Bit of help needed

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readerk

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HELP NEEDED! <font color="pink"> </font> <font color="blue"> </font>

ive had a horse on part loan for a couple of months now. She is a great show jumper but has only really been used for hacking out this year before me - therefore she is slightly lazy in the school. She is not totally lazy and has come on leaps and bounds with me perservering on! The only problem i have is that it is very very difficult to get her to canter in there. We did it last week but it took so much leg effort and talking to! Im just wondering from another point if view if ther is anything else i can do to get her to canter easier. I have a schooling whip and its made a difference. Shes perfect on a hack and only needs the slightest squeeze to get going so i know she knows what i am doing?!
Shes a TB Mare/11 if that makes a difference!
Any sugestions Welcome!
 
She'll be harder to get going in a school because she has to balance more to get round the corners. To help her, you need to get her sharper off the leg in walk and trot (which by the sounds of things you are already working on!).

I would recommend doing lots and lots of transitions (both through the paces and within a pace by shortening and lengthening the stride.

You could also do a sharpening exercise that Carl Hester talked about at Your Horse which is:
At the start of a long side click your tongue once and give a squeeze with your legs, if nothing happens instantly give a sharp kick and allow the horse to run down the long side before slowing at the other end. It is important to give with the reins to allow them to move forwards otherwise you just frustrate them. Eventually your horse will respond to the click/squeeze and you won't need the kick.

Once she is moving better in trot, you'll find canter much easier.
Good luck - sounds like you're already going in the right direction anyway!
 
My horse is the same. He's really forward on a hack but a bit lazy in the school so i use spurs. Not all the time thought as i dont want him to get the idea that when i dont have spurs on he doesnt have to move. I only use them when i have to so im not constantly (sp?) nagging at him with them. When i feel him backing off a bit he has a little nudge then he seems fine.

Hope this helps!
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I got suggest spurs but i am very jubious (sp?) of using them but like you say if you dont wear them all the time so she doesnt get used to them. I have spent alot of time in the school getting her used to it again. She wouldn't even trot in there to start with! shes getting alot more responsive in there lately and i only need a small squeeze to get her trotting and i tryy and keep it going for a while and when she decides i make her carry on so shes not thinking she can stop when she wants and shes doing better. Trying to get her to canter is proving so tiring at the mo though. Got her tonight and Tues are normally a good ride for some reason!
 
One of the horses I ride is a bit like that. I've found that transitions help - trot - walk - stop -walk - trot - every 4 - 8 strides. Also riding in a diamond is quite good. Ride straight from B to C to E to A and miss the corners - don't make the turns too sharp tho. I find this really helps get the horse off the leg. As they get stronger you can make it more of a proper diamond. Hope that helps
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Super thanks for your advice - good to get an outside opinion. Wil try the transitions tonight really get her listening to my legs etc - will update tomorrow!
 
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