Advice from you experienced horse people PLEASE!

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express_75

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I have a Welsh D mare (5 in May) who is very green in the school but is coming along nicely in walk and trot, apart from falling in on the right rein on a 20m circle. I don't attempt to canter her in the school as she isn't balanced enough yet.

I have a friend who wants to show her this year and had said to me that i should get someone who is experienced enough to get on her and school her properly or send her away for a month to get the job done. I really don't want to do this as she has taken time to settle where she is now and is very happy at the yard. I know i haven't got the experience to get her to canter properly alone but with help, advice and lessons i would love this to happen. I feel underminded and under pressure to get her to perform in the school. I have begun lessons on her and we're doing great, it's just the "issue" with the canter.
Can anyone offer any advice on what i should be doing? Im happy with how she is going but as far as above is concerened im not doing enough:(
Currently school her twice a week and hack sat & sun.

Help, i feel usless!
 
She is your horse...Please dont let anyone bully you into doing more than you feel is right, with regular lessons it will come in no time
 
Tell 'friend' to bugger off and mind her own business.

You sound as if you are doing a wonderful job with your young horse, and don't let anyone let you feel any different!
 
Firstly - she's your horse, so do what you want to do and don't be pressured into doing something you are not happy with. Sure, sending her away might get it done more quickly, but achieving it yourself will give you loads more satisfaction!

Lessons will help the most - have as many as you can!
When you start canter, just ask for canter before the long side, canter to the end of the school and trot before the corners. Then you can gradually build this up until you are keeping the canter round the corners as well. Also lunging would help because she can find her balance herself without you on her.
 
I'm not an experienced horse person but it sounds to me as if your friend is poking her nose in and trying to boss you about. I think you are right to do it yourself as she is used to you and you'll probably get more out of her yourself with lessons.
 
I can never understand this pressure to get youngsters competing and doing things before they are ready. If you have a trusted instructor and have started lessons, the canter will come when both you and your mare are ready for it. She is still very young, and really there's no hurry to achieve the canter.

I always find that nothing compares to hacking for gaining a horses confidence and balance, when hacking they have the freedom to learn the canter paces and learn to support both you and them, without being restricted to a tight school or corners.

I'd stick with your lessons and don't listen to other peoples thought on what you ought to be doing with your horse - she is after all YOUR horse and you should take things at her pace, not someone elses...
 
If you are happy with how things are going, and would like to bring the mare on yourself, then IGNORE all the advice and carry on as you are! Bringing your mare on slowly will be more beneficial in the long run and there will still be loads and loads of shows you can take her to when YOU feel she's ready. Carry on with your lessons and the canter will happen. Trust your own instincts - she's your horse, enjoy her and do what you feel is in her best interests. Most of all, have fun!
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I ride a 7 year old welsh D whose canter still isn't perfect, but with lessons we have much improved from 2 years ago. Carry on as you are doing, she's got the rest of her life to show, and taking your time now will pay dividends in the future!

Of course it can happen with lessons, help and advice from someone you trust - just remember to keep giving her variety of work and don't switch to pure schooling & lessons to get it done quicker - chances are she'd either switch off or become work sour.

If you really want your friend to show her this season (rather than them just pushing you) then she can show her in-hand? F has spent 2 show seasons doing in-hand and handy pony, riding around the show ground to get him used to it all, and we're doing everything we can to help get him there but he still isn't necessarily going to be ready for ridden classes this year. I can't stress enough how rushing things with any young horse but particularly a D is a bad idea.

PM me if you'd liek to exchange exasperated moans about young welsh D's and I'll tell you the good bits about when it does all come together!!
 
ditto to all above - I had never had a young horse before my mare (I bought her as a 4yro).

It has been a tough learning curve teaching her to canter properly and so on but I wouldn't miss it for the world.

If you're having regular lessons and prepared to work at it, then why the heck shouldn't you do it yourself! My mare is nearly 6 and after a year of learning for both of us we can now do balanced work in all paces. Doing it yourself (with the help of an instructor!) will make you a better more sensitive rider, and give her a great deal of trust in you.

No need to rush it and no need to feel you're not doing a great job. Enjoy it and be proud of what you achieve!
 
Please dont be told what you should be doing with your horse and do not feel pressurised into rushing things either. I have a Welshie D and he is a nightmare to canter in the school on the odd occasion I have tried it in the past. Perhaps you could try lunging her first because they tend to find it easier without the rider on them, she can sort her legs out and you do not need to worry about tensing or what you are doing. Take her on a good large circle and build her up over time using a clear voice command to canter. She may rush into it at first and get faster and faster in trot, but so long as she gets a canter in and gets the hang of it eventually just proceed gradually and you will be fine. When she is confident on both reins you can try riding her into canter which should be a lot easier if she knows what is required and you use your voice aids again. Good luck...welshies are brilliant once you know how to push their buttons!
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I agree with what's been said already. If you feel happy with how she's coming along & feel that sending her away would be the wrong thing to do, don't do it. It's all very well you're friend saying that but it isn't her horse, it's yours. Do what you feel best.

I personally think you're doing an excellent job, it certainly sounds it!!!
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Please dont do anything you dont want to do, it is your horse and you sound like you are doing a really good job.. take things at your pace how you want, i have done this with my boy and we are doing just fine
 
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Good luck...welshies are brilliant once you know how to push their buttons!
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yes, they are, aren't they!
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I echo the sentiments here.

I now always lunge before I ride, even it's its just for 5 minutes on each rein. My welshie also has a bit of stringhalt in his hind legs and so appreciates being able to warm up a bit without me on! He also listens to my voice a lot more as a result. He still has problems in canter but I have been cantering around the long sides of the school, back to trot, canter etc. He still falls in but at the moment I am more concerned with getting him going forward before we get to straightness..that will come later ! (according to the 'scales of training' the first one is rhythm..)
 
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