Working with a fast horse

From Mugwump:
http://mugwumpchronicles.blogspot.com/2008/08/warp-drive.html

Then I bridled the very foamy and wheezing Ted, and got on.I put him on the rail, and threw out my reins. He immediately took off.I pulled him into the rail and essentially did a roll back.I didn't execute a proper roll back though. I just yanked him through it like a dude on a rent-a-plug.As we turned the other way, he walked for a step or two. I made sure he was on a very loose rein, and that my body was relaxed and quiet.He took off again, and I yanked him into the rail again, and released my rein as soon as he walked that step or two.We did this for a while. Ted couldn't believe I wasn't hanging on his face. To him, a loose rein meant go.I realized he expected me to work him hard, he had no idea his behavior was causing Lyn to hold him in all the time. He was worried. He had no clue what anybody wanted. He would gas up in anticipation of the tight hold he was normally ridden with.So I kept it up. I can't give you an exact time frame,( training is usually as exciting as watching paint dry) but I probably did the loose rein thing for an hour or so before Ted was walking around the arena relaxed and happy.

I hadn't pulled back on him once during this whole time. I just said "Whoa". I didn't try to stop him until he was really ready to quit.When I turned him into the fence I just turned him, I didn't pull back. I also only pull one rein at a time.I wanted Ted to take responsibility for his speed.I ended every ride with a quiet, loose rein walk.When he had his walk, trot, lope transitions solid (I transition up the same way I talked about in the last post, and come down with an exhale, a deepened seat, and a lift of my rein hand) I changed our routine.We started the day in our big arena. I expected a walk around the perimeter on a loose rein. Then I would do my basic reining work out. Lots of circles on a loose rein, different sizes and speeds.I worked Ted hard, but made sure my priority was his level of calm.If he blew, which he did often, I would shag his little butt back up to the little arena and repeat our first workouts. Then Ted would still have to finish whatever work I had originally planned.If he broke gait, up or down, I would haul him through a roll or two until he was walking and start again.I was extremely consistent. My cues were clean and to the point. I spent a lot of time just standing. If he moved I would lope a few circles and then see if he wanted to be still.I still hadn't pulled back on him. If he didn't rate off my seat we would rollback.we started walking around the place for his cool down. If he got goofy, back to the arena we'd go for another little workout. Then we'd try to walk again.By the time Lyn came back from vacation he was walking around the ranch like an old dude. He liked it too.It took Lyn awhile to get the hang of a loose rein. So we stayed in the upper arena for awhile, and reinforced the initial walk, trot, lope cues.Then I added a step. I had Lyn sit on Ted with a loose rein. She would begin to bump him with both legs. He would jump forward with every intention of taking off. I had Lyn pull him straight into a back. (Finally, he got a pull!)Not a pretty back, just haul on him until he backed up.Then Lyn would release, slow count to three, and do it again.The result was Ted eventually began to take a cautious step forward, almost on tip toes, when Lyn bumped him. When he crept forward Lyn would relax, and let him walk out. If he took off she would haul him back.I wanted to instill slow into his brain. He needed to quit reacting to every bump and thump that his rider gave him. I wanted Ted to think before he responded.This is NOT an exercise to do on a fresh horse. This is an end of the ride thing. Ted got to where Lyn could lift her rein hand, and he would pause, and wait to see what Lyn wanted. Kind of a cowboy half halt. If he didn't pause, she would back him.Then we began trail riding. If Ted would jig or start to pull I had Lynn zig-zag him. She would guide him left until his feet moved one or two steps left, then take him right.I would continue on in front with my horse.The more he jigged, the farther behind he got.When he finally walked Lyn would release her reins, and relax.Since this was a variation of our arena work, he picked it up quickly. He got further when he walked on a loose rein, he realized he could catch up to my horse when he walked quietly, in a straight line.Once again, consistency was the key.Lyn would make contact with Ted's mouth when she had something to say.If he leaned on her hands she would back him.If any of my horses pull against my contact, I back them. Just a step or two. But I always do it. I back with my legs by the way, I only pull if they resist me.So Ted started waiting for Lyn.That is the key to soothing a wound up horse. They have to learn to wait.