Has anyone been on the polar express train ride in Palestine, TX?

Need help on my horse riding if anyone can help?

• Hi, I have a little 12.2hh welsh section D mare called Star, I've just got her on loan and have had her for several months, she's come on great since i got her she's 8 and every time i ride her in the arena her trot is heavenly and really steady, whenever i put her into canter she takes off, she's like an express train and i cant slow her down, I've tried everything, half halts and relaxing sitting deep nothing works :( however she can have her good days where she will have a nice steady canter but that's hardly ever, I've just started jumping her and whenever i trot her up to a little jump she'll go into canter and rush towards it so i cant sit her proply, if anyones got any good advice i would be really greatfull, just need to steady her up so i can relax a little more and pop over some small jumps without her taking off

• Answer:

  I can totally relate, I have a 13.2hh quarter horse who's also 8. the Scientific Explanation: Ponies are so small, we (the rider) often assume they are going extremly fast when in reality they're not. This can be explained by the fact that ponies are shorter, have shorter strides, and cover less distance than a horse. your brain is tricked into thinking they are going fast because you hear the strides going at a fast pace. the normal person answer: you have a pony. ponies are famous for have big attitudes. It either going to be their way, or they aren't gonna do it. My favourite method to combat the pony attitude is to tire the pony out a bit before u get on her and/or canter her. To help the speedy cantering, canter her on a lunge line before you begin ur ride. When ur warming up, do 20 min of trotting exercises like expanding and shortening the trot step. Doing both of these should tire ur horse out enough to make her canter a managable speed, but still leave her with enough energy to jump at least 3 full hunter courses (8 jumps at a 2' to 2'6 height). a new bit, like a knife edge bit, would instantly help slow ur horse. however, i find severe corrective bits to be unecassary and harsh when the problem can be fixed with some extra time and effort.