Lead rein pony to speedy

[ballywildrick]

How to get lead rein pony to slow down in trot. At home in school can do full show loose but when he goes to a show he stops listening any ideas? He especially speeds up on change of rein

[vgs]

Halt during change of rein, it will slow down speed.

[Karen, garrettponies]

Maybe try doing different things with lots of changes of transitions at home. Serpentines with halts etc to get him thinking again and not anticipating. I have one that did the same, turned into a racehorse on the diagonal, had to try different things as she was anticipating. She'd also been shown in hand a lot too which doesn't help, they get used to moving on in hand at shows far more.

[parsnip]

Anticipating? I agree that varying your show and introducing halts would be a good idea. Our lead rein used to do her show herself!

[Trot-on]

Try doing lots of transitions in the school, and out on hacks. He will then get a varied work load but something that will also keep his mind working so he doesnt assume you will be doing 'that' show etc.

[wemustbemad]

I hold my whip in my lead rein hand and hold it tactfully (without being able to tell) pointing at his shoulder, so he can she it! At home if he gets too speedy practice in the same way and if he tries to rush off a slight tap on the shoulder at the front and steady by voice usually sorts it! Did for me! Now I only have to say steady and he slows sown! Good luck ;-)

[nici]

Try taking him to some LR dressage (lots of places allow LR to do Intro tests, even if there are no specific LR classes). Doing such a different "show" will keep him guessing and should stop him anticipating when he's in a competition environment.

[sarahp]

Bit late now for you but I was taught to never ever practise a whole dressage test all the way through so that they didn't learn it and start to anticipate - native ponies are very intelligent - but concentrate on small bits at a time with the emphasis on getting the pony obedient to whatever you ask it to do when you ask. Same I'd assume with a show test.

I had lots of trouble with my old D when they rewrote dressage tests without the halt on entry - for ages she was trying to halt and I was having to push her on through it.

[catkin]

definitely agree about anticipation. We rarely do whole shows at home, just practice required transitions etc. Also 'overshowing' will lead to this. Another reason for a varied life! For the LR, I have found that the greatest schooling for these ponies is out hacking, you can do most of your training out of the school where you will create even greater obedience because they'll also have to deal with other distractions. Also would be interested to know if the pony is a. ridden off the rein (easier to teach changes of speed within a pace and b. if its been shown in hand (so thinks a spanking trot is what's required)

[nici]

I agree Sarah, I encourage Cerys to practice the movements we come across in dressage tests as part of her regular schooling but not in the same sequence. She does like to run through the test once or twice before a competition, but where possible we do it on a different pony