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Speeding up her Walk

LazyJ_Arabians
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Nov 4, 2005, 10:29 PM

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Speeding up her Walk	Can't Post

10yo Tenn Walker, huge bomb-proof trail horse. Great with kids, so much so she spent the summer riding young nieces and nephews around and being treated like a queen. This has resulted in the following problem.

She's always had just three gaits: walk, big trot, gallop. Her walk has now become turtle slow. She'll step out fine with another horse pacing her along but by herself she goes into slow motion. Clucking or leg pressure to encourage her along puts her straight into a spirited trot. What's the trick I'm overlooking here?

justmartha
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Nov 7, 2005, 10:49 AM

Post #2 of 4 (474 views)
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Re: [LazyJ_Arabians] Speeding up her Walk [In reply to]	Can't Post

Sounds like she needs a vigorous adult rider for awhile. Try using your seat to get her to move - put your belly into this also (like the dressage folks do). Also, you can urge her with your legs - try to cue her on each side just as she is swinging that hind leg forward. If she walks out for a few steps, let up and then when she slows down start again. You might be using too much leg when you are asking her to walk out - try just a little tickle or thinking about moving her forward with your seatbones and glutes, rather than the whole leg, at first. I have a great knack for teaching horses to be lazy, so I really have to watch my riding to avoid creating the slow walk! Your mare has gotten used to carrying passengers rather than having a rider, I'd say Smile

In Reply To

Martha in NM
http://www.valverdemorgans.com

LazyJ_Arabians
Member

Nov 7, 2005, 11:30 AM

Post #3 of 4 (471 views)
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Re: [justmartha] Speeding up her Walk [In reply to]	Can't Post

I figured out yesterday that as long as I'm talking to her or singing while riding she'll get along pretty good. Singing works best, especially rock 'n roll. I thought about it later, she's probably picking up on my mood and lifting her spirits also. I'm proud to have finally found someone who appreciates my singing.

Next chance I get with her, I'm going to lose the singing but make sure I act upbeat and like we got somewhere I need to go and see how she performs.

Mark4510
Silver Member

Nov 7, 2005, 2:23 PM

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Re: [LazyJ_Arabians] Speeding up her Walk [In reply to]	Can't Post

That�s a good deal that you found a way to get your horse to move out by singing. �Course if I were to do it, with my voice, I would probably get bucked off.

Another thing you can do is to let him pick up the jog, apply leg pressure like you are asking for a stronger jog, bridle him up, take your legs off and continue the pull until he slows to a walk. Most of the time that walk will be quicker than it was before. If he slows down again then cluck him up to a jog and repeat. We do that at all the gaits to ensure that we have multiple speeds with in a single gait.

I also find, like you, that if you look up at where you are going and �ride� to that point that the horse will pick up on that and get going.

Regards,
Mark

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