Riders often forget that they are in control when on a horse's back. It is the rider who decides whether to slow a horse's gait, and if a horse is racing too fast, the rider isn't doing his or her job. Slowing down the speedy horse is a matter of reducing speed through all of the rider's aids.
Slowing Body Motion
Perhaps the most effective way to slow a horse's gait is to deliberately slow the rider's body motion. Horses can feel every movement a rider makes in the saddle, and often he will interpret movement as a desire for more speed.
For example, a rider who "pumps" with his or her seat (hips, thighs and buttocks) is unintentionally encouraging the horse to pick up speed. Riders often do this when trying to correct other aspects of their riding form, and might not realize it at first.
When posting the trot, the rider can slow a horse's gait by slowing his or her posts. Come up a half-beat slower than the motion of the trot dictates, then sit down in the same manner. The horse will sense this change in movement and will automatically slow his gait.
At the canter, the rider should slow the rocking motion of his or her body with the horse. It is naturally to simply rock back and forth with the movement of the canter, but slowing the back-and-forth motion will encourage the horse to slow down.
Creating a Wall
Many riders misinterpret the purpose of their reins. These long strips of leather or rope are not intended to jerk the horse's mouth into submission; rather, they should be used to effect certain responses in the horse. Riders who want to slow a horse's gait should view their reins as tools.
Slowing down a horse means creating a wall with the reins. Pulling back sharply will anger or irritate the horse, and providing too much rein will encourage the horse to go faster. Instead, the rider should set his reins with a comfortable feel of the horse's mouth and avoid giving or taking too much.
The half-halt is extremely effective for slowing a horse's gait. Pull back gently for two seconds, then release, reminding the horse that the rider is in control and is asking for something.
Additionally, riders can slow a horse's gait by creating a wall with their knees. Closing the knees around the saddle automatically closes off the horse's shoulders, reducing speed and forward momentum.
Getting the Horse's Attention
One of the main reasons why riders have difficulty slowing a horse's gait is because they do not have their horse's attention. The half-halt is one way to remind the horse that the rider exists, but it is sometimes more effective to rock the reins back and forth. This is also useful when trying to slow a runaway horse.
To slow a horse's gait, a rider must participate in constant communication with his or her horse, using all available aids. Remember that every part of a rider's body can communicate something to the horse, and if the rider isn't cognizant of these signals, the horse can very easily get away with him.
Laura Thompson - Laura Thompson is a horseback riding instructor and freelance writer living in Houston, Texas. She is proud to be the feature writer for ...
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