Canter Help

[glenfiddichlady]

About 3 months or so ago Cobwebb started playing up with going into canter, well his not really playing up so to speak!

When you ask him for canter from trot all he does is go into a faster unbalanced trot! Some days he will canter when you ask others he wont! Out hacking behind another horse he will canter nicely alone his started it aswel.. Now his had the usal checked n is having his teeth done tomorrow, his only schooled in a Hanging Snaffle or a Eggbutt Snaffle so isn't like the bit could be too strong, could it?!!!

I'm not sure why his doing this he can do a quiet nice walk to canter transition, its just the trot to canter?

If I back up my leg aids with the crop he will either 1. buck or 2. run a bit faster so doesn't work! Someone has suggested I use spurs just for the canter but I don't know as not sure about using them on him??

Anyone got any idea's on why he is doing what he is going into canter or advise on how to get him to canter?

Thanks em x

[FirenLady]

Has his back and saddle been checked? My pony used to be dud with canter some days. I find small cross poles and general pole work gets his attention and his brain working. If you practice picking it up over a pole then when hes good at that take it away. It is better to try something like that then let him run on in the trot. With Fire running trot never seems to produce canter, so I'd slow him up and try again.

I'd be reluncant personally to try spurs (thats cos I would worry about using them by accident). If he does a nice walk to canter transisition its probably something to do with balance in the trot perhaps. Pole work might help him to find some rythem in trot to help with canter. Hope you manage to get it sorted.

[spotti]

I'm sure Brig or Maxi will say something like this (but I got here first so ner! ) but an unbalanced trot will never lead to a good canter. I'd slow him up and bring him back to you with half halts etc and then ask again. If he speeds up, repeat the balancing and try again. If this doesn't work then I'd try staying away from canter for a short while and work on your trotting and getting him balanced

[raymond]

Isn't trot to canter the most physically demanding transitions for a horse?
I would slow down your trot and ask again. If he bucks when you use your stick do you use it again? A little tap tap behind the saddle or on your boot should do the trick. Some horses learn that if they buck they get out of something difficult as they don't get told to try again ( I learnt this the hard way). I found a pole in the corner really helps or putting up a small cross popping over it from trot if nec and cantering away from the jump. That way you forget about the transition and it just sort of happens and then the second time pick up canter in front of the fence and it should come easier then go back out onto the school and try the transition without the fence. I use training spurs on ray and they seem to help.

[glenfiddichlady]

If when I tap him to back up my leg aid and he bucks yes I tap him again! If you put jumps out his a diff horse will canter as soon as you ask no problem ( I don't like jumping thought so that jump idea would be a no go for me lol )

If its the case his unbalanced in the trot and this is why he will not canter, how do I get him balanced in his trot work then to move onto getting a better canter transition?

[FirenLady]

Would you be ok with poles? I find 3 poles set out each long side of the school helps to keep an even trot rythem. Perhaps one on each of the short sides? As Raymond said pole in the corner for canter. Its interesting that Cobweb changes if you put up jumps Fire used to be just the same! It used to be the only time I'd get right leg canter out of him, he'd change over the jumps aswell, to put himself on the correct leg for the next jump. Perhaps if you don't feel confident enough for poles, lunging him over them may help, allow him to find his own balance?

[ceej]

Sounds like he is falling onto the forehand and once this has been done, its really hard to get into canter and they just go faster and faster!!

Lots of horses find it difficult when you are rising trot then sit to give the aids for canter all at once and its not something I like doing in the school - it can unbalance them if they are not truely balanced to begin with and they miss the optimum time!

Try going large at sitting trot. Sit deep and tall and collect the trot a bit and when you ask for canter, make sure you are not falling forward, which is pretty common - concentrate on sitting deep into the transition and using your seat in the aids rather than too much leg which initself can tip you forward if you are trying too hard!

Hope that makes sense...it doesnt explain why he has only started doing it, but it may help...

[florence]

Hmmm... Mine used to try this as an evasion (he had a whole repertoire). As ceej said, he would fall onto the forehand and run on so I would check him and he would come back to walk instead of back to trot. What I used to do (after someone showed me when I lost a filling grinding my teeth over it!) was come back to walk, do lots of things like turn on the forehand, shallow loops, serpentines (in walk and trot) to bring him more into your hand. Also lots of walk to trot for a few strides then back to walk for a few strides etc. The trot starts to get better and better and then you can ask for canter. By that time he's fed up with all the transitions and the good trot makes it easier. I know how frustrating it is - the harder you try the more he does it! Best of luck.

[duckles]

I know I'm boring but i would get back checked. then- follow all the great advise here

[maximum]

Having eliminated any physical problems ( and in general it would show up in more than just one transition so hopefully its not that)
I would work on the quality of the trot.

rather than repeat myself can I suggest you go to the 'max and brigs workout' section and there are lots of exercises to improve the trot quality and also to help with the canter transition.