Walk to Canter

[salexis]

Hi Guys

Any tips on teaching Moo to walk to canter - well obviously i know she is already more than capable - what I mean is with me on board!

At the moment I can only get her to canter from trot, she seems to ignore my canter aids from walk, any tips appreciated!

[aimee]

Erm not really sure I can get Fern to do it but then again its not exactly hard with her lol I always do it from a very energetic walk so she has enough impulsion to make the canter! Then give her a few small nudges so she knows somethings coming and is listening before asking her for canter, Ive also found that doing it from the corner of the school works better! Expect a few strides of trot the first few times but keep pulling her back to walk and starting again. And obviously praise when they get it!

[nicolcaplin]

What worked for us is transitions, transitions, transitions. Make sure horsey is really listening so try some variation such as walk to trot, trot to canter, trot to walk, halt to trot, canter to walk. Then it's a case of like the post above, lots of impulsion and asking- perhaps with a tap up or two. It may take ages but once you're there its all about the honey horse bix!

[arumanii]

yep as aimee & nicol said -transitions! Get her thinking 'canter' first and do lots up and down from it at trot and when ur happy she's buzzing along ready to leap back into it at any second in trot try taking her down to do a couple of strides of walk before picking her straight back up into trot and (hopefully) canter straight after. Then just slowly decrease the amount of trot you ask for before asking for canter and you might just find ur coming down to do a couple of strides of walk to come straight back up again. Then you can start putting in more walk until ur really just asking for walk to canter without having only just come down. It's gr8 fun when they finally get the idea! Good luck

[salexis]

thanks guys - looks like transitions are the way forward! shall try it tm night and let you know how we get on

x

[brigadier]

HI
Can you do a turn on the haunches. If so then this exercise is the best!

Start on 20m circle on left rein carry whip in left hand, walk, then halt very briefly, do a half turn on the haunches to the left, then change the flexion and give a positive aid with your new outside leg (left) to canter, tap up with the whip if necessary and canter. Dont chase the canter with your body, just sit there and wait for it to happen, you may need to be really positive with the whip the first couple of times. If you achieve canter do a circle or two and then trot walk again, give the reins and make a big fuss then repeat. Practice a few times on this rein so you learn to switch the flexion and aids well then repeat on the other side. There is such a distinct change of aids with this exercise the horse learns to respond from the slightest aid and it really lifts the front end. If you master this then post again and Ill give you the next stage of this that makes the canter lovely!
Brig

[salexis]

thanks Brig, i've just posted a question on turn on the haunches in this section as I've not come across it before. Its a bit one step at a time with me and Moo I'm afraid.

Was trying the many transitions tonight but Moo was in a bad mood and kept bucking in the canter. This is a new thing, not sure whether its because she is in season and she was just feeling that way out. Anyway, didn't want to push the walk to canter thing tonight with her stropping. Maybe tomorrow night she will feel a bit more amenable. I'm hoping the bucking is a one off thing anyway!

[brigadier]

Maybe she was struggling with the aids a bit. the TOH to canter may be a step too far at this stage. Try for the basic simple change through canter. Canter a figure of eight, as you approach x aim for a few strides of trot, the ideal is three but it takes practice to get this so a bit more is ok, then walk at x for three strides only then canter on the new rein, as you go over x make sure you shift your weight slightly to the new inside rein to help her balance. When you ask for canter she should respond straight away -if she doesnt then tap her up with the whip- she will get the idea. then repeat on the other rein through to the change at x.

Horses really learn this well as they like the canter bit and the variety.
If she goes a bit too fast when you tap her with th whip she has only done what you have asked so let her enjoy it pat her and calm her down and ask again
Brig

PS dont let her get fixed in the bucking thing- if it persists get her checked out in case she has twinged something and if its naughtiness then it must be stopped!

PPS Ask as many questions as you like as its how to learn!

[maximum]

also remember that as an ex trotter she already finds canter quite a big ask so keep the sessions short and sweet with her and dont over ride it. the turn on the haunches is a great exercise for her as it will get her moving away from the leg rather than just thinking forward.

Is she in season? its not much fun being a mare so maybe lunge her on the days it is obviously bothereing her rather than ride. as Brig says if it persists get her checked (although I know fro trotter forum how good you are about that stuff!)

[salexis]

she was bucking a bit again tonight again and not wanting to go forward. hmmmm bit of a worry two nights on the trot (so to speak!). She last had Bowen treatment a month ago, and is next booked in a months time - she has the treatment every two months and she's been fine the last few sessions.
My friend checked her saddle so its not that (she's a saddler - handy!), I thought she had come out of season, well she's not squirting today (sorry to be gross). Maybe she's just angry cos it was raining, it was a bit grim to be fair.

We didn't school for long then went for a walk round the fields to chill her out. She seemed to like that a lot better.

I've a lesson on Saturday so it'll be interesting to see what she is like for that.

[brigadier]

Hi
Sounds like her behaviour is a bit out of the ordinary?? she is trying to tell you something I think, I wonder if she has tweaked something? Maybe give her a day or two off then try again.
brig

[salexis]

she can be a moody feisty thing but the bucking is new. Hard to tell with her sometimes as she has a million tricks up her sleeve. My instructor says she is a bright mare as she is constantly surprised by the new evasions she has managed to think up between lessons.

Might give her tomorrow off like you say, see if that helps. I would hate to think that something is bothering her, apart from a bit of regular work that is!

[brigadier]

You know her best- I had a horse like that- was always thinking ways to outsmart me- and succeeding!
Sometimes it helps to give them the benefit of the doubt then at least you know youve been fair.
And mares can be moody!
brig

[salexis]

you are so right Brig, I have given her the day off today as advised. As you say if she was in discomfort I would never forgive myself, and if it is just a new evasion I have given her one less day to practice it

so, she is in the field with her girly mates gorging herself on grass. Might just hack her out tm night as I have a lesson Sat morning. If I'm really brave might actually take her off the yard by myself - don't worry will have thought of a dozen reasons not too by tm night my middle name being coward.

Will be interesting to see if she bucks in my lesson, she is normally much better behaved with my instructor there, so if she does it then it will be interesting to see what my instructor thinks. I will definately mention it to her anyway.

I wish our Bowen appointment was a bit sooner but she is so busy its hard to get one as it is!

Just realised this is all a bit off topic. Perhaps I should've started a new one under the topic of 'she's bucking: is she just moody or not?'

[raymond]

Hi Salexis

My gelding was broken to drive rather than ride and was driven as part of a pair. We have therefore had similar problems, from what I have read, to those with ex trotters. When we started the canter with him, he found it really difficult and still struggles to pick up the correct lead on one rein. When we started the canter he was grumpy, but didn't buck. Now we have moved on to asking for a bit more in the canter, i.e. taking a contact and trying large circles, he has taken to bucking. Not all the time. He won't buck if he is out on a hack, sometimes in lessons he won't buck. If I school him on my own generally he will buck, but again we may have a few days where he doesnt. He has been checked out for everything and no physical problems at all. I have found that if I have one lesson a week, one schooling session, jump once and then hack out the rest of the time he is a lot happier and willing and less prone to bucking. Progress is a lot slower of course, as we can't get as much done as I would like, but I am hoping that this way I will end up with a happy willing horse, albeit it may take a bit longer to get there!!

[fimacg]

Have your tied teaching her halt to trot? its principles are the same as walk to canter but some horses find it a bit easier to master but it gives them the idea for walk to canter.

[maximum]

good point Ficmag plus I have found it helps them get a better trot which in her particular case will be a help.

[brigadier]

Yes I agree- good point to teach halt to trot as its the same principle! This is what I like about forums- there's no one answer- its what I like about horses actually!
brig

[salexis]

Raymond - I found myself nodding to your post. We've improved so much recently after our lessons that I'm desperate to go on and do new things and achieve new goals. maybe she's a bit like hang on let me get used to where I am first.

I have given you a karma

I lunged her tonight, without the pessoa at first on both reins to warm up. She was going really freely and nicely (although staring out the school over the canal at the horses in the field opposite down one side - but I can forgive her that). Then I put the pessoa on her and started her off on her best rein, she did some mega bucks! Glad I wasn't sat on top. After a minute or so she calmed down and was working really nicely. After 5 mins a change of rein onto her worst rein. A couple of half hearted bucks and she then worked really nicely. Nicer even than her better rein.

She loves to keep me guessing. She got bonus carrots for being such a character. Its our lesson tomorrow lunchtime. Bit nervous as always (don't know why - I always really enjoy them once they commence!).

Sunday I will go for a hack, I'll round people up to go with me if needs be!

thanks for all your support

x

[brigadier]

One of the reasons they can seem to go better on their worse rein is that they are straighter! Because we find them more supple on their worse rein we overbend them which causes more problems (ie greater degree of difficulty/ escape through the shoulder) so when they go on their least flexible rein they seem better but thats because they are warmed up so less stiff and not bending too much! Anyhow- seems like you have a good weekend ahead so enjoy!
brig

[salexis]

all plans for the weekend (and near future) off

I hadn't ridden Moo since Wed night when she was bucking, thought I'd give her a break as you all wisely suggested. Well it was my lesson today, said to my instructor what she had been like before I started and within 5 minutes of riding it was clear Moo was not at all happy.

Moo kept trying to bite my right foot whenever it touched her side. My instructor said put her on the left rein lets see what she does (this was just in walk still), Moo always wants to fall in left but today she was falling out to the right still trying to bite my right foot. She did not seem bothered by my left leg aids. My instructor said just put her into trot on a loose rein I just want to see her action. Moo really not happy so I hopped off and that was that.

My instructor was saying this was definatley not one of Moo's many evasions she is trying to tell us that she is uncomfortable and something is wrong. I could see it as well, she really was much much worse today, it was just in canter she wasn't happy on wed, today she didn't even want to walk round.

So, will have to get the Bowen lady out. No riding till then, will see what she says. My instructor says Moo isn't at all lame, so that's something I guess. BUT she definatley reacts to pressure being applied to that right side, even with just hand pressure she was snapping at me. She was alright when I groomed her before I rode - perhaps the pressure of me and the saddle aggravated it?

I feel awful and down and worried for Moo.

She herself cheered up immensley after some carrots and an apple and is back out in the field chomping the grass with her friends.

I wonder if she has been kicked?? Anyone any experience of tenderness on one side around where you normally apply leg aids?

[brigadier]

What a shame- she certainly didnt sound right and at least yo know she wasnt being a cow!

Sounds as though she could have been kicked but is there an obvious area of bruising/swellling tenderness or is it just to pressure she is reacting to? Also where exactly is it? ribcage/flank ?
brig

[salexis]

just below her ribcage seemed to get the strongest reaction from her, further back from where her girth goes. When I got off and was applying pressure round there she really wasn't happy. She was flinching and at one point snapped at me.

I had groomed her quite throughly beforehand and she was fine, so it must have been the pressure of me being on her back aggravating it. We all had a look and there is no obvious swelling or lumps or anything. And she wasn't reacting on the left side.

[salexis]

just realised just below her ribcage doesn't make much sense (!) - I mean where the ribcage starts to curve back in, around where your lower leg hangs, below the saddle.

Not sure if that makes much more sense...!

[brigadier]

Yes I think I get it- more curious than anything as not much more to add- I think if she is still in pain/uncomfortable in a couple of days then I would be talking to the vet in case its something inside- in the meantime monitor her but you will do that in anycase- sounds a bit of a mystery- lets hope its a bit of bruising from a kick- keep us posted!
brig