Canter to halt - new horse "trick"!

A

anniedoherty

Well-Known Member
Joined
16 September 2006
Messages
912
Location
Yorkshire
www.boxtreegallery.co.uk
My new horse can do canter to halt and he does, regularly, whether I ask for it or not. I've never had a horse which could do this very successfully before - I always got a stride or two of trot first but this one seems to be a bit of a specialist. Do you think he has been trained to do this? And how can I stop him?

He did it on a hack and I flew over his head and he did it again yesterday in the school and I flew up his neck. I know I should have a better seat but, at the moment, I am riding him in a rubbish synthetic saddle which tips me forward so I am not very secure anyway. I don't know if I am inadvertently asking him to do it or if he is doing it because he thinks it is required. I am hoping to get an instructor to come down to the yard soon so maybe she will be able to see what is going on?
 
Bossanova, the first time he did it out on a hack he stood and waited for me to get back on and was then happy to walk/jog off. Yesterday, he didn't want to move again so I had to push him into a trot. I am still finding out how to ride him properly at the moment because I've only had him a week. He seems to "switch off" sometimes and then wake up with a lurch when I apply my leg. If I apply it too strongly I've found that he just leaps in to canter from walk.
 
It sounds like it's just mis-comunication now, some stop like that when theyre confused and cant quite cope with it all! From what you say it isnt a nappy thing so I'd just concentrate on getting to know him more and if he does it again, try to think of every possible reason why he has....
 
Thanks Bossonova. That's what I thought really, it seems like a "misunderstanding". It is early days so, hopefully, we will get more in tune with one another as time goes on. Finding an instructor will no doubt help as well.
 
I think you are right Gentle_Warrior but I keep ending up on his neck every time I apply my leg strongly after he's stopped. I think I need to apply it just before he stops - trouble is he doesn't give any warning of when this might be 'cos he just stops without slowing down at all. I will just keep trying to figure him out lol!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top