Canter transitions

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Foxychops

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I have a gorgeous ex NH horse. I have done more this year than I ever dreamed of. He is coming on really well in his flatwork but Canter transitions are a bit of a problem. He is either great or shoots off. Unfortunately during one where he shot off I must have caught him in the mouth and now he seems to expect it. I am trying the LY into Canter but wondered if anyone had any other tips. I always ride with a neckstrap so I'm also going to try slipping a finger under that so I don't catch him again. Any ideas would be much appreciated
 
My old ex racer's canter transitions improved when we had some jumping lessons. I think it gave us both something else to focus on.
 
Maybe do some flatwork with a few poles out, just until you get the transitions consistent, gradually reduce the number of poles.
 
Variety of ways, just to add interest.
Single pole in a corner to rise transition over
Canter poles on 3/4 line
Single pole on the 2 open sides of the B E 20 meter circle.
Parallel poles the ride between
Square to canter round outside of
Tbh I usually do these exercises with a trainer so he does the thinking. 🙂
 
I've found tying a shoe lace through the D rings of the saddle is really helpful as means you don't unconsciously lean forward for the neck strap and keeps your outside hand steady which also helps for the transition onto canter.
 
Used to happen with our connie who had a bad back when he came to us...we got it fixed up but he just expected it to hurt every time! Repetition is your friend in this case...Took about a week for our boy to realise he could relax again. Do up to 4 or 5 transitions from trot-canter-trot on a big circle, varying the strides in between, might not work the first few times but ye will both get the hang of it after a while! Also like @Dora123 idea of the shoelace, neckstrap can be a bit out of the way if you just need stability, Hope you find something to help soon :) Good luck
 
mine is super green still but I've taught him to go from a voice aid, if I use my legs more than a whisper he gets quite upset. Work in progress but the voice aid means we can get into canter sensibly and work on it from there.
 
Where do you make the transition? On younger horses I prefer to make it coming from a 20 meter circle having passed the middle. That way if the horse shoots off there will quickly be a wall and some corners to slow the horse down.
 
Are you sitting tall enough? Where’s your outside shoulder? Have you got enough support in outside rein? Horses shooting off are almost always carrying a rider who are off balance. I’ve seen it in so many clinics now over the years. I’ve done it myself. It then gets worse because you’re both expecting errors so you both tense.

my teacher says, the better you prepare the canter, the better the strike off and you’ll maintain it better too. The way I teach it now is on a 20m circle but never until I have a good relaxed rhythm in trot and the horse is not at all crooked/leaning any which way and you build it up from there.

the horses frame has to be able to lift out of the thoracic sling in a good canter so don’t impede it.
 
One time to make it, 7 times to break it!

You mentioned he got caught in the mouth & now is being a little sensitive but try not to let that focus your riding into avoiding it, if it took one time to make the habit, it can take 7 times to break it but that just can mean a decent session where you repeat the transition over & over until he starts to relax & get consistency from you & then be more consistent himself - as hard as it is, try to just focus on riding a correct transition every time - sitting up tall, asking softly but maintaining a steady consistent contact & just smoothly going into the transition - even if he doesnt go smoothly into it or he over reacts - try not to react yourself, bring him back to trot & keep asking until he realises the 'catch' isnt going to happen. It wont take long but its more training our own brains than theirs! :D

I remember I had a great dressage lesson with an Olympic dressage rider & she wouldnt let a bad transition go - she said even if you have to repeat it 100 times in that session it will mean you wont have to spent years undoing bad transitions!
 
LegOn said:
One time to make it, 7 times to break it!

You mentioned he got caught in the mouth & now is being a little sensitive but try not to let that focus your riding into avoiding it, if it took one time to make the habit, it can take 7 times to break it but that just can mean a decent session where you repeat the transition over & over until he starts to relax & get consistency from you & then be more consistent himself - as hard as it is, try to just focus on riding a correct transition every time - sitting up tall, asking softly but maintaining a steady consistent contact & just smoothly going into the transition - even if he doesnt go smoothly into it or he over reacts - try not to react yourself, bring him back to trot & keep asking until he realises the 'catch' isnt going to happen. It wont take long but its more training our own brains than theirs! :D

I remember I had a great dressage lesson with an Olympic dressage rider & she wouldnt let a bad transition go - she said even if you have to repeat it 100 times in that session it will mean you wont have to spent years undoing bad transitions!
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Agree with this. Repetition, repetition, repetition. Most people do not do nearly enough transitions. That said, you also need to look at the quality of the trot before the transition. If the trot is in good balance, in an even relaxed tempo, straight and soft through the jaw, neck and back and accepting the contact, then the transition will be likewise. I suspect the basics are not sufficiently established in trot first. So do both, work to improve the trot and the contact issues and practice, practice, practice the transitions until they are no longer unexpected, exciting, frightening. What is he like on the lunge? It may also help to work him through this on the lunge without a rider also.
 
I used to jump into position with my horse, who was a very hot type. Turns out, thay was making her anticipate?

However, a trainer I had taught me to sit and wait a bit to discourage the shooting. She called it the "ice cream butt"- sit a bit lazy like you ate a whole pint of ice cream, resist jumping up for that first stride and really make them lift you. Posting the canter can help them establish the appropriate rhythm.
 
Thank you for all your advice and suggestions.

A little update!!

I have been using a pole on the lunge and asking him to do the transition over it. He got it really quickly. Have now ridden twice over the pole. First attempt on Thursday, we had a couple of scoots which I ignored and we also had some lovely transitions. Tried again this morning and he was great!! I held breastplate with inside hand, I had a forward seat and just used my voice asking for canter and just waited for him to canter. He attempted one little scoot but I had him in my outside hand and soon got him back, within 2 strides. Really pleased!! Now I'm going to put random poles out and practice a transition over them.
 
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