McCalls Horse World

[lbeaty]

Hello! Any tips on training a horse to trot in hand?

[lynda]

Would you please be more explicit with your question? Is there a problem you would like to address?

[lbeaty]

I'm sorry for not being more elaborate.

Hana does not move faster with me when I increase my speed when I'm leading her. She will walk faster, but will not pick up a trot. I have tried using a longe whip in my outside hand to cue her from behind.

We go for walks around my yard looking at all of the interesting objects after we work. When we do this, she is usually more forward because she is experiencing new things. I've taken advantage of this by asking then, and she will sometimes break into a trot, however, she seems startled when I started running with her, and she then kind of bounces away, and turns to face me. Almost like she thinks I'm running at her to get her, or trying to play? So, I've been jogging along side her when I'm longing her...just getting her used to the motion, but I haven't gotten close enough to jog right along side her. I'm getting quite a workout!

The only thing I haven't tried (that I know of trying!) is to have someone else help by cuing her from behind while I'm cuing her from the lead with body language and pressure.

I use a rope halter and leadline. She longes well on a line and free in the round pen. She is not lazy at all, she just doesn't know what I'm asking.

Thanks for your help!

[lbeaty]

One addition! There was only one time that Hana actually trotted for enough steps that I could ask for a stop and reward her for the correct response. I was so excited, and figured I finally had something that I could build on it, but alas, I've never been able to repeat it. Any other time that I have succeeded in getting her feet to move faster, she balks before I can reward her.

[lynda]

I suspect that you rewarded the wrong thing when you got her to trot with you. When she does trot with you don't get excited. Just keep moving and say in a calm soothing voice.. good girl...

Getting someone to help you is a good way to get started.. the hard part is that you can't get in that zone which is in front of the shoulder or she will stop and want to turn and look at you.

At first you "sort of " have to get a bit out front and let the horse follow you at a trot. Once the horse knows what you want you can begin to move back into the correct position.. cueing for the trot with a signal - Maybe the word "Trot" and an increase in your energy level as you move into your troting stride.