How to Get a Slow Lope from a 10-Year-Old Horse

In western riding circles, the slow lope is very much in fashion. Competitors in Western Pleasure, Western Riding, Western Horsemanship and other equestrian competitions are expected to demonstrate a lope that is fluid, well-balanced and slow. Teaching a horse to lope slowly is not as easy as it sounds, and it can take many months of careful training to perfect this seemingly simple gait.

Things You'll Need

  • Bridle
  • Saddle
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Instructions

    • 1

      Assess the horse's training to be sure he has a solid foundation in the walk, jog and normal lope. The horse must have a good foundation in basic riding before he can begin to collect and slow down.

    • 2

      Work the horse in circles at an extended trot, making circles of varying sizes and changing directions often. This helps the horse to engage his hindquarters and carry more of his weight on his back end. In order to perform the very slow lope favored in Western Pleasure, Western Riding and other popular classes, the horse must drive his body forward from behind, using his powerful hindquarters as the engine.

    • 3

      Transition from the extended trot to a lope while still tracking on the circle. This helps to keep the horse pushing from behind as he moves into a lope. Do not worry as much about speed as about balance and correctness at this point. Ensure that the horse is on the proper lead -- the inside front foot should hit the ground first on every stride. Continue working the horse on a circle at a lope. As the horse gains balance and engages the hindquarters, he should slow down naturally.

    • 4

      Circle the horse at a lope using circles of various sizes. Move from a large sweeping circle at a relatively fast speed, down to smaller circles at slower and slower speeds. Concentrate on getting the horse to work in as small a circle as possible. The small circles help the horse to engage the hindquarters and move correctly while going at a slow speed.

    • 5

      Watch for signs that the horse is becoming strung out, or that he is heavy on the front end. These signs include a choppy gait, a neck that drops very low and a nose that moves far forward. You should be able to feel the horse as he drops out of frame, since the ride will get a lot less comfortable.

    • 6

      Gather the reins and sit back in the saddle if you feel your horse begin to string out. Push him forward with your seat and legs while pulling back slightly on the reins to bring him back in frame. Continue working in smaller circles until the horse regains his balance, then move back out into larger circles while maintaining the slow speed.