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  Discussion on Transitions
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Member:
Lhenning

Posted on Friday, Mar 25, 2005 - 3:05 pm:

I am training my four-year old quarterhorse and we are beginning to work on downward trot to jog transitions. The problem I have is in getting him to understand the difference in speed between a posting trot and a sitting jog. He has a great little natural jog that he does when he first warms up, but he especially does not seem to slow down after I get him to speed up. He has easily learned the upward transition, but I'm sure I am not communicating the downward idea properly. I am reluctant to use the reins, as he is just starting to reach for contact. He does slow when I work in circles, but he doesn't seem to pick up the association when we work along the rail. I do relax my body and sit deep for the jog, but I am missing the link that puts the initial idea into his mind. What can I do to begin communicating this change in speed so that he eventually understands my change in body position ques the change in speed?

Thanks for any help you can give.

Linda
Member:
Maggienm

Posted on Sunday, Mar 27, 2005 - 9:05 am:

Linda, I think you have answered your own question. You said your horse will slow in a circle. You are right to sit deep, relax but not too much. Try to move in a slower rhythm, it is hard at first because we have trained ourselves to move with the horse.
What I do is when I am training to go slower is first have done some work with the horse so he wants to go slower. I know you said once your guy is warmed up he wants to keep going but when he learns he is allowed to slow he will.
When you are going down the rail in a posting trot, sit-slow your rhythm and if he doesn't respond almost right away, circle, how big your circle is will depend on how the horse responds. If he doesn't start to slow by a quarter of the way into the circle make it a bit tighter.
Come out of your circle and see if he will hold the slower pace on the rail. If not, circle, take the rail, will he hold?
Don't worry if he doesn't hold the slower jog right away. He is young, you are just starting.
If he slows in the circle you have a good start.
Keep building on that.
Soon he will start to slow as soon as you start to circle, then he will listen to your seat and slow when you sit and move slower.
After you have practiced this a few times give him a walk break and relax. This is hard work.
After a few days work......
When he slows down nicely in the circle and will hold the slower gait when you take the rail again then try asking without the circle. If he doesn't get it thats OK just circle again.
I wouldn't go back and forth between fast work and slow work until he is solid on slowing down.
I would do the slow down work near the end of the lesson.
To avoid overdoing the circles and stressing young joints(you said your horse is only four)I try to make double duty, so I will make sure when I circle that he is bending/flexing and listening to my leg.
Have fun.
Member:
Lhenning

Posted on Monday, Mar 28, 2005 - 12:26 pm:

Lori,

Thank you so much. I had a feeling I was missing something simple. I've never tried this, but I think my horse will pick up on it quickly, as he is very bright when I give him the right connection. I like your idea of doing double duty, since we are always working on flexing and bending, so this will blend nicely into what we are doing already. Thanks again.

Happy trails,
Linda
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