Canter to Trot Transitions

[Mahoganybay]

What on earth am i doing wrong, i am bouncing about all over the place. Have mastered walk to trot, trot to walk, trot to halt, walk to canter, trot to canter but just cannot get canter to trot.

Hmm. any advise?

Oh yes, i also tip forward too....

 

[Tinsel Town]

What on earth am i doing wrong, i am bouncing about all over the place. Have mastered walk to trot, trot to walk, trot to halt, walk to canter, trot to canter but just cannot get canter to trot.

Hmm. any advise?

Oh yes, i also tip forward too....

not that im an expert by any means, but my instructor always tells me to sit up, think trot, as he comes back from canter into trot, sit for the first 2-3 strides before rising to the trot.
Or if you have problems with sitting trot, maybe try some work without stirrups, which will in turn help with my above comment

 

[Undecided]

As above, sit up really tall and look forwards, almost think of pushing into the trot rather than flopping into it, keep your hands together and half halt through the transition so pony doesn't run off once back in trot

 

[oldie48]

All of the above but instead of letting you spine move with horse's movement, stop it moving and let the horse make the trans down to trot. Usually, they will trot as soon as they feel you stop moving. Lucky you as it sounds as if you have a lovely forward thinking horse.

 

[Mahoganybay]

All of the above but instead of letting you spine move with horse's movement, stop it moving and let the horse make the trans down to trot. Usually, they will trot as soon as they feel you stop moving. Lucky you as it sounds as if you have a lovely forward thinking horse.

Thanks for all the replies, got some things to work on now, am so chuffed oldie48 he is learning me loads of stuff (can't take any credit i'm afraid, all down to my daughter, he is her horse, fortunately for me she has bogged off to University ha ha)

I think it is also because he has such a big uphill powerful canter and i just bounce, will try harder.

 

[Triskar]

Squeeze with your thighs and knees to come down from canter to trot - you'll have a lovely smooth transition! See this: http://www.schoolyourhorse.com/2010/12/29/the-other-way-of-stopping/

It works for all downwards transitions - I get really good marks in tests for downward transitions now!

 

[Emma86]

I am always told by my instructor to 'ride forwards into the trot', so rather than thinking of slamming on the breaks sit up and sink your bum into the saddle (do not collapse as I often do!)
I find with my mare if I use too much hand in a downwards transition she becomes hollow and falls into the trot, so I use very little hand aid and, as someone else said, squeeze with the thighs and knees, keep your leg around the horse and ride forwards through the transition.