help needed teaching the lope

sandalwoodpark · 08-02-2010, 11:34 AM

ideas and methods for teaching a hotty to lope! wot makes it harder as she has been given a hard time about it previously any ideas guys

Ziggyz · 08-02-2010, 09:22 PM

A bit more info might help.

Age, breed, previous training and style of training, what you have tryed and her reactions to that, your riding level, and ofcourse pics.

mochaminx · 08-02-2010, 09:41 PM

I have NO IDEA LOL, but when Rahni was up at Kathys place for training, her partner was always riding one western trained horse or another, and OMG, I have never seen such slow lopes!! Its fascinating to watch! Even Sienna was stunned. She said to me "Mum, this is weird, that horse LOOKS like its cantering, but it cant be, because look how slow its doing it!" I reckon Rahnis walk was faster... and thats saying something. Good luck, It would be an awesome feeling to ride a lope like that I reckon!!

jlnew · 09-02-2010, 06:42 AM

i had a standardbred who did it naturally, sorta, lol. for him id have to get him going in a fast pace till he broke to canter, then slowly pull him back till he was still cantering at a walk pace. but im guessing thats of abso lutely no help to you.

good luck with it! its awsome when you can lope along while everyone else is bouncing around at a trot!

sandalwoodpark · 09-02-2010, 02:16 PM

lol thanks guys she is appy 3 yrs come back from the trainers couldnt hadle there methods pressure etc and had gotten very scared to pick up the canter let alone lope have taken her back to the beginning and she has calmed right down and has relaxed in transitions alot more!

Western Ranch · 09-02-2010, 03:56 PM

Hi Sandelwoodpark,

As a 3 year old we work first on getting her canter nice and balanced. If her canter is not good, no use trying for a lope. A lope is harder because they have to have a lot more collection and self carriage. Alway remember, any speed that is faster or slower then their natural speed in a gait costs more energy. If you have her canter very well, then you slowly start asking for a couple of steps lope, then let her go again. Keep building up, a couple more steps each time. When she is ready you ask one circle and let go again. Before you know it you will have a nice even and balanced lope.
Don't only ask slow, do lots of speed transitions within a gait. If she is hard in the canter, start with a walk, then a trot, then your canter.
It takes a lot of work to go slow...