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1. What's a free walk?

It's a relaxed gait.

2. What should a free walk look like?

The frame should be lengthened, and your pony should lower his neck and head in precisely the way it seems like he is grazing. His poll should be lower than the withers.

He needs to open up his throatlatch angle so that his nose is pointing slightly forward. He should seem to be stretching at the bit.

His strides should get longer so that he begins to cover more track.

3. How is transition at commencement of a free walk done?

A good free walk depends on comprehensive preparation. You make preparations for a free walk in just the way in which you prepare for a 'stretchy' circle on the trot.

While still in a medium walk, you execute a connecting half halt over about 3 or 4 seconds on your short side.

You give a connecting half halt by creating energy: you close both of your calves like you are asking for a lengthening. But in fact your horse shouldn't lengthen.

Make a fist of your outer hand to capture and contain, then recycle energy to the horse's hind legs.

Maintain closed legs and outer hand for 3 or 4 seconds, and while in this position, squeeze or vibrate on the inside rein and release it to prevent your pony from arching his neck outwards.

Ensure your legs are relaxed while going into the diagonal and open up your fingers to allow your pony to get rid of the reins from your hands.

4. How can I transition back to a medium walk?

You do so with the connecting half halt that you used for your free walk preparation.

Press gently with the calves even as the reins reman long.

While shortening the reins, maintain a closed fist of the new outer hand; squeeze with your new inner hand and release it.

5. What do you do with a lazy pony?

'Breathe' with your legs if the pony isn't showing much energy,

You do this by:

- Raising your legs off his sides

- Moving them back an in. or so and replacing them lightly.

You achieve two things by breathing your legs. Your horse is maybe numb to the feeling of your legs if you've been partaking of excessive gripping. Removing your legs and replacing them lightly enables him to recover his sensitiveness. When you move your legs back, you place them nearer your horse's 'engine'; this is a reminder to him that he should more actively use his rear legs.

6. What do you do with a pony that appears to want to jig?

If he is showing a desire to jig, execute a few transitions to the halt.

Give your pony some praise after every halt.

He will be able to soon be in a position to predict a stop or a slow down.

That is the time you use 'stopping aids' in a tiny way to remind him that he should stick to a flat-footed four-beat walk while you go across the diagonal.

If your horse has a tendency to jig as you raise the reins after a diagonal, come to a halt first and pick your reins up on the halt. This way, you will train your pony to keep slow on occasions you are doing a transition.