Canter help

[Hhh]

Im hoping for some advice. I purchased a very green pony who used to drive., 11 years old. He then went into cross country for a few months and I don't doubt he has never been schooled. He is very sensitive to the leg and speedy! When I first got him he would jog around the entire arena now we have a lovely walk & trot. He is very unbalanced in canter. I have had a few experiences of no breaks which has knocked my confidence slightly and I now have a fear of cantering him. He is extremely rushed and it feels a million miles an hour. I wouldn't mind the speed so much if I knew I could stop it whenever I wanted.
I would love to know you opinions on how I could balance him up in the canter but also gain some breaks. I do not want to bit him up, when you apply more pressure he speeds up. Medically he is sound but just uneducated. Thank you in advance!

 

[quiteniceforacob]

What bit are you using? I’m no expert but I’m sure people will have answers as to suitable bit solutions!

 

[quiteniceforacob]

Also lots of work on downward transitions in walk and trot - so you know you really have brakes that he understands

 

[Hhh]

What bit are you using? I’m no expert but I’m sure people will have answers as to suitable bit solutions!

He is just in a snaffle. He came with a Dutch gag however my instructor suggested changing it as the more pressure faster he goes.

 

[Upthecreek]

Lots and lots of transitions so that he is listening to you and doesn’t get the opportunity to get too onward bound and speed up.

 

[Lucky Snowball]

While doing numerous halt, walk, trot transitions while schooling and hacking also in hand I would be giving a voice command - whoa or steady as the instruction to change pace. I definitely wouldn't use a stronger bit. Voice commands on the lunge might help too.

 

[tallyho!]

I am also going to commend you in using the snaffle! Well done don't change the bit. There's no such thing as a bit solution - only rider attitude solutions!

I'd give my right arm to have a horse this responsive again no matter how speedy - you can work with that.

Agree with the "transitions". I had a problem once where I he was so speedy he'd strike off on the incorrect lead all the time. So I ended up working on the get the "ask" right - I discontinued with the canter, focused on getting a nice strike off. Then when I got that cracked, I did a few calm strides and stopped and eventually we could do the whole school each way and that gave way to being able to ask for a change. Never got past that although I did dream of a tempi change with him...

 

[Hhh]

While doing numerous halt, walk, trot transitions while schooling and hacking also in hand I would be giving a voice command - whoa or steady as the instruction to change pace. I definitely wouldn't use a stronger bit. Voice commands on the lunge might help too.

He goes on voice to walk on, trot and halt but I have never included this in groundwork which I do slack in ??‍♀so I will definitely be trying this, thank you!

 

[Hhh]

What bit are you using? I’m no expert but I’m sure people will have answers as to suitable bit solutions!

Snaffle and I don’t want to change it but I will definitely be trying your advice on the repetitions on transitions, thank you!

 

[Hhh]

I am also going to commend you in using the snaffle! Well done don't change the bit. There's no such thing as a bit solution - only rider attitude solutions!

I'd give my right arm to have a horse this responsive again no matter how speedy - you can work with that.

Agree with the "transitions". I had a problem once where I he was so speedy he'd strike off on the incorrect lead all the time. So I ended up working on the get the "ask" right - I discontinued with the canter, focused on getting a nice strike off. Then when I got that cracked, I did a few calm strides and stopped and eventually we could do the whole school each way and that gave way to being able to ask for a change. Never got past that although I did dream of a tempi change with him...

I love how responsive he is to voice and really feel I can work with this. Just mind over matter sometimes. We always strike off on the wrong leg and change back and forth which does make me feel unbalanced.
I will be trying repeating transitions and hope to see progress from this. Thank you for the advice.

 

[paddi22]

we get ones that that in to retrain and the canter part is always very tricky. It can be very difficult to retrain them if the rider is nervous in any way, as they often tense up without knowing and make the horse canter faster. If you had the cash it would be well worth paying a pro or instructor to come and school the pony for you and teach it a proper canter. Even a session or two would be really beneficial and help you out and they can give you exercises you can do.

 

[Hhh]

we get ones that that in to retrain and the canter part is always very tricky. It can be very difficult to retrain them if the rider is nervous in any way, as they often tense up without knowing and make the horse canter faster. If you had the cash it would be well worth paying a pro or instructor to come and school the pony for you and teach it a proper canter. Even a session or two would be really beneficial and help you out and they can give you exercises you can do.

Yes I agree my instructor can tell when I tense up just from my pony’s reaction. He did actually take off with me last month over the field and this time I just kept calm and managed to stop on a circle but had I of got tense he would of sped up and god knows where I would be! I can do the cantering over jumps because he stops the other side it is just the fear of the unknown cantering around the school.
Thank you I will look into a professional coming to teach him to canter.

 

[tallyho!]

The thing is with being tense especially for ladies is that we hunch... centre of gravity rises... we end up with weight ahead of us boobs an all.

this is then quite hard for a green horse to hoik the rider back over the shoulder (experienced hunters can do the hoik well!). So actually, tensing is not helpful... how I did it was to let the weight drop down into my legs, legs long, free the shoulders and almost breathe up as the outside leg went back. Hands high or else you will just get pulled forward onto the forehand again. Look up at a tree or something if it helps, anything to get that weight back a bit. A rider on the shoulder must be like running with a bag on your neck ?

 

[Hhh]

The thing is with being tense especially for ladies is that we hunch... centre of gravity rises... we end up with weight ahead of us boobs an all.

this is then quite hard for a green horse to hoik the rider back over the shoulder (experienced hunters can do the hoik well!). So actually, tensing is not helpful... how I did it was to let the weight drop down into my legs, legs long, free the shoulders and almost breathe up as the outside leg went back. Hands high or else you will just get pulled forward onto the forehand again. Look up at a tree or something if it helps, anything to get that weight back a bit. A rider on the shoulder must be like running with a bag on your neck ?

Yeah I do exactly that, Although if I jump I can canter and sit perfect because I don't feel the nerves as I know I've got breaks or he just stops. I do need to take that advice in looking up and forward more. Haha it probably does. I might actually look into someone professionally coming out and teaching him.

 

[ycbm]

I taught a very strong hunter to slow to a voice command 'down', by using the word every time I did a downward transition in any pace in the school or on a hack. It might help?

 

[Hhh]

I taught a very strong hunter to slow to a voice command 'down', by using the word every time I did a downward transition in any pace in the school or on a hack. It might help?

Great, thank you will give that a try.

 

[tallyho!]

My young mare is not forward at all. I don't have your advantage.

If I for any reason cross what I think is the imaginary "pommel boundary" then she has a proper paddy. She hops, head down and twists. Truly horrible and when she was even younger I came a cropper many a time, HHO'ers would have had her shot I'm sure. It never seemed malicious but she sure taught me balance - something someone said on here really helped. Basically it was something like "my shoulders had to be back or else". Sorry I can't remember exactly but that's how I did it. Look up, look where you're going and keep your outside shoulder back and give with your hands. That then keeps the weight back and the horse can manage your balance. Imagine your little self skipping basically.

I must say though, just check you've got some good balance in walk and trot with/without rein - easy with a driver (I"ve got one) but you'd be surprised how much weight goes on the front.

 

[Mildlander]

The tip I picked up (I think it's a Sylvia Locke one) which I use to remind myself to stay upright is that the back of my neck should touch/feel my collar. If you are leaning forward and looking down you're not touching/feeling the collar. For me a simple but effective reminder