Using More Leg on Hot Horses

Episode 70: Question: After warming up and we're beginning to work, I have a really hard time keeping his gait consistent, usually start out slow and easy. But as we continue on, he has a tendency to increase his speed and will tense up and occasionally throw his head. Whenever I ask for a change of gait, especially downward transitions in, it most often happens during the lope. It also happens when I'm lunging him prior to riding, and I would like to know your opinion on how my contributing to his craziness and inconsistent gait and how can I do better at helping him relax and slow down? A: Stacy explains that there are many things to consider including: lack of balance between riders hands and legs, riders 'correction' causing more problems, riders concept of how 'light' a horse 'should' be, rider not planning ahead, horse 'trying too hard'.