Canter help!

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express_75

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Hi

I have a novice section B pony to school and show and i've only ever ridden and shown the Ds - im finding the not having very much in front quite a shock!
The walk and trot has come on a treat but i'm finding canter difficult, it's the initial strike off and maintaining it.

Any tips - i just want to present a neat show and stay on board!

TIA :)
 
Me too, having been left with my daughters young Exmoor while she's at uni, I'm trying to keep her in some decent work before we start showing. I really struggle to get anything more than a few strides of canter.
How is your pony out hacking? We seem to have absolutely no issue with as much canter as you like hacking.
I have just got a small rider who's used to showing small ponies to ride her once a week, she's different again with her.
 
Hipo said:
Me too, having been left with my daughters young Exmoor while she's at uni, I'm trying to keep her in some decent work before we start showing. I really struggle to get anything more than a few strides of canter.
How is your pony out hacking? We seem to have absolutely no issue with as much canter as you like hacking.
I have just got a small rider who's used to showing small ponies to ride her once a week, she's different again with her.
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I haven't tried her out hacking - she's only with me a short time but before the show, i'll school her on grass to see if that will help. It doesn't help that the school i use is so small, i much prefer open spaces.
Glad im not the only one! I'll try figure of 8s tonight as that has helped in the past, just don;t want any bucks as nothing in front! ha!
 
to get longer canters, find somewhere nice underfoot and with a straight run, trot up and down to make sure its safe underfoot, then stoke up the trot and ask for canter, then do not sit too heavy or hold the front too much, just allow the pony to bowl along nicely, when it gets tired let it return to trot, then walk a bit as a break and repeat.

they need to get fitter and get used to the actual mechanical process of canter, and striking off into canter without worrying about which leading leg they are on, for the moment.

it may not happen straight away but a little practice done in a relaxed, fun sort of way should soon get them going.
 
Ask for canter get canter then sit still, if the horse breaks the canter go ballistic at it legs whip whatever to reestablish as soon as it canters sit still, if it breaks repeat ... it will learn in less than 10 minutes but don't canter too long as the time needs to be built up slowly due to muscle conditioning and fitness etc
 
as they are both young or novice ponies it is unfair and abusive to go ballistic.

they will be upset and confused when in truth they are trying to do their best.


get someone to set about you with a whip and kick you in the ribs sometime and see how you like it
 
not nagging, but thorough training to set the pony up for life, this takes time, a lot longer than 10 seconds and is something lacking in a lot of horses training today.

the number of people on here needing help with basic canter work shows that.
 
I agree that lack of basic training is what is lacking here but what she is describing is a horse that breaks its canter when it wants too... the horse has to understand that is unacceptable. Going ballistic as I
May have described varies from horse to horse... for my cob it consisted of one pony club kick, for my first Grand Prix horse it consisted of lots of fast short kick kick kicks backed up with a short smack when I didn't get a reaction .. my mare never needed it - she doesn't break - what I can't abide is people kicking every stride - it does my head in...
 
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