Horse Illustrated Magazine

Q: I have a six-year-old gelding
and I only ride him on the trails. I can’t get him into a comfortable,
controlled lope. He’s basically very slow, and if I push him with my legs to
speed up, he’ll just do a fast, disorganized trot. Then sometimes, if we’re in
an open field, he’ll eventually break into a rough gallop. How do I get him to
just do a nice lope?

A: Unfortunately, horses don’t naturally lope, which is the
western version of the English canter. We create the lope or canter by teaching
the horse to collect (shorten) their galloping stride. The horses you see
quietly loping down the trail on a loose rein no doubt spent years doing ranch
work, competing in the show pen or otherwise learning the basics that your
horse apparently missed. So while your plans are to “only” trail ride, the only
way to teach your horse to lope is to spend a considerable amount of time in an
arena. If you don’t have access to an arena, then a flat, open area with good
footing, where you can work consistently in a large circle, will do.

Your primary job on your circular track is to improve your
communication with your horse. A slow, laidback demeanor can be an attribute in
a trail horse, but your gelding still has to respect your leg cues. When you
press inward (squeeze) with your legs, he should respond promptly. He should
skip the strung out trot and go directly into the gallop. Then you must have
the confidence to ride the gallop for a few strides. Increase your contact on
your horse’s mouth by holding gently with both reins. After a few strides, he
should respond by collecting his stride and slowing down. If he breaks into his
disorganized trot instead, send him back into the gallop, keep circling, and
ask again for collection and slowing. Your goal is to create energy (the gallop)
and then package it better (by collecting it into a lope). Staying on a circle
will help. Because your horse is perpetually turning, he must shorten his
stride to remain balanced around all those turns.

If your horse continues to struggle you have to contemplate
how your riding might be contributing to your horse’s behavior. Do you kick
with your legs and then, once he bursts into a frantic pace, grab the reins
with your hands? Are you unbalanced in the saddle, with an insecure seat? If
so, every gait will feel rough and uncomfortable until you learn to sit deeply
and move with the motion of the horse. Consider taking some lessons from a
local instructor, one who works with recreational riding horses. Not only will
you get some help in your quest for that nice lope, but you’ll also get some
input on how to become a better, more effective rider.