ayomi wrote:I have a question :3
So, the pony that I ride sometimes is a brat >.< He doesn't listen to me if I want him to turn when he is trotting. He either stops trotting and walks or immediately speeds up which is dangerous.
Does anyone have any tips on how to control him better?
Flexing!! Make him super soft to the bit. Start on the ground or from his back. I prefer to start on a horses back to flex. Grab as close to the bit as you can and let the other side fall, bump the rein over. He will likely try to move in circles, just sit back and let him do that til he stops. Then do the other side. It might take a while, but the goal is to be able to pull his head over to your foot will almost no pressure. That will make him super soft to the bit and contact, and he will listen better to rein cues.
And getting him to move, use a crop, growl or yell at him, but DONT try to kick him harder. They can feel flies on their side, they should be able to feel leg cues. When you begin to kick a horse harder, they end up waiting for that hard kick to move and end up becoming numb to that cue. Give him a leg or verbal cue, if he doesnt listen, smack him lightly on his shoulder or bum. Edit:// If you dont want to smack him or if it doesnt work, smack your boot or the saddle and make a loud noise, that works on some horses better than tapping them with a crop!
And when turning, use leg, lots of leg. Start the circle with a bit of outside leg by the girth to move his front, then as he turns, move your inside leg further back to bend him around that circle, and finish off with more outside leg. Make sure hes solid on leg cues which you can talk to the owner of the pony to work on that if you are taking lessons.
Groundwork is helpful! Lunging, leading, disengaging, all that fun stuff.
I had to deal with the same kind of horse. I leased a four year old for a while and helped my trainer fine tune her. Best of luck to you!