I show my Morgan Horse, Quinn, in Flat Hunter Pleasure and Equitation. I have been struggling and there is one thing that always kills our scores, which is that he won’t flat walk, instead he jigs and judges want to see a nice elastic flat walk. This only happens at horse shows, just when I’m showing, not when I am warming him up in the same ring but just when music is playing, there is 10 people riding, the judge is calling out instructions, etc. Does anyone have any idea’s to make my horse flat walk so that we can do better at our next show?
Ear plugs?
Are you nervous? He could be feeding off of you? I know it’s easier said than done to not be nervous…
I am never nervous, he’s a super honest guy. Ear plugs may be a good thing to try!!!
This is pretty common in horses who are smart enough to learn the class routine. My Arab cross gelding went through a phase of jigging on the reverse in the show ring, because he knew that the judge would be calling for a canter shortly after changing directions. I spent an entire summer hauling him to every inexpensive open/fun/saddle club show I could find and making him walk the entire second way of the ring. It took several shows, but he eventually learned to wait for instructions.
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Yes, I also used to ride one that would anticipate the reverse, I would take a rrreeeaaallly long time to reverse and by that time I got back to the rail it was time to trot.
I remember riding with an older gal who’s philosophy was “Yaknow, we are all going home tonight and having dinner–this is not the end of the world”!
Loved her!
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Do you practice the walk at home and your walk transitions? It something we often forget to do because it seems so easy. Treat the walk like the trot or canter and practice it just as often.
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It’s hard to fix cause you have to do it in the ring.What I always did was instead of keeping my horse straight I would rotate between shoulder in and haunches out depending how I could cover up behind horses and not seen. Really make him step under himself and keep his mind busy and switch it up every few strides if needed.
So basiclly 3 steps of shoulder in, steps of straight, as soon as they jig, I ask for more shoulder in, steps of straight, if jig, go to haunches in. You learn to position yourself in a busy ring to hide the fixing moments as well. Corners help hide and on straightaways its better to be shoulder in than haunches in. That want the judge isn’t looking at the butt.
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There are a few decent trainers in the area, it really depends what level you are riding at and if you want to go to the rated shows v. schooling shows, etc.
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THIS. I had a pony that would anticipate and I entered many flat classes to school him by having him walk the second direction and work up to trotting with the group and eventually cantering. Just had to be flexible and patient, so that he would be patient and stay relaxed.
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What do you mean practice the walk? Exercises or collecting him at the walk or? Could you maybe explain more please?
I train by myself and show rated shows. Mostly State finals, and regionals.
When I say practice the walk, do you work on it? Or do you just walk on a loose rein and then ask for serious business at trot and canter? Horses need to practice the walk just as much as other gaits. Make a distinction between a walk BREAK and a working walk. Get your horse moving into the bridle and working at pace within the walk gait. Try some lateral movements and control his shoulders at the walk.
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When I used to show Arabs and Half/Arab Main ring hunters and English horses, most of them would get excited in the show ring. When it came time to reverse we would take a big loop to the inside and then walk straight to the rail and take our time so that once we got to the rail it was close to the time they would ask to show at the canter or trot. Also, if they did have us walk for a while, and the horse started to get jiggy at the walk, try to work your bridle, flex his nose slightly to the inside then the outside.
As was said above, if your horse will wear ear plugs that will help too.
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I sometimes find when my horse gets jiggy I respond by tighening my butt cheeks and hips, which makes me tight. Sometimes just making myself sit heavy (not hovering above the saddle), unclench my butt cheeks and relaxing the hips can help. By me getting tight and buying into the jigging it creates tension which makes the horse jig more in response to the tension. And don’t forget to breathe deeply. Holding your breath increases the tension.
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