Verified answer

I don't know what discipline you ride (english or western) but when you give your horse a "loose rein" you are essentially telling your horse that she has the control and freedom to decide what pace to set and what direction to go in and that is exactly what she is doing. Reins are a communication tool used for several things such as turning, bending, slowing the pace for each gait, stopping, etc. as well as "fine tuning" your leg cues. For example you might ask your horse for a trot with your legs but then ask for a slower paced trot using a half-halt with the reins. so basically when you relinquish the reins you are relinquishing a large part of your communication with your horse and that leaves the horse to be the one who makes the decisions since there is no communication from you. I often allow my horse to walk on a loose rein as a reward for a job well done after he has accomplished a specific task we have been working on and when I do that I am telling him "Good job, I will let you alone for a few minutes and not ask you for anything" and by doing that I am giving over the decision process to him and not making any demands on him (hence the "reward" for a job well done). If you want your horse to maintain a specific gait or a specific pace in a gait you have to maintain the communication thru the reins. Also, when you give a loose rein at a canter, you are basically giving your horse her "head" which really tells her that she is free to run as fast as she wants to and for some breeds, thoroughbred, arabian, hanoverians, etc. who really like to run it is pretty much "play time" and they will go as fast as they can. So, in answer to your question, when you give up the reins you are giving up control so it really isn't reasonable to expect to maintain "control" of your horse when you have given it away to her...

To Nighthorse Cowgirl - you need to work on your reading comprehension... I said that the reins are a communication tool and are used in coordination with leg cues, too bad you are so quick to judge that you don't take the time to think about what you are reading... or what you are writing about others.

Make the right thing easy and the wrong thing difficult. When your horse gains too much speed, immediately shut her down with a one rein stop (never pull on two reins in a snaffle or to stop your horse). Then begin again. Repeat. Horses learn quickly and she will learn what you expect of her. it is the horse's responsibility to maintain gait. when you ask for a gait, it should be maintained on a loose rein until you ask for a change. If your horse does not do this, it is a simple matter of training and communication and can be readily resolved. A bigger bit is never the answer. Your horse sounds like she is well trained, just needs a bit of tweaking. I think you have the right idea so you will be able to accomplish this relatively easily. Be patient. Take the time it takes and she will be great.

I have been having the same issue with my 5 yr. old W.P. horse. My dad is a trainer and gets alot of people wanting their horse to slow down just like your talking about. In W.P. i need to ride with a loose rein and Mac is always wanting to take the freedom to go into a gallop instead of a little slow W.P. lope. Every day or at least 3 days a week I lope him around the roads around our house, and then up through the back of our property which all together is about a 5.5 mile loop. I let him lope as fast as he'd like but after a day or two he figured out he needs to pace himself and lope slower. After about three weeks I can leave my driveway at a little pleasure lope and he'll stay in it all the way. also if the snaffle your using doesn't have a bit of a shank you might want to add a bit of shank onto your bit that way if anything scares the horse or he decides to act up you have a bit more control of his mouth with the loose rein. I know it is difficult to find a place that large to ride, luckily I live way out in the sticks lol, but I'm sure there is somewhere maybe a mile or two you can ride, like trails or something.

I would get an offset D ring snaffle. I love those bits! They're really good for training and when the horse gets older. If isn't harsh but it's not easily ignored if you get after them a little bit. Here's a picture of one:

http://images.auctionants.com/15471.jpg

http://www.chicksaddlery.com/page/CDS/PROD/3030/25...

What bit do you have her in right now? That would be helpful so I can tell you if you would need another one or not. Also a racing D ring snaffle would work. (that's the 2nd picture) The racing D is a little milder but will still get the job done. Keep her on a loose rein but be sure that you can pull back and have contact right away. You can achieve this by keeping your arms forward a little more. But ask for a canter, Get her doing good, Then AS SOON AS (timing is everything) she goes faster turn her head around and make her give her head like this:

http://www.lessismorehorse.com/topaz%20and%20log%2...

She shouldn't be moving when she does this. Keep your hand by the saddle horn, Never behind your back. You can teach her to flex on the ground first before doing this if you would want by doing this:

http://equisearch.com/horses_riding_training/train...

Good luck, Hope this helps! =)

-Fresh Paint-

A harsher bit wont support. and its dangeous to show a circle at a gallop or canter! Half halting ;) take a look at cantering in a circle(20m so he cant gallop) untill he slows down do tons of part halting and get him below manage. Gradually make the circle better and better then take a look at canter in a directly line for a couple of strides then pull him up,do it over and over untill you'll do increasingly strides with out him dashing up

try a tom thumb with copper, they work great. when ever she starts to go too fast just tighten up or pick up your reins and remind her you still have control.

ALL you people saying its dumb to have a loose rein, its not. I ride my horse on a loose rein all the time. ive ridden my horse with no reins bareback even no bridle just her me and the ground beneath her hooves. Its the most amazing feeling in the world. try it and you'll see. specially if you trust you horse. you'll have the most amazing ride you have ever had.

SummerSea - Your right Im sry I didnt read the whole thing. but you should still be able to ride without using your reins at all. your whole body is a communication tool

well in the first place, you really shouldnt have your horse on a loose rein, that can be dangerous. you should always have contact with the bit, you can sit deep in your seat and lean back, have a tighter rein, half halt all the time, and dont let your horse get to a gallop unless you as for one. if the horse starts going to fast, you need to bring them to a slower pace.

you can collect the canter in a circle until she calms down a bit? or stop her when she begins to get faster, not roughly, just pull her up..

but some horses are just hot and want to goooo

Your never aloud to let the horse run on a loose rein, it gives the horse complete control, your always supposed to hold the reins tightly and show the horse who's boss.

who cares!