Rant Of The Week

Troping

Week 1: Troping
The most requested rant was on Troping (1/2 trot 1/2 lope)
Personally, I think it gives western pleasure a bad name to those that aren't in it "big time."
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In the pleasure pen, slow shouldn't (and doesn't) matter. Sure you don't wanna be running around like a maniac, but you should still have forward motion. Judges want to see self carriage, flat knees, slow legs, level heads, good drive in the hind legs, staying off its front end (being not falling forward), good responses, FORWARD MOTION etc. Slow legs does not mean slow motion. So many trainers think that now and it's not correct.
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"How do you fix this problem once it's already started?"
Well, dont worry about speed. Push them out until they move correct, then once they get it, slowly bring them back to a good pace.
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"What if they run off with you while you are trying to get it?"
If they run off while you are trying to get forward motion, slow them down a little like you normally would.
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Keep them off your hands as well. (use a snaffle; make sure it's sorta lose, and use "machine gun hands" basically work out of your wrists as quick as you can. Don't forget to give back when they do.) by doing this with your wrists, the snaffle dose the work. DO NOT ever pull while in a snaffle. It teaches them to push agains your hands, and escape from The bridle.
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This is what works for my horses so I get it if you disagree with me. That's fine, just giving an example of what my trainer has me doing and why.