Calming down and pivoting

Question
Hey, I have two mares that I am currently training, and for the most part they're doing great. But both of them have a problem each that I can't solve, and I was hoping you could try to help me.

Twister: Twister is a seven year old barrel racing mare. She is half QH and half TB/Arab. For the most part she is well trained and I enjoy riding her. Her main problem though is she gets very easily excited and headstrong. Around the barrels or not, she always wants to run. Doesn't matter when, where, or for how long. When I'm holding her back, she tries to leap forward the drag the rein out of my hand and does a minie rear with each stride. I was hoping you could offer advice on how to calm her down. Also she does stop, but I want to also learn how to get her to stop immediantly when I say "whoa!" I've tried stopping her at the walk and saying whoa then quickly backing up, but it doesn't seem to working to well.
Epona: This is my four year old mare. Epona is coming along very nicely but I wanted to ask you if you knew how to get her to plant her hind inside leg when moving her shoulders only in a circle. She isn't terrible, but her hind leg does move a lot and she is slow. Do you know how to get her to improve her posture, and then her speed later on?

Thank you for your time!

Answer
Hello Marianne,
Twiwter is more of a retraining problem.
She is obviously excited and upset by the barrel racing and the flight instinct takes over.
I think you should NOT game her for a while. I believe that you should go back to quiet retraining, probably in a ring.


Do not have barrels in the ring. Work her on circles and transition, light lateral work, stopping from your seat and legs and a VERY light rein. You  probably need to work on your riding skills ( as we all do). Work on half halts so your horse understands and listens to you.

Many horses do not like what they do...you can see it in some hunters, some dressage,reining, etc. It is not especially the discipline itself that is bad, but how horses are trained to it. If it is not a partnership then it is usually the trainer's fault, not the horse's , and we all have to work on helping our horses.

I do not know what you are using in her mouth( bit  or a hackamore), but in your ring try a bitless Bridle for a while. Also find out how to do lateral work with her if you do not know how. The good barrel racers very rarely run barrels...they mostly do basic training.You need to train the mind of the horse.....

With Epona, when she is ready you can start to practice quarter and then half turns on the
haunches, and turn backs to the rail. Your outside leg will control her outside hind leg to help it remain stationery. You will use a supporting outside rein or a neck rein. If you use too much direct or inside rein, you will cause her to move her shoulder. This has to be gradual, as the horse needs to mentally and physically understand the rider's aids. I will help you more through EXPERTS or through Summersdressage@aol.com,www.MitziSummers.com

I did not answer more quickly as my computer was down for over a week and I was on the road giving clinics. Thanks. Mitzi