Western Intermediate 30 min

Speed Spin Development at the Collected Trot

Focus: Speed, Precision, Agility

Equipment: None required

Warm up with collected collected trot-speed pivots: 3-4 full turns in each direction.
Gradually increase the speed of the turn by adding more energy with your outside leg.
The inside hind leg should remain the pivot point. The front legs cross rapidly.
Ask for 2 fast spins to the right. Halt. Then 2 fast spins to the left.
The horse should accelerate into the spin and stop cleanly when you say 'whoa.'
Practice until you can execute 4 clean, fast spins in each direction with a prompt halt.

The horse wandering off the pivot point as speed increases.
Over-spinning because the rider can't stop the momentum.
The horse becoming dizzy or resistant from too many consecutive spins.
Sacrificing accuracy for speed — a correct slow spin is better than a sloppy fast spin.

Work on the turnaround approach: lope to the center, halt, and immediately spin.
Practice spins as part of a reining pattern for context.
Count revolutions during speed spins to build consistency.

Tip: Speed in spinning comes from the horse's willingness and athletic ability, not from the rider forcing it. Build it gradually over months.