It’s important to know you can slow your horse down or stop completely (your brakes) so that he’s a safe and obedient mount.
With a young horse, your outside hand is your primary speed control aid. Give a quick squeeze and release on that rein as if you’re snatching a fly out of the air. For example, if your horse is going too fast in the trot, give a quick squeeze and release on your outside rein to slow him down.
When you first use your brakes, combine the squeeze on the outside rein with a voice command that your horse knows, like “slow” or “whoa”. The voice command helps him make the link between the rein aid and what you want him to do.
As your horse becomes more educated, you’ll add your “stilled” or “retarding seat” to your outside hand aid.
If your horse ignores your light aid to slow down, don’t pull harder. Instead, make a correction. Correct your horse by halting sharply. Sit deeply in the saddle and give a firm, upward pull on the outside rein.
Then go forward again. Within the first stride or two, RETEST with the original polite squeeze and release on the outside rein.
If he slows down immediately, PRAISE him. If he doesn’t react immediately, repeat the steps above.
Note from Jane
I want to thank all of you who wrote in asking how we fared during Irene. I truly appreciate your concern and am so grateful that personally we didn’t suffer from this horrific hurricane.
Unfortunately, a lot of our friends and neighbors weren’t so lucky. Many roads were washed out for miles, and it will take weeks to rebuild. Food and water had to be brought in to stranded towns by helicopter.
Yet, it always seems that disasters bring out the very best in us with neighbors helping neighbors, and people rising to the occasion. Above is a picture of a farm belonging to one of our neighbors in Williston. There were 16 horses turned out in this field. Flash floods happen — well — in a flash. If you look in the background, you’ll see the water was neck deep.
The owner had a broken foot and couldn’t do anything. So her totally non-horsey “hero” husband swam out in a wet suit and led one mare to higher ground. The rest of them followed the lead mare to safety.
Take Care,
Jane Savoie
1174 Hill St ext.
Berlin, VT 05602