When you are first teaching a young horse to carry a rider at the lope, you want him to learn to be relaxed and confident.  Starting the process with these things in mind will help you avoid lots of the common problems that you might see at the lope, like rushing, running away, and anxiety on the part of the horse and the rider. 



First, after I have loped a young horse out a few times in a straight line, I like to start building to the point where I can get a nice circle at the lope.  I like to do this in an open, flat meadow.  This setting is very low pressure and should be free of distractions.  It can just be you and your horse, and you can focus on what you are trying to do without other horses stalled around you or fences in your way.

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