Canter to walk transitions advice please

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Spendtoomuch

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Struggling to crack canter to walk transitions, so thought I would ask for advice on here.
So we have halt to trot, halt to trot all good, walk to canter is amazing, but we do not seem to be able to do canter to walk I get one of three things, either fall into trot with heavy head, we do not do this in normal trot transitions, or couple of strides trot then either walk or normally halt.
So advice on what I am doing wrong and how I can perfect.
 
Try working on lengthening and collecting the canter and when you have a more collected canter, count down 3, 2, 1 strides and walk. Make sure you prepare really well, half-halt to collect, sit up, use your seat to get him off the shoulders and be positive. For now try doing it at the same place in the school so he can anticipate a bit, although you should vary where you do it as soon as he gets the idea. It's also helpful to use your voice.
 
in canter to walk it's really important to ask at the right point of the stride. you also need to collect the canter to a walk speed before asking for the transition. I find it helpful collecting the canter, riding a 10m circle and then as coming towards the track when the outside hind steps under ask for the walk transition. It's quite a difficult exercise and you really need the quality of the canter and the ability to collect or you will get the problems you describe. If you ask when the foreleg is on the floor the horse has no choice but to do a nose dive. If you ask when the hindleg is coming through but haven't collected he will have to trot before walk.
 
I find that coming on to a 10m circle, collecting the canter right up and then use my outside leg as though I'm asking for a pirouette step works for my boy.
 
I think it was Spotted_Cat who gave me this exercise, but it's really good.

Ride a diamond in canter with the points at A, E, C and B. As you get to each of those markers ride a 10m circle in collected canter. As you finish the circle and re-join the diamond (ie. as the horse is pointing at the arena fence) ask for a halt transition, ride a couple of steps of rein-back then a walk to canter transition and continue to the next point of the diamond. Once you've cracked this replace the halt/rein-back with walk. The horse will be anticipating the halt and should walk with the smallest of aids.

As Star has said the light-bulb for me came when I realised that you needed a walk-speed canter to make the transition.
 
as above, getting the canter collected and contained to walk speed is a HUGE part of it. that was my real lightbulb moment. if your canter is at, say, 6 mph, and your walk is at 2 mph, nothing is going to prevent your horse from pitching forwards. if you can get the canter down to 2mph it makes it so much easier. also, cantering a 10m circle and then asking for it in the same place so the horse starts to anticipate a little, then praise for that anticipation.
I totally see the point of the timing of the aid, BUT different horses react at different speeds so I think the across-the-ground speed of the canter, the engagement, and the rider's core are far more important.
ah, also, a tip that came second hand from Chris Bartle, who taught someone who used to teach me. To 'stop' the canter, 'stop' your pelvis from moving with the canter. This also works from walk to halt. go with it, go with it, and then stop, sort of freeze your pelvis' movement. It is a huge invisible aid, and horses really understand it, and it means you don't have to use the hand and risk the horse reacting adversely against the contact etc.
 
kerilli said:
ah, also, a tip that came second hand from Chris Bartle, who taught someone who used to teach me. To 'stop' the canter, 'stop' your pelvis from moving with the canter. This also works from walk to halt. go with it, go with it, and then stop, sort of freeze your pelvis' movement. It is a huge invisible aid, and horses really understand it, and it means you don't have to use the hand and risk the horse reacting adversely against the contact etc.
Click to expand...

Second this - it's a great trick. I also breathe in and hold my breath. It lightens your frame, sits you up, and prevents you from collapsing as you freeze the pelvis.

Can be too effective - I cant do it on my current horse, as he does a superb canter/halt transition the moment he feels me breathe in!
 
Brilliant thank you everyone, I think as all of you have said I am not collecting the canter really if I am honest, I half halt then ask, if I freeze my core its when we go trot to halt, so I will try collecting canter then ask, thanks everyone lots to work on.
 
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