Comments on A Teen's Dressage Dream: Everyday training with goals, challenges and motiv...

I'm glad I could help a bit, sorry for my igno...

2011-12-13T20:54:26.854Z

I'm glad I could help a bit, sorry for my ignorance! Pretty much though to stop her taking off fast, you need to teach her a half halt. Which requires a contact with legs and rein.
Let me know how you go :)

Yeah we generally have no leg contact whatsoever. ...

2011-12-13T17:33:46.466Z

Yeah we generally have no leg contact whatsoever. That all makes tons of sense, I'm definitely gonna start trying that. Thanks so much! =]

Thanks guys, feeling a lot better now and have man...

2011-12-12T20:28:34.283Z

Thanks guys, feeling a lot better now and have managed a couple of full meals!
Hmm Lexa, I have no experience in Paso Finos whatsoever, but from what I can tell from Youtube footage it seems that you ride them very differently, not completely classical. Do you try and ride her classically?

I would say try and make her rounder and make sure she stays round in the transition, because the only way she can take off like that is if she can get her head up.
But from the Youtube no one rides them with a contact, which in classical terms would also mean that you wouldn't be able to put your leg on, which explains why she takes off. If you can get a contact, and put your leg on without her taking off, then you can get a nice steady canter. But don't start this in canter, start in walk and trot transitions first and build up to canter so she understands what you want with your legs and reins.

Hope that helps, but as I said I have no idea how you would normally ride a Paso Finos!
Good luck :)

oh my gosh you poor thing, having to drive yoursel...

2011-12-10T23:50:22.069Z

oh my gosh you poor thing, having to drive yourself to the hospital! I hope you feel better soon.
You don't have an indoor?! Oh man, I can't imagine what that'll be like when it gets super cold. I'm so thankful for my indoor, it was below freezing today!
Okay, this might sound like a stupid question, but I just don't know how to go about it since I have Paso Finos. How are you supposed to get them to slow their canter? I've been trying for ages to teach my mare to canter on command without taking off like a racehorse! If I just let the reins loose and give no leg cue, she goes into a nice speed, but if I use the leg cue like I'm supposed to she jumps up and starts galloping.

Awesome post, very inspiring. Hope you feel bette...

2011-12-10T06:50:47.602Z

Awesome post, very inspiring.
Hope you feel better soon.