Advise please on canter transition.

P

pipper

Well-Known Member
Joined
3 June 2009
Messages
430
Location
WILTS
Visit site
i am having problems lately in getting one of my ponies into canter (no health pain tack problems) he has a beautiful trot but it takes a while for him to get up into canter - its a really muddled transition - And i am pretty sure i am to blame. I have lessons but havent got one booked for a while so any help will be gratefully received!
I am not sure what i do to hinder him - i know i tense and im pretty sure i tip forward, i tyr to breathe but think i over breathe. the cheeks of my ar*e seem to be tight once we are in canter so am not sure at what point they 'clamp together'
Please can you give me some tips to stop my bad riding please.
(will be asking my trainer for help in my next lesson but would like to practice a smoother transition before hand)
thanks
 
Is your pony young? Is he just learning to canter?
Firstly, you need to calm down and not make it into such a big thing! And with everything PREPARE!!
Trot transitions will help as they will help balance you and your pony. Sometimes young horses find it easier to learn to canter out side on a hack, rather than in a school, so maybe try this and just enjoy the feeling of it, don't get het up about it!
As you are trotting round look for a focal point and think I will ask for canter there (a bush, tree trunk, lamp post) as you approach it, think about sitting up, and half halt. Thi s will tell your pony something is going to change. Keep a contact on the reins. A lot of people "drop" their horses as they ask for canter, and this will not help a youngster. Take sitting trot for about 2 strides and ask. Out side leg behind the girth, inside leg on the girth. If he rushes off, don't panic! Gather your self together, get back in control, find another focal point, and ask again!

Good luck!
 
Lippyx said:
Is your pony young? Is he just learning to canter?
Firstly, you need to calm down and not make it into such a big thing! And with everything PREPARE!!
Trot transitions will help as they will help balance you and your pony. Sometimes young horses find it easier to learn to canter out side on a hack, rather than in a school, so maybe try this and just enjoy the feeling of it, don't get het up about it!
As you are trotting round look for a focal point and think I will ask for canter there (a bush, tree trunk, lamp post) as you approach it, think about sitting up, and half halt. Thi s will tell your pony something is going to change. Keep a contact on the reins. A lot of people "drop" their horses as they ask for canter, and this will not help a youngster. Take sitting trot for about 2 strides and ask. Out side leg behind the girth, inside leg on the girth. If he rushes off, don't panic! Gather your self together, get back in control, find another focal point, and ask again!

Good luck!
Click to expand...

There!!!!! now i knew one of you clever clogs would suss it out - you've hit the nail on the head Lippyx!!! I DO DROP HIM WHEN I ASK!! just realised it! He isnt young at all and is very nicely schooled - its honestly my cr*p riding that restricts him. Now - back to the half halts - please can you fully explain what to do - my new trainer uses loads of half halts in our lessons and i think i know what i am meant to do/feel - she has assumed i know how to do it and i havent let on that i dont fully understand the movement/aid?
 
See it always falls into place when you know why!!

Half halts are what they say they are... HALf HALTS! With your outside hand, keeping a contact down both reins, gently squeeze your hand back and release. Don't hold it back, just very slightly squeeze back and then release the tension... but don't drop the contact. Don't forget to use your body to slow and balance your pony too. If your trotting, slow your rising, if your walking, bear down into the saddle more, but don't slouch!

We are not all perfect riders, and even though I've been riding for nearly 20 years (OMG!!!) I still see myself tip forward, and drop the contact, and have to remind my self not to do it!

Hope this helps, and just ask if you need more info!! xx
 
thanks so much Lippyx - that makes things clearer... i will be practicing tomorrow - will let you know if i can acheive a smooth transition. we have dressage on Sunday and am sick of getting 6/7s for trots and 5/6s for canters with the remarks 'canter trans muddled' x
 
I have a voice (imaginary) on my shoulder all the time - kind of giving myself a quick check over, ''balance, shoulds back. look up, heels down etc etc etc'.

We all slip into bad habits and always have room to improve, but that won't happen unless you ask for help! 'If you don't ask you'll never know' my Dad always says. Don't be afraid to ask no matter how silly you think it sounds. You'll be amazed the amount of people who talk about 'outline', 'on the bit' or my personal favourite- the show jumpers striding out distances whilst walking a course who clearly don't have a clue.

As for problem canter transitions - welcome to my world :rolleyes: my horse anticipates canter at every corner although he is getting better- he used to anticipate by bronking! As above try supporting the front end by not dropping him and allow the back end to do its job.

Good luck let us know how you get on x
 
I wonder if this is inevitable when asking a horsey lot a question, but (really sorry about this Luppyx) I would describe the half-halt differently! For me it's a movement that comes primarily from the seat, seaks to create more engagement while containing it through the horse's body. I once read a book that described it as asking the whole of the horse to go up a step, more energy but also more containement so that the entire front end lifts more. With this feeling it's a lot easier to pop into canter because the horse is more ready for it.

Might also be worth to think about your aids for the canter. If your buttocks are clenching it will be quite difficult for you to use your hips to ask for canter (which is how I would interpret the right aid for canter). If you are asking for left canter, try turning your head well to the right, this will tend to bring your weight down on your left hip and you can use your left seat-bone to ask for canter. Try also doing sitting trot for 3 strides, counting "3, 2, canter" without overthinking it and firmly believing that as you ask for canter you will get it!
 
Booboos said:
I wonder if this is inevitable when asking a horsey lot a question, but (really sorry about this Luppyx) I would describe the half-halt differently! For me it's a movement that comes primarily from the seat, seaks to create more engagement while containing it through the horse's body. I once read a book that described it as asking the whole of the horse to go up a step, more energy but also more containement so that the entire front end lifts more. With this feeling it's a lot easier to pop into canter because the horse is more ready for it.

Might also be worth to think about your aids for the canter. If your buttocks are clenching it will be quite difficult for you to use your hips to ask for canter (which is how I would interpret the right aid for canter). If you are asking for left canter, try turning your head well to the right, this will tend to bring your weight down on your left hip and you can use your left seat-bone to ask for canter. Try also doing sitting trot for 3 strides, counting "3, 2, canter" without overthinking it and firmly believing that as you ask for canter you will get it!
Click to expand...

Exactly what I would have said! Canter aid comes from the hip and you need to ensure your weight is thrown into the correct hip and seatbone, I often do the looking the opposite way to throw my weight correctly as my connie is struggling with his canter transitions atm (no idea why he never used to!!) and ditto the half half aid :)
 
Agree with much of the above BUT it is quite a lot to hold in your head initially while asking for canter, ideally you need to simplify it to begin with.

Advice I was given is just imagine your legs are asking the horses BACK legs to canter, this should help stop you tipping forward.

Also, just check you are not putting too much weight in your stirrups!! That will tend to push you up and forward.
 
How is he with his transitions on the lunge line? You could always have a friend on the ground with the lunge line while you are in the saddle, allowing you to have a little more focus when you are going to ask him to pick it up. Plus they can tell you if they see you slouching, etc.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top