passenger or Driver

Sky Rocket

Wheel Alignment

Have You Ever Been Fired?

Straighten Up and Fly Right

Hi Ho Silver

Two Heads

Pedal to the Metal

The Whole Enchilada

Boulder Jumping

Pedal to the Metal
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Speed Control

I was giving a lesson to a new client who owned a nice looking leggy horse. This mare preferred to dog walk and the rider was having a problem maintaining an acceptable flat foot walk and running walk for more than a few strides. The rider was hoping I could help her learn how to maintain the faster gaits. I explained to the rider that when she finally got her mare up to a good flat foot walk or running walk she, as a rider, relaxed too much and let the mare drop her speed down to a dog walk before she did anything about it. A horse is similar to a vehicle but because it also is thinking and has its druthers, dog walking is less strenuous to a horse than either a flat foot walk or a running walk. I was sure her mare chose the dog walk for that very reason.

I gave the rider an example I thought might help: "think of the flat foot walk or the running walk (both gaits she wanted) as moving at 10 mph and the slow dog walk as being 2 mph.” I told her not to wait until her mare dropped to 5 mph, but to start “feeling” when her mare dropped to 9.5 – 9 mph and do something right then to encourage her back to 10 mph. I explained to the rider it would be much easier on both her and her horse if she picked the momentum up BEFORE it got to 5 mph. She had to be pro-active and do something sooner if she wanted a change. She had to take on the responsibility to maintain the 10 mph rather than questioning why her horse wasn't looking after the speed on her own. Once the rider took on the responsibility she was able to start making progress towards the desired 10 mph. She had to learn to be aware of when her mare started to slow just a touch and do something right then to urge her back to the 10 mph. Then leave her alone until she slowed again. As riders, we all think the horse should just maintain the speed we want, but we have to remember we are riding a living thinking animal that has its own agenda and it might not be the same as ours. If we want something different than what our horse is giving us then it is our responsibility to let our horse know what we want and make sure he stays connected and on the course we have set.

Riders, if you will put the "pedal to the metal" quicker, you will get and maintain the gaits you desire a lot sooner.