At 09:36:10 on 14.06.10, Dazzle wrote:
Like Kibby said you have to ride with half halts and not just one but use them every other stride in trot. Your horse needs to sit more on his hocks to stop him rushing and falling flat on his forehand. I would disagree with circles as if he is rushing and on his forehand then the circles would make him more unbalanced. This teaches him nothing. If you are hacking and he rushes are you always going to be able to circle to bring him back? Far better to solve the problem on the straight. A good instructor would be able to help you solve this problem easily.

At 19:02:42 on 17.06.10, Flicka wrote:
I agree with Dazzle on this. I have a mare who used to rush and people always told me to circle but she just whizzed round those too!! I agree half halts are the way forward. And lateral work helped me too as horses that rush are unbalanced and very often not straight.

At 11:09:10 on 15.07.10, LadyJennivieve wrote:
Well, I use both methods, depending on the severity and duration of the rushing. If she goes fast lots, I'll do a 10m circle, knowing that half way around she will slow so I can do a big release. If she canters I'll either do a 10m circle to bring her back or I'll keep her cantering for half a 10m circle more than she wants to, depending on if it's a respectable canter or a bucking fit. I will also do sitting trot and think about walking and then continue trotting once I'm happy with the tempo. But if she's determined to go fast this doesn't work for long (and then I lose my brakes :-o).

At 08:33:16 on 16.07.10, SShowjumper wrote:
everytime he rushes off half halt him put him on a circle and ask for lots of inside bend, then push him with your inside leg to make the circle bigger. then continue as you were if he does it again do the same thing. make sure you are supporting with your leg when you half halt tho as if hes rushing off you actually want to be able to ride with your legs and try not to fight with your hands. also try flexing down the long side inside and out..the idea is to take him mind off rushing forward and channel his energy into something else such a flexing :)

At 17:28:44 on 21.07.10, Ravensmo wrote:
Hi Vectis - do you know if your horse ever raced? Racehorses tend to get faster when you take a hold and maybe, as you said you're not very confident, you hold his mouth as you ask to trot. I know what it's like, I used to be really nervous and realised I would lean forward and hold on to the reins. I spent a long time with a good horse teaching myself to ride with a long rein before I then let myself learn to ride with a contact. I agree with some of the other comments - keep it calm and lots of transitions. If your horse rushes into trot, come back to walk. Every time you get something you don't want, change down a gear. This gives you time to think about what you're doing and make sure you're giving clear signals. :)

At 19:01:18 on 21.07.10, Vectis wrote:
Thanks, everyone for all your thoughts. My horse never raced but I realise I was doing what Ravensmo suggested leaning forward and holding her mouth too tight. Now I've learnt to relax more and guess what we don't rush off anymore so it's much more fun in the school.

At 13:02:00 on 27.07.10, Flicka wrote:
Vectis-that's great to read you've had some good results by making some simple changes. Hope it's still going well for you :)