When backing a horse how do you control the speed?

Controlling speed in the backup starts with understanding that backing is not a brakes-on pull-until-he-moves exercise. It's a collected movement that requires the horse to be soft, straight, and responsive — and the speed of that movement should be dictated by your feel, not by how hard you're pulling. A horse that rushes backward is just as out of control as a horse that rushes forward, and the fix is the same in both cases: you have to get back to softness before speed becomes a conversation. The backup should start from a light cue. Sit deep, close your fingers on the reins, and wait for the horse to search for relief by stepping back. The moment he gives — even one soft step — release and reward. That release teaches him that backing is not a panic response to pressure but a calm, measured movement he offers. From there you build cadence: one step, two steps, four, eventually a straight, rhythmic backup of any length you ask for. To slow a horse that backs too fast or rushes, don't add more rein pressure — that's counterproductive and usually makes it worse. Instead, interrupt the movement. Ask him to stop mid-backup, stand quietly, then ask again. Breaking the pattern teaches the horse that he doesn't get to choose the pace. You can also use your legs to regulate — a light leg cue while backing signals the horse to slow and collect rather than scramble. The goal is a backup that looks deliberate and controlled, with the horse moving off his hindquarters in a steady two-beat rhythm that you could speed up or slow down with nothing more than a shift in your feel. That level of control in reverse is a reliable indicator of how well a horse is truly broke — and it transfers directly into everything else you do with him going forward.