Reader: I am having problems with speed control. My horse charges forward and using both reins to slow him down is just not working. He is too forward and getting worse. Do you have an exercise that would help me with this problem?

Charles: I have a terrific set of change of direction exercises designed for more advanced transition work. In addition to all the benefits you gain for both showing and pleasure riding purposes, this is also a very important problem-solving exercise for horses that are “too forward.” And too forward can be a huge problem.
Many riders may try to deal with slowing down a charging horse by using a lot of rein. The problem with this is without the proper technique and foundation you end up also putting a lot of pressure on the horse. This may actually raise his emotional level, making his flight instinct kick into gear. The end result can actually be speeding him up! This is a very common problem.
It’s also a great opportunity to begin to use multiple cues and to really start coordinating the control and movement of all of your horse’s major body parts. As always, I recommend using a snaffle for these training exercises.
For this transition exercise, we will be working in a circle. Now, depending on the size of the horse, I prefer working in a 20 meter circle. When doing our circles, we always want to be keeping the horse slightly bent to the inside. If you have been practicing your gives, then the horse should yield nicely and this next exercise should not be a problem. You may want to practice your basic circle work for a few minutes first as a warm-up before the transition work. Once you have the nice bend and response you want then you can begin these exercises.
Start your circle at a nice forward walk, and I mean a real “go someplace” working walk. At this pace you will then develop your 20 meter circle. Once this is established, you will then change direction by finding the center of your circle and passing through the center. As you pass through the center, change reins, and you should be working on a loose rein or “on the buckle,” and then change direction. This is like a serpentine exercise except you are changing direction.
For example, if you are going left, turn to the center in a nice arc, go into the center and then go out in the new direction. The idea is to get the horse’s body aligned with the shoulders behind the head and the hips behind the shoulders at a slight arc.

Seat Cues
Once you are doing this consistently at the walk for several laps, perhaps two to 10 laps, you should then begin to ride it at the trot. Either a sitting or rising trot is fine. The goal is now to incorporate a transition into the exercise, so when you do your change of direction through the center, begin by relaxing your seat, lengthening your leg and then allowing your seat to come down. The rein should be the last thing you pick up if the horse has not already transitioned down to a walk.
If he resists transitioning down to the walk, begin circling down into a tighter circle until he is forced (by physics) to break into a walk. Then once again find your center, pass through and go right back to your exercise at the trot again.
The reason we circle down to the walk is to get the horse to start listening to your seat as the primary cue. You should not have to pull on both of the reins. If you are consistent, by circling down he will figure it out within five to 20 minutes.
Once you are doing this well for both walk to trot and trot to walk transitions, then you can advance to trotting through the center and asking the horse to move out into a canter. If we do our serpentine properly and ask for the canter with the right leg, the horse is then put into position to take the correct lead.
You should now do one complete circle and then transition down with a deep seat and by dropping into your heels. If he fails to transition down off these cues, go ahead and spiral down to smaller circles until he breaks into a trot. Once this happens you should again find your center, pass through the center and change reins to the opposite direction.
Not only is this a great transition exercise, but it really teaches your horse to listen to your seat and further enhances his ability to bend beautifully. It allows you to put the different parts you need that control your horse (the jaw, pole, neck, ribcage and hindquarters) together and working together for you. While you want your horse “listening to your seat” for a huge number of reasons, it really comes back to the key element of control.