Improving length of stride

[Khaleesi8]

Hi everyone, I'm new here, from Ireland, and wondering if it's possible to use training to get a mini with short strides to become a better mover?

 

[Ryan Johnson]

Welcome to the forum

love your username !!

Tell us a little about your mini, What to you currently do with him or her ?

How fit is the mini in question ? Fitness has a lot to do with how well a horse is able to move. The breeding of a horse also contributes to this.

 

[madmax]

Hello, and welcome, you have come to a great forum

You may get different opinions, but in my humble opinion, a horse's stride is based on his conformation and he will move on the way he is built. Or, if he had an injury at some time that affects him, but that is probably not your case. You can make sure that he has plenty of exercise to keep his muscles toned so that he is fit, , but the length of his stride will most likely stay the same because his genetics has formed him that way. Personally, I would not use anything artificial to try and change him. Are you thinking of driving him? I have seen many short striders in the cart and they go just fine.

 

[Miniv]

Welcome Aboard! I agree with both Ryan and madmax above..... A horse's movement is very much based on genetics/conformation. Some trainers attempt to force a longer stride or higher knee action with bands and stuff which will actually ruin a horse and makes them break down at a young age. Trainers who do that only want to get ribbons and don't care what happens to the horse as they get older.

A horse with a natural extended stride has to have a nice slanted slope in the shoulder.

 

[Barefootin]

I do agree with the above comments BUT a properly trained horse will almost always move better than an untrained one. A high headed, hallow backed horse on it's forehand will have shorter choppier stride than a horse that is using it's rear end with swinging hips through a rounded back. Conformation will limit both the starting and finishing point.

 

[Cayuse]

I have had a little luck with trotting poles on the ground to lengthen and strengthen stride. It won't change the natural stride too much, like everyone has posted it depends on the horses build and natural way of going. I would set up three or four poles to trot over and once the were comfortable doing that (weeks not days), I would then set the poles at a wee wider distance and do the same all over again. It did not lengthen stride much, but it seemed to make stride look freer. Discretion needs to be used so not to overdo.

 

[BSharpRanch]

Long trotting uphill has been an old-timers secret for getting good extension and for getting horses to work off their rears. Turn around then make them walk down in a controlled manner will also get them on their rear and using it to control the cart. I would definitely use breeching with this type of work.

 

[Khaleesi8]

Thanks everyone.