HOW TO GET YOUR HORSE TO CRAVE A SLOW LOPE.

Watch how I teach my 3 yr old " Champ " to crave the transition down to a small slow lope.
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[@maxsanchez2339]

“Set your horse up for success” something ALOT of “horseman” really need to work on. I love how you didn’t go ahead and try those lead changes because you knew it wasn’t a good time.

[@mattmillsreining1]

Max Sanchez, it’s not a perfect science cause they can’t talk to us!! We all should be trying to improve our horsemanship! 👍🏾💯〽️

[@taylorprice9433]

This method is golden! Just loped my horse on a lose rein without bolting for the first time in years! Thank you!

[@sharroon7574]

This horse is so cute with the white markings and light mane.

[@mattmillsreining1]

Shar Roon, we like him too! We call him Champ. He’s just a youngster but has a ton of talent! 〽️💯

[@calin7017]

Now I`ve got it right. I`ve been pushing the buttons blindly, sometimes getting it right, but never knowing why and sometimes getting it wrong, also not knowing why. It is nice when someone put it down nice and simple so everybody can see it. Thanks.

[@mattmillsreining1]

Calin, I hear you! Keep at it! 🤙🏾💯〽️

[@ChantelBartges]

Gosh I love the coloring on this horse

[@TheVodec]

When a horse wants to run, let him run. Just like my Drill Sgt used to do me. lol Now that I think about it, my Sensei would do the same thing with sword work. Let you swing away at the pail and say "No" over and over again. When your arm got tired and you let your legs and hips throw the sword was when you started getting a "Yes". Another tool for the tool box here.

[@mattmillsreining1]

Great real life analogies!!

[@grantrobertdavies]

Great video man :) Great tips inspires me to ride again...

[@mattmillsreining1]

Grant Robert Davies, that’s awesome!! That inspires me to keep making them! 👊🏾💯〽️

[@equinediamonds42805]

beautiful training 🤩 but seriously can we just talk about how gorgeous that horse is 😱😱😱😱

[@aliequestrian1301]

I'm hoping this works the same for a hot horse..😅 I've got an ex QH racehorse so I'll have to try this with him today🤷🏼‍♀️

[@PL-xc2bd]

how did that work out?!!?

[@bargreiner]

Love your tips! Wish you would come to TN sometime!!!

[@mattmillsreining1]

Glad to hear it, I'll keep 'em coming!

[@bargreiner]

got any suggestions on how to get a lazy horse to to speed up in the run down- for a non Pro? I feel like I'm working harder then he is...🤠. thank you

[@mattmillsreining1]

Darlene Green, Red Bull?? 😂. Just kidding, there’s several reasons why that could be happening. Try keeping your legs fairly close to your horse and work on the response to voice cues for speed. Good luck! 👍🏾💯〽️

[@michaelschulze6545]

what a beauty

[@valeriehudson7276]

Nice, yes the worst thing to do is insist they slow down . . I have seen you in person at SP. You do a fine job; good mental attitude to be with a horse . . use what they give you to get what you want.

[@mattmillsreining1]

Valerie Hudson, thanks for the kind words! 💪🏾〽️

[@pjstar2009]

I like the way you positively respond to the negative responses. Besides that, my favorite trainer told me long ago, you can't make a horse slow down if they want to go fast. So, I agree with you, you move their feet just past their signal that they finally do want to slow down and then the release. This was really hard to master on hot headed horses and I'm not sure I ever did so, it was probably age that finally caught up to us, lol. My question is one of mine other horses naturally carries his head low like yours. Are you purposely doing that or is that his natural head carriage? And secondly, would you want that position or do you change that?

[@devilssemblance5938]

Great video! I've been trying to work on a nice controlled canter with my four year old arabian mare, she's a bit of a hot head anywhere above a walk, so it'll be interesting to try this out. We both have the issue of loving to go a little too fast! 😅

[@mattmillsreining1]

Good luck!

[@devilssemblance5938]

@@mattmillsreining1 thank you!

[@centerpointstables400]

Question, how to deal with a horse that breaks when asked to slow down? When we keep cantering she just breaks more frequently rather than slowing at all. Thank you!

[@mattmillsreining1]

Hey there, so that could be a couple things. Typically that’s a suppleness issue. They hollow their back into the transition and lose the reach with their hind in. Try focusing on keeping your horses top line a little more round. I’d also try counter cantering after your transition. It will be Very hard in the beginning but after practice you will notice how much more control you have. That’s the best I can do without seeing it!! 🤙🏾😎〽️〽️. Hope it helps

[@AW_2007]

That is a sweet horse

[@mattmillsreining1]

Thank you!

[@privacymatters5204]

Lovely markings and he has such a kind disposition.

[@victoriamorris7619]

Are you using a correction bit?

[@davidberg5077]

Hey mat I have a horse that if i do this she braces and gets worse drops her shoulder and continues to get sloppy. She is still green but how can I address this.

[@karloatelj4257]

True.

[@lisabliss79]

Love the video and your horse. How would you do this exercise if you don’t have a arena like that. The arena at the barn is very small.

[@Bekahsassy]

At least you have an Arena, I have none lol. Work with what you have as do all my grown work in their pasture. Like he said, do your lead changes, only yours would be allot sooner and your canter turning him would be allot shorter hence more work for the horse in turn the horse would probably listen to you allot sooner lol. Oh! PS: it also depends on your horse if he/she is persistent like mines lol.

[@lisabliss79]

Sabata Dupuch Oh it’s to small for lead changes. I don’t have any pastures to ride in. Oh mine is something I tell ya. Lol. She feels 100mph is the only way to go. Lol. I will give it a try. Never hurts to try I reckon. Lol.

[@Bekahsassy]

@@lisabliss79 is it smaller then a 40 ft diameter? Round pens are normal 60 ft in diameter and I did allot of lead changes in a round pen, not to mention full speed gallop, Mare when she was going nuts, lol. No circle is to small. The smaller the circle in lead changes the harder the horse works.

[@lisabliss79]

Sabata Dupuch I’m not sure exactly what the size is. I know a full size round pen that the trainers have is bigger than it. I haven’t tried lead changes with her as she’s just full throttle. Last time I tried loping her we slipped all the time. Because of going so fast.

[@Bekahsassy]

@@lisabliss79 Oh ok. You can help that by doing allot of trotting, cantering in the little area you have. It will take time but you'll have a safer horse when going fast. You should use the space you have no matter how small it is.it will teach them even in small spaces, as a matter of fact even better.

[@SweetBabyGerken]

You say Champ is three and in the video you mention you’ve been training on him for about a year. There are a lot of mixed reviews out there about when it’s okay to start backing a horse. What would you recommend as a good age to begin backing? And how do you ease into it? At what age do you expect to be able to be riding and training regularly? I’ve got a two year old coming up on three and have heard so many mixed opinions on backing her. Many saying to wait at least until 4 years +.

[@mattmillsreining1]

What breed??

[@HoldingMoneyRansom]

I'd say the bone structure says, this horse clearly is built good to ride, some breeds take longer and most QH and bigger built horses are ridden at 2-3yrs old.

[@seasands3486]

He sure has a busy tail!

[@tracyjohnson5023]

Works for some horses. 2 questions why are most reining horses traveling with ears below withers instead of level or slight above topline? Secondly the grey working in back has a 4 beat lope and super strung out. Is there a purpose or are they just getting exercise and goofing around? Thanks

[@mattmillsreining1]

Tracy Johnson, great questions! I hear or see your 1st one ALL the time!! A large number of reining horses DO in fact travel lower than years past due to breeding in my opinion. I can only speak for myself here. I do prefer a horse that travels with its neck lower ONLY because those horses are typically in a better position to be athletic and explosive which are desired traits in our discipline. Forcing a horse to have its head down does NOT work! The main thing is allowing a horse to be comfortable within what you’re asking them to do. HOWEVER! Just like our children we try to shape and mold them into what WE think is the best version of themselves. Over time we meet in the middle. There are things that individuals would like to change in ALL disciplines. Which is ok! Question 2? That horse is just cruising around. I don’t demand that my horses are doing “ something “ 100% of the time! I really appreciate your questions and I encourage you to stop by the next time you’re in Scottsdale, AZ and come watch me train live! 💯🤙🏾〽️

[@tracyjohnson5023]

Matt Mills thank you! I absolutely agree with the breeding explanation. Same thing with wp horses these days. In fact for better or worse the QH breed has in many instances become discipline specific through breeding imo. The breed has lost some versatility for all around, but is more competitive at higher levels with reining, barrels, etc. I thought grey was just goofing. Glad to know you don't ask for frame all time lol. Do y'all ever trail ride?

[@strixxberrycrunch4461]

His headset. What’s the best way to keep a level headset with a horse that immediately drops the head but then picks the head back up in a trot/ lope?

[@brucecoulthard7879]

yeah all that’s good on horse bred to train. Try that on a horse bred to work with more heart and more stamina like an Australian stock Horse or thoroughbred and you’ll find the won’t run out of energy. I don’t you could train our horse to canter slow, I can but I’m just saying some horse have the ticker bred out of them and are easy to teach to go slow. This guys a good hand though and would find a way on any horse he rode.

[@mattmillsreining1]

Bruce Coulthard, I love a challenge!! Over my years of training I haven’t seen it all, but I’ve seen a lot! Trained a ton of different breeds as well. It’s my experience that horses have personalities just like people. You can’t “ breed “ that out of them. To be competitive in my sport of reining, you need a horse that possesses certain qualities for sure. I applaud anyone that has the patience to teach a horse to do anything. Bruce, bring one of those AUSTRALIAN stock horse by! I want to see how I stack up! 😜💯〽️. Thanks for watching!

[@tobycoulthard7187]

thank you Matt for reading my spiel. I'm sure you'd do it easy because your a top hand. I'd like to be your neighbor, I might learn something. Maybe you could come to Australia and put on a clinic one day. keep up the good work

[@mattmillsreining1]

Toby Coulthard, absolutely!!! I actually was in NSW giving a clinic last summer. We LOVED it over there! Beautiful country. Best of luck to you and your horses! 💯〽️

[@Shewolfen]

yeah I think it depends on the horse too . My appaloosa sport horse had mostly throughbred and arabian and when he wanted to run he would run himself to death if left to his own choice.

[@k9six185]

What is the reason for having the horses head at or below his top line?......instead of a natural, specific to each horse, head set. I don’t see horses naturally hold their heads so low when running and playing.

[@mattmillsreining1]

Dan DeGraw, great question! I know it’s very hard for some to believe, but a lot of these reining horses ( which are primarily quarters ) are bred to have a very level top line. They in fact Will run and play with a low headset. 🤙🏾〽️

[@robynmcleroy216]

Matt, do you feel that colts are more apt to be wanting to go the faster route vs.a filly? I am having an issue with my 5yo Colt, he was started late... but we're having speed issues and turning issues. Thank you for your tuesday tips

[@mattmillsreining1]

R&M Quarter Horses, I honestly haven’t noticed too much of a difference between the colts and fillies early on in their training. I will say a good filly/ mare will try as hard OR harder than any stud. If your colt was started late, just be patient with him. Set REALISTIC goals. If you are planning on owning him a long time 5 isn’t very old! 👍🏾💯〽️

[@robynmcleroy216]

@@mattmillsreining1 thank you soo much!! We are still working on things nice and slow, I'm not in any hurry at the moment, although here would like to breed everything he comes across but he's learning that acting a fool only gets him more work lol... I really enjoy your videos and the fact that you explain things normally. Thank you for that! Have a blessed April and I look fwd to watching your run for the million!

[@pdeewee4495]

I know this is old but hopefully I can still get some advice, I’m not sure what to do with this one mare because she’s a Morgan and she just does not get tired, She’ll go around loping for about 15 minutes before she even starts to slow down.What can I do?

[@wassssngt2040]

You can keep holding the reins or wiggle the reins in your hands and then that might get annoying to them so they might try to slow down. make sure to reward them for the smallest thing even if they stop. And you could try depending your seat that's what I would try but that's just my option. :)

[@pdeewee4495]

@@wassssngt2040 I’ve tried😞she gets pissed off with the wiggling on reins and throws her head down, sometimes she even try’s to bolt. And I’m always using my seat properly, but I don’t understand WHY she just does not want to lope she likes the gal-lope🤣 I don’t mind a little freshness but riding her is just annoying because of that sometimes. Also, I got her from a kill pen so I have no insight on her past but all I can think is she developed the habit with whoever owned her last? I’m just having a hard time understanding how to work with her she’s quite hard headed and stand-off ish.

[@wassssngt2040]

When you are jogging move your body like you are going into a canter so the horse will stay at the speed of a jog but will have the gate of a lope.

[@alexxthomas1702]

When are reining horses going to be taught the proper impulsion from the hind and stop running downhill on their front legs? These transitions would be easier to teach and look better in the show pen.

[@NavigatingChaos]

There might be some that do that, but from watching videos and shows, it seems most people do have their horses driving from behind. Most are rounding their backs and getting under themselves. If not...they wouldn't be able to accomplish the slides. They have to be driving from their hind ends and be rounded in their backs in order to get a smooth slide.

[@everettwitt834]

Got a question for you why does KZbin have your videos to where you cannot save them in your watch later. It says turned off for contact for children where the heck is videos for training horses become not good for children???????

[@healinghorses8withrahansia942]

Im impressed when I see people being able to ride with no bit and its not that hard. Its painful to watch a horses mouth being yanked open by a bit. Anyone who thinks this isn't painful to a horse is not very intelligent.

[@mattmillsreining1]

Having feel is very important when training a horse for sure.

[@fairdinkum9454]

Smack smack! 🤣

[@felicitytoad]

🙂

[@qhride1]

tried this on my quarter horse mare and she nearly ran her self to death she just won't tire after an hour

[@dreeandbill]

Which shows that this training just doesn't work. It does for this horse, but even at that, I wouldn't want to actually tire a horse out in order to teach it something. You're going to cause serious damage to the horse....especially horses so young. Really dislike this low carriage of the head in such a young horse.

[@mattmillsreining1]

qhride1, sorry you’re having trouble! ALWAYS!!! Keep your horses health number one! If they are tired, STOP!! Let me explain that in This exercise I AM the one asking this horse for the speed he is displaying!! I’m working on my cue to get him to transition down to a slow lope which is a big maneuver for a reining horse. Not every thing works on every horse, myself included! I Do have hundreds of tutorials on my website that MAY work! Mattmillsreining.com. Good luck! And thanks for watching! 👍🏾💯〽️

[@mattmillsreining1]

Andrea Ferguson, an open mind is the most valuable tool when training a horse. My horses are my Life AND Passion! Good luck to you! 🤙🏾〽️

[@NoThankUBeQuiet]

shank snaffle. SNAFFLES DONT HAVE SHANKS.

[@mattmillsreining1]

Actually there are

[@Outdoorliving74]

I alwAys think the really slow lope is bad for horses knees and I see yet another horse with a knee brace on 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@mattmillsreining1]

Nathan Barden, thanks for responding! Our horses health is Always number one! That knee brace you reference is a protective knee boot made by Classic Equine. It’s purpose is to prevent horses from hitting their knees while spinning. Actually has zero “ brace “ to it at all. Merely padding ! 👍🏾〽️

[@Outdoorliving74]

Matt Mills ah thanks Matt, I stand corrected, thank you for letting me know. I saw Clinton had one on Titan before and though it was a support. Great video btw

[@mattmillsreining1]

Nathan Barden, I’m SO GLAD you enjoyed it!! All good!! 💯〽️

[@mattmillsreining1]

The Knee boots are actually no different than shin guards that kids would wear for soccer.

[@breannaciborowski3429]

My horse has a fast lope

[@mattmillsreining1]

Than this is a perfect exercise for your horse. 👍🏾

[@breannaciborowski3429]

Matt Mills I tried the exercise with my horse but it didn’t help

[@tracyjohnson5023]

Breanna Ciborowski this exercise is just tiring the horse out to get them ready mentally and physically to slow lope. Instead with your horse you might try collecting for couple strides then speeding up then collecting again. Let horse go then collect for a few etc. even if it’s a little collection in between lots of gallop lol. Your horse should collect well at walk and trot first though. Teach horse to cue up for lope from walk too. Lots of things to work on. Eventually with collection and boring repetition most will slow lope.

[@mattmillsreining1]

Breanna Ciborowski, thanks for trying! Welcome to the world of training horses! I really believe these guys are just like kids... sometimes it take a different approach to get the result we desire. This is what I consider an “ advanced “ method to get a reining horse to transition from a large fast circle, to a small slow. Not really to teach a “ hot “ horse to stay slow. USUALLY something is bothering the horse that has the “ gas “ on all the time. It may be time to go back to some groundwork and check your foundation. I’d love for you to check out my subscription page, I’ve got over 200 instructional videos that are on a ton of different topics. Mattmillsreining.com.

[@mattmillsreining1]

Tracy Johnson, “ just tiring the horse out “ isn’t exactly what this exercise is all about! BUT I really appreciate you jumping in and offering some advice on this subject! There is no SET method to get a desired result with our horses. Using some common sense and keeping things fair regarding pressure/ release will always keep you moving forward! 💯〽️

[@olivialynnbenavides]

Well your handsome and I haven’t seen a handsome trainer since I was in high school. You are very good but I wish you would get conscience of the clucking which no disrespect at all but it’s incredibly annoying because it reminds me of the European riders make all kinds of ridiculous other noises. Obviously you are very very good outside of that. I’d send a horse to you and I’m a trainer myself. But I’m a starter. So the horses I send have an awesome foundation. Bravo

[@sylvanathornton2119]

Why did I know the answer was going to be "run him into the ground" before I ever watched the video? And a 3-year old, at that. Whatever happened to slowly building a horse's strength and balance, then gently teaching him to carry more weight behind? You know, explain things to the horse in a way it can clearly understand and in a way the horse is physically capable of? Something called "teaching", rather than having stuff happen by accident. And just how will running him into the ground make his muscles capable of carrying extra weight and doing the extra work of a slow lope? The muscles are worn out by that point. They're doing nothing but tensing, no longer capable of relaxing and engaging properly. But who cares, right? It's just bones and joints that end up breaking down. As long as he wins that money early, who cares if he can still walk as an eight-year old.

[@pattiparker6618]

Why is he ringing his tail so much ?

[@tracyjohnson5023]

Patti Parker because he’s getting spurred

[@mattmillsreining1]

Patti Parker, Champ has a Very active tail naturally. Whether I’m riding him OR not. A horse can “ ring “ its tail due to a rider over using his leg/ spur. This is not the case here. Champ is very sensitive and requires very little leg pressure. He WILL be in great shape come fly season here in the desert! Great question! 👍🏾💯〽️

[@olorii]

@@tracyjohnson5023 I didn't notice a single point during that whole lope where Matt spurred Champ. He looks like he just loves to run and did that all on his own, and probably from a bit of Matt's seat saying go. Not even much more than a tap that I can see when they got into the lope. Not sure what you're talkin' about!

[@williamlane9140]

Let's see....you've been riding this horse for a year and you're still pulling on him to get control and get his head set. Hmmm.....

[@mattmillsreining1]

William Lane, Hmmm... thanks for watching! There May be more to it! 😉

[@williamlane9140]

@@mattmillsreining1 I'm sure there is Matt. Keep up the good work. You have talant.

[@mattmillsreining1]

William Lane, Thanks! 🤙🏾