canter help

MontyandZoom

MontyandZoom

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I have been riding lots of different horses the last three weeks as Zoom has had a little break due to headshaking. I am lucky enough that next year when she is on loan, I have a few spares to play on so I've been testing them this week :D

One of the spares is a lovely 14.2 arab/welsh mare, 6 years old. She was mainly just jumped in her last home and has a lovely, natural scopey jump.......but I can't get her to canter!!

She just 'runs' faster and faster in trot and then when she does strike off, the canter is very flat and erratic. Her owner is a lovely 14yo girl but quite novicey. I have never schooled a young horse so I don't know what exercises to suggest. She will be having an instructor come down in the next couple of weeks but was hoping you might be able to suggest some schooling exercises in the meantime for us to try.

Thanks x
 
Does she canter on a hack? if so, doing this in straight lines first may help, along with lunging.

She needs to be fully balanced and working nicely it trot under saddle, teach her to canter by voice command on the lunge and then use the voice under saddle. This can be a calmer way for the horse to go into canter (sometimes the leg aid is a bit exciting and results in the faster trot or a shoot off in canter)

Try not to snatch at her if she dashes off, but give the rein a bit, get out of the saddle and try to calm it down if it is speedy - opening the inside rein will encourage her to drop her head.

And get the instructor in for help asap! Its hard to say without seeing her but the above a has helped me.
 
Welsh ponies usually prefer trot - it being their more natural gait , and she probably find canter difficult - and exciting!!
I would say LOTS of transitions on a straight line till popping into canter becomes boring - dont allow her to fly off - once u get the canter push her forward for a few strides then back to trot or walk. I agree with cantering on hacks - follow another horse so she just pops into canter to follow the other one. Also agree with getting her to learn the voice command on the lunge and using it ridden. Keep in all relaxed and not a big deal and off your seat rather than reins. If she does fly off once in canter dont try and pull her back into trot, use your seat. If she is unbalanced and flat pulling on the reins or fighting for her head could panic her and make it worse. Dont bother with circles till she is confident in a straight line.
 
also - meant to add - dont try and sit to her canter - get up out the saddle (although carefull not to push her on her forehand). Having you off her back will make it easier for her to canter and work through her back to begin with.
 
Thanks for the advice. She does canter on hacks.....although it's still very flat and fast. I will start taking her out with my friend in front on Zoom as she is very adjustable and use your tips.

Thanks for the advice.
 
Once she's got the idea of cantering from a voice command and with you out of the saddle, try using a placing pole in the school to help her pick up the right canter lead. lots of calm, patient transitions and she'll get the idea.

The other thing that occurs to me is that as part arab her canter may well be naturally quite flat, and the welsh bit, as someone else said, may mean that she's more comfortable in trot. my old welsh cob could and would trot at the same speed as big hunters would canter, if you let him!
 
jenhunt said:
The other thing that occurs to me is that as part arab her canter may well be naturally quite flat, and the welsh bit, as someone else said, may mean that she's more comfortable in trot. my old welsh cob could and would trot at the same speed as big hunters would canter, if you let him!
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That's a good point. I am so used to Zoomy - she is ex-polo and has a very collected but energetic 'up-and-down' sort of canter. Monty was 17hh and very long-striding but extremely well schooled and balanced.

It could well be that I am not giving her enough credit for her shape. I popped her over some jumps and she seems alot happier jumping from trot so we stuck to that. She also has a very high-stepping action so maybe that is a factor?
 
jenhunt said:
Once she's got the idea of cantering from a voice command and with you out of the saddle, try using a placing pole in the school to help her pick up the right canter lead. lots of calm, patient transitions and she'll get the idea.
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I was actually going to suggest some polework. I had a welsh D x TB a few years ago who was backed at 7 and he just couldn't 'get' canter in the school. I found lots of polework - canter poles specifically, building up to rows of (small!) bounces, really helped to improve it - encouraged an even, rounded stride and seemed to help him coordinate his legs. Worth a go, esp if she has jumped in her last home?
 
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