Angry appy

Question
I have a 17 year old appy named Shasta.I bought him 2 years ago and his former owner trained him as a barrel horse. I LOVE this horse he is super fast when doing poles and barrels, and we dont do this often maybe 2 or 3 times every summer. During his "off season" I like to ride him in my orchard and he always seems to have   that "hottness" and "ready to go" spirit. I dont use spurs, or a whip, all it takes is just a slight nudge in the side and hes off like a rocket. Any suggestions you can give me to slow him up?  

Answer
Hi Kelsey.  Your appy sounds like a fun horse.  However, if he doesn't know when it is time to run and when it is time to ease up and relax you need to work with him on learning how to relax and just move along nicely.

In order to do this you need to work a lot of circles and do a lot of whoaing.  Meaning you need to work on transitions a lot.  Have him walk, then trot, then whoa.  Then have him trot and then trot out and whoa.  Don't do anything for more than one lap around a riding ring.  Trot one lap and then walk.  MAKE HIM WALK IN BETWEEN.  When you canter him, make sure to canter him in small circles....small enough that he can't get up any speed.  As you canter, start widening the circle.  If he starts speeding up, start bringing the circle back in smaller again until he slows back down.  Keep repeating.

I recommend you do this same work on the lunge line with him and teach heim to slow him gaits down.  Bring him in to a smaller and smaller circle around you until he is relaxed and going slow.  Then start letting her back out into a bigger circle.  As soon as he starts speeding up start gathering the lunge line back up so the circle shrinks back down until he slows down.  Constantly keep repeating EASY< EASY.  Talk real soft and real calm.  Do not shout or yell...make your voice copy the mood you want him to be in...quiet and calm.

Once you have him under control and listening and relaxed on the lunge line and in a fenced in area under saddle...you can try the apple orchard again.  But still do some circles and make him steer and make him whoa a lot and keep him easy.  DO NOT LET HIM RUN!  If he runs he will go right back to wanting to run when he sees an open area.

No, this will not at all inhibit him will to run when he sees the barrel course.  Horses can decipher the difference between when it is time to perform and when it is not.  You just have to set the boundries and DO NOT RUN unless it is around a pattern.  This slow work and teaching your horse to relax will greatly improve her contesting actually because he will be more responsive and react quicker to your cues.  A horse that just wants to RUN doesn't turn as well and check itself at the barrel as well as a horse that has learned to control it's emotions and be calm.

Give it some time and be consistant.  Keep mixing things up and stay calm yourself.  Working a horse on the slow work can be as fun and as rewarding as running and turning fast.  Take your time and be patient.  Have FUN, Cheri