Canter Trans for youngster help

[Tifferss]

I have a 4yr old mare and walk and trot is coming along lovely. Canter trans are a bit hit and miss. I appreciate this is her balance but i would really like some schooling tips on getting a canter more consistently and perhaps picking up canter quicker rather than running into it.

All comment greatly appreciated

 

[Tifferss]

 

[rhino]

With the young 'uns you are far better trying to work on canter transitions out hacking/on gallops, it's the turning and striking off at the same time they normally find difficult. It is much better if they can find their balance in canter in a straight line to begin with.

Other things that may help, which you may be doing already

Stay slightly 'forward seat' in canter to help her use her back fully.
Can use a pole as a 'strike off' point in the corner of the school as they will often 'jump' into canter better.
Make sure you are the one who decides when you come back to trot; better to do a few strides of canter and a controlled downwards transition than try and canter a whole lap of the school and her dropping back to trot of her own accord.
Moving her 'on' and 'back' within the canter as soon as it is in any way established.
Basic lateral work can also help engage the hind leg and will aid your canter transitions. Make sure you are staying straight in the saddle.

Don't worry too much though, most horses find canter the most difficult pace to balance in at first, and those with a lovely big canter can take a while to 'click'

 

[Tifferss]

thank you for this, i used the poles when we were struggling getting the correct lead but we have that now - might try this as a trans point, shes a very quick learner and she has great potential (so im told lol) ground by us is a bit rubbish to canter on so im stuck in the school.

Thank you for your help with this xx

 

[rhino]

No worries, in my experience it is often the ones who struggle the most with canter initially that end up with the 'best' canters

ETA if she likes the poles then have a few scattered around the arena (either on the ground or tiny x-poles) to do your flatwork around/over

 

[Tifferss]

a few of the girls on my yard say that! I really hope so, her canter now is so "paddling" and down hill which in comparison with her beautiful trot is shocking!! lol

 

[Ladydragon]

No worries, in my experience it is often the ones who struggle the most with canter initially that end up with the 'best' canters

Hope for us yet then...

Similar to the OP, our biggest issue with a four year old TB is the canter...

He can do a tiny circle on the wrong leg... A lass who was doing a bit of schooling with him did manage to switch him onto the right leg a few times by throwing her weight over his shoulder but he's still not really 'got it'... He's a scaredy cat where poles are concerned and totally loses his stride if we've popped some of those into the corner...

 

[Loopypony]

Good advice above, nothing much else to add.

With teaching my 4 year old giant I found that I must make sure I keep the contact and am not tempted to 'throw' the reins at him. So basically, keep an even contact on the reins when you ask for the transition - don't slacken or tighten the reins

 

[scribble]

i have a 4yr old who is 16.3 warmblood and her canter is by far her worst like yours she runs into it a little bit but that is coming but as soon as you turn hlafway round a circle she drops into trot. It is coming but she is a bit sharpe so cantering on hacks is only just starting. think it will come though.

 

[Tifferss]

thanks all for your advice, i really want it to come NOW lol but with my experience with youngsters...nothing happens quickly

 

[VioletStripe]

With the young 'uns you are far better trying to work on canter transitions out hacking/on gallops, it's the turning and striking off at the same time they normally find difficult. It is much better if they can find their balance in canter in a straight line to begin with.

Other things that may help, which you may be doing already

Stay slightly 'forward seat' in canter to help her use her back fully.
Can use a pole as a 'strike off' point in the corner of the school as they will often 'jump' into canter better.
Make sure you are the one who decides when you come back to trot; better to do a few strides of canter and a controlled downwards transition than try and canter a whole lap of the school and her dropping back to trot of her own accord.
Moving her 'on' and 'back' within the canter as soon as it is in any way established.
Basic lateral work can also help engage the hind leg and will aid your canter transitions. Make sure you are staying straight in the saddle.

Don't worry too much though, most horses find canter the most difficult pace to balance in at first, and those with a lovely big canter can take a while to 'click'

This Starting to teach a bit of leg yielding and similar simple lateral work really helps teach what happens with that leg when you apply the leg aid. But working on it in company with hacks and then bringing it into the school I found the easiest.. and also, leg yielding out onto a bigger circle, and then asking for canter helps to send the horse forwards and maintain a bend to help get the correct lead. Obviously though, this should come a bit later once the canter transition is more established xx

 

[madmare1]

thanks for this..my 6yo is having trouble with canter transitions...she's been backed recently after being a broodie...so we're just starting the schooling. her trot is beautiful and she has a lovely light mouth and comes on the bit of her own accord....BUT, canter is tough!!!! we have had it, just not quite 'there' with it yet.

I've been despairing over this!!! can get it on the lunge and freeschooling no probs..just with a rider on, she finds it confusing!

Emma xx

 

[Tifferss]

This is why i love this forum, dont quite feel so frustrated now i know im not completely shhhht. The lazy bag in me wants to send her away for someone else to do the hard work but I've come so far with her since i bought her at three im too selfish to let anyone else take any credit for her!!

is that mad?

 

[Happy Hunter]

thanks for this..my 6yo is having trouble with canter transitions...she's been backed recently after being a broodie...so we're just starting the schooling. her trot is beautiful and she has a lovely light mouth and comes on the bit of her own accord....BUT, canter is tough!!!! we have had it, just not quite 'there' with it yet.

I've been despairing over this!!! can get it on the lunge and freeschooling no probs..just with a rider on, she finds it confusing!

Emma xx

Sounds like my girl! Good luck - and be patient - her body isnt what it used to be! We find her worst 'habit' is unbalancing onto the forehand - so I have to sit right up and geta lovelly balanced trot 1st - We had a bit of a breakthrough today so it can be done!!!

Cantering in a 5m circle around a gatepost out hunting is of course easssy!!!

 

[Cortez]

Sometimes it is easier to teach the upward transition to canter from walk, means they have to really sit down on the hind leg and push up into canter rather than fall into it from a rushed trot. You'll probably have to give a tap with the whip along with leg aids to make it happen the first few goes. And don't lean forwards into it either - unbalances 'em really badly + bad for your riding.

 

[Vibella]

I spent months with my 4 yo just trying to get the right lead in canter it just suddenly just clicked and now we have good transitions. It's just a case of staying calm and keep working on it. Do a lot of canter work on the lunge this will help to improve the balance.