Issues with trotting inhand

[Deleted]

Have a fab little pony who trots on command inhand but then trot super fast and you end up haveing to pull him back to walk and his mouth ends up wide open and his head high up in the air.

any tips on how to get him to slow down and be more collected.

never had this problem as ive always taught them to trot up properly from babies but this boy was already trotting in hand.

ive tried going back to walk then starting again, ive tried a cane in front of his nose to try but can br doing that in the ring.

just need some tips, sound such an easy task but im struggling, he doesnt really seem to listen.

thanks

[gillwales]

There are several things you could try.

put a headcollar on over the bridle so you are not just pulling on the bit

trot a few strides then bring back to walk

trot towards a hedge or wall or post and rail fence, do not go around the corner, the barrier will act as a brake

You can use your cane in that way in the ring

use a coupling in the ring that incorporates the noseband

quietly use your voice to guide the speed you want

if you have a soft surface consider some gentle lunging

I suspect this is caused by bad biting, so go back to basics and re-bit

if not a colt can you run him off the noseband completely?

[Deleted]

Thanks Gill I think ill try the head collar approach first then change his bit. I've never know anything like those horrid little inhand bits. Ill see how I get on. He's a fast learner usually but he just can't get the gist of what I'm asking. Maybe I'm asking wrong we shall see.

[sarahp]

I don't use those straight hard black bits but what I would use for a ridden, normally a double jointed snaffle. And I use reverse to help school - if they start going too freely I stop them and make them reverse before trying again. Repeat as necessary until they decide it's more pleasant to behave politely and run with you on a loose rein!

[fanfarefan]

I have found previously with my yougster that the 3 point coupling onto the noseband was definately helpful

[gillwales]

personally I would avoid using a jointed snaffle in-hand, because you are only using 1 lead has opposed to 2 reins, it increases the nut-cracker action of the bit, try using bit wrap or a happy mouth to soften the bit on the bars of the mouth.

[sarahp]

I use double jointed bits so no nutcracker effect, and with a coupling, either from both ends of the bit or 3 point. Ponies prefer them to the straight ones anyway!

[Deleted]

So tried the leading tonight off the noseband. Standing when going to fast in walk and coming back to walk when losing it with the trot. He just powers forward and leans on me so bad even when trotting. His head goes right up in the air and he sets off into canter. I don't know whether its bad manners or he genuinely doesn't know what he's supposed to be doing. He's good on voice commands and walks on trots stands etc he's just too fast in trot head up and into canter. Any more suggestions

[gillwales]

how old is the pony?

[Deleted]

He's 3

[gillwales]

in that case do the groundwork of braking, go back and re-bit, (are you certain he had been bitted?) use side reins and long-reins, if you ignore this now you will be storing up trouble for the future

good luck

[Deleted]

I was told he was bitted. He is fine with the bit takes in and doesn't play with it. I would expect some mouthing if he hadn't. Ill give the starting again a go. It's just very frustrating. Thanks very helpful

[gillwales]

the people you got him from might have thought just putting the bit in the pony's mouth and getting him used to it was being bitted, that is not accepting the bit or learning aids.. ie the pressure on the bit for slow down or stop or steering, personally I think bitting does mean this

[Deleted]

Had much improvement last night, I put head collar over bridle, still led off the bit ie holding lead from bit but used head collar to hold back and he was much improved. He leant on me a bit at first. But did not stick his head up and shoot forward. I've purchased a 3 way coupling to try out on him so I can spread pressure on noseband too. Ill practice again tonight and see how we go. Its good he goes from stand to walk to trot and down again with voice commands its just turning we need to master as i think another couple of days we will have sorted his trot. Found the hand in front of face does work. Ill just need to practice my balance with that one.

[gillwales]

so pleased to hear of the progress, keep up the good work!