Ranch Riding Maneuvers: Teach the EXTENDED TROT

[@colleendonahuehorsestransf6674]

Yay so happy to see another upload! Can't wait to start using these tips.

[@zacharias.horsemanship]

Thanks, Colleen!

[@shawnpetersen6575]

Great information, thank you!

[@PiromancerFreak]

I really like your instruction. Could you do a video on managing split reins? Or do you have one?

[@zacharias.horsemanship]

I don't have one out, but that's a great idea, we'll do it. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@PiromancerFreak]

@@zacharias.horsemanship Cool! thank you :) would love to see it!

[@InSpechtR]

I second this!

[@emilylewis7642]

Good video! Lots of helpful tips. What are your thoughts on "fast" vs. "extended" trot? I didn't hear you really describe what the judge is looking for in the extended trot. I've seen some horses show a difference in speed but no extension. They just get faster, quicker, choppier and it's not very pretty to watch at all. Extend means to lengthen or make longer, larger or wider. To me that means that each stride should be lengthened to show a true "extension", but I see many people just posting as fast as they can. Can you please clarify what judges really are looking for in the gait itself?

[@zacharias.horsemanship]

Emily, that's such a great point and I regret not addressing it at least briefly in this video. I'll try to make another video within the next couple months to talk about that, because it's very relevant to the subject. You're very right about the lengthening of the stride, not just simply adding speed to the equation. Thanks for your thoughts, I really appreciate it!

[@justanotheridahocowgirl]

This is very detailed and helpful, thank you for posting it. How do you get a higher energy & speed horse to get to that slow jog in the first place?

[@ThatChesnutPoloPony]

Not the creator of the video but I recommend a lot of walk to jog and jog to walk transitions. I also recommend making the horse ride through a small circle, which forces them to come back to you and slow down

[@justanotheridahocowgirl]

@@ThatChesnutPoloPony Thank you a ton! Do you have any tips for good circles?

[@irenejones1112]

What is the bit you are using? thank you

[@timandersonhorsetraining]

You seem to be emphasizing the downward transition with this horse, I know you said he had more go than whoa. In the beginning do you generally initially spend a good bit of time on the transitions then more time on the extended trot later to get a better quality movement? If so do you find this better than developing a quality extended trot then refining the transitions? Maybe you do generally spend more time on the trot between transitions and this shorter trotting was for time constraints for this video?

[@zacharias.horsemanship]

Tim, thanks for the question. You observed correctly.. The reason I'm emphasizing the downward transition so much with this horse is because I know he has no shortage of drive, and if I spend too much time at the extended trot this early, I'll have a hard time keeping him slow and mentally connected in the future. If I were working with a lazier horse, I'd spend more time getting them comfortable with extra speed and extention, and rewarding them for that more than the comeback. 👍

[@EmersynNordhagen09]

My horse has extremely bumpy gaits trot and lope that I can’t sit and barley post and he when I first start to work him he want to go out faster but once I ride him in circles he will slow down. What can I do to improve this? I also cannot keep contact in my saddle and sometimes I have had my feet fly out of my stirrups what would be your advice? I have a few videos of his trot to.

[@teresapellman2402]

My daughters horse is hard to get to go on a loose rein. She is reigning bred. She Is pretty much forward At all her gaits but not crazy run off forward. She just will not stay when you release and pitch her off.

[@loganlanier]

How do I know when my horse is truly extended versus simply speeding up? My horse does speed up based on my body language (sitting and posting) but doesn’t quite get that true extension and I’m not sure how to help him get there..

[@zacharias.horsemanship]

Hey Logan, Great question. To get a great extension, a horse has to learn how to lengthen in the back and relax through the topline so they can actually reach. If your horse is tight in the back and wants to raise up through transitions instead of reaching into them, often the stride will quicken, but not extend. So, working on collection really helps get a correct, long, extension. Hope this helps.

[@loganlanier]

Thank you so much! I will keep working on this. Any other videos for this or collection or helping build a “frame” I’d love to see 😍

[@zacharias.horsemanship]

@@loganlanier kzbin.info/www/bejne/r6GViniLg81_fsk Here's one on the first steps of teaching collection. Thanks for watching!

[@jennreid3565]

What is the exact que to push them into it? Is it just the post?

[@zacharias.horsemanship]

Yes, posting or standing, and driving with your legs. You never, ever want to ask for the extended trot while sitting. Just as you don't want to ever ask the horse to lope while you're standing during the extended trot. 👍

[@horsehaircreationsbykaren]

Off topic, but being a grandma, I want to see your baby!

[@zacharias.horsemanship]

I'll introduce him soon! 😉 I'm almost cleared to ride again, so more videos are coming!