Canter work

[0310Star]

Does anybody have any advice on how to build my horse up so that she can happily go into canter? We had a year off hacking due to leg problems and at the end of last summer began school work again. Due to many reasons (weather, time, needing a new saddle etc) it has been a bit inconsistent, although she has always struggled with canter in the school. I recently got a new saddle and she is working 100% better, from behind and really striding out which she never did before but the canter is still and issue.
I think it is due to back end strength and balance as she really Throws her front end into it and more times than not we just end up with a really fast trot.
Should probably ad she cannot be lunged. I know she needs building up and we are doing lots of transitions to help with this and to get her working properly but I just wondered if any body had any tips? We also will be soon restarting our lessons, just thought it may be worth an ask on here!
Thanks in advance

 

[Sprig]

I would say don't worry about the canter for the moment. Get out hacking, do more trotting - up hills if you can. When she is feeling a bit stronger go out with a friend, find an easy canter spot and get your companion to go into canter and hopefully your horse will want to go too. Keep it short and easy to start with.

 

[jenki13]

I would suggest getting out of the school and hacking a lot more - Uphill.

When I 1st got my horse she had been out of work for 18months-2years & was rather weak. Lots of hilly road work later (benefit of where I live) she was fit enough to attempt canter and I found that this wasn't possible on a 20m circle she just broke into trot. So we started off cantering straight lines for longer and longer (big open field) & using the steep bank in 1 the fields to really build her back end up in canter.
- at this point I also made sure the canter transition became sharper so she knew exactly what was wanted and I didn't get the running into canter and she became more "together" which I think made circling easier.

Then progressed onto circles and attempted them smaller and smaller until she broke into trot, then worked at that (app.) size until she could complete a couple of full circles (think 30-35m!) and then reduced the circle size again.
Once she got her head around / learnt to balance cantering a circle it didn't take long to reduce the size down to 20m and then we could start working in the school & think about collection/lengthening etc.

Hope this helps

 

[0310Star]

Thank you for the replies she got really well built last summer with lots of hacking but at the moment due to work, weekends are the only time I can go out (too dark in the week) and Saturdays aren't great to hack because we are on a main winding road before hitting the bridle paths.
I am going away for 3 weeks in 3 weeks time and when I get back I am going to join TROT because I recently realised we had one next door (having been on the yard a year and never noticed ) but I walked the route with the trot organiser for the area and its all orchards with some really good long grassy hills for a good canter so I will crack on with it once I am back!
Need to start schooling whilst hacking instead of getting lost in the moment and mooching along on the buckle
I am getting very excited for summer now!