The most common problem today in the western pleasure world is the slowing and the takeoff of a lope. Well now here today you can learn some helpful tips on how to have that ideal lope for the show ring or a nice pleasure lope for the pleasure!

Be sure to warm your horse up before trying any of this. Bending the horse’s neck in turns and walking and jogging are the first steps to a warm-up. Once these things are accomplished you can start your training!

First ask your horse for a nice slow walk. You will be balanced in the saddle, with hips and shoulders aligned both legs relaxed and off of the horses side, and your chin up and hands relaxed. You may use spit reins or one handed. Look to a point along the fence were you plan to start your lops, before you reach it prepare by taking up some slack in your reins.

While taking in the extra slack slowly, keep your horse’s head collected by gently taping on the reins but keep the level of your hands low. Tip your horse’s head slightly to the inside so you can see the corner of his eye, thus causing him to lift his inside shoulder making it easier for a correct lead takeoff. Just keep in mined all this needs light gentle hands, no firm pressure or your horse will stop or turn in a circle

Now drop your weight and sit deep in the saddle, while keeping your back strait. Just before you reach the spot for your departure find your horses stomach with your outside leg by lightly closing your outside calf on his side, just so you can feel it (You should be able to put a grape between your horse and your leg without crushing it). Your inside leg should remain realized and at the cinch area of his side.

At your takeoff point, slowly slide your outside leg behind the girth a few inched so your horse knows not to sidepass with his ribcage but to move his hindquarters. This movement should move him into a lope. If he breaks into a trot before lope departure then slow him back to a walk and ask for the lope again. Don’t kick your horse to start the departure, this will force the horse’s head up and your balance will be thrown. All this work requires light and unnoticed movements.

Once in the lope be sure to keep your horse collected. If he is not gently apply leg pressure and tap on the reins. You want to make the hand movement up instead of back so your horse understands you want his head not his speed. If your horse has troubles you may want to use split reins and have your hands low and remember to tap the reins in an upward position.

If your horses speed increases lean back slightly and put weight into the stirrups and tap the reins back. Remember to communicate with your horse for communication is the number one key to a successful ride!


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