canter

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lady_annabelle

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i'm breaking my four year old i did have someone doing it with me but they've had an accident and can't help now i've got everything else sorted but we aren't getting anywer with gettting her to canter has anyone got a way they have tried that has been really effective. i can't hack out to follow another horse as the only horse that would be suitable to go out with is out of work for a while. can someone help ??
 
What actually happens when you ask for canter - and what aids are u giving to ask? Also does she canter on the lunge from voice command?
 
she wont go into canter at all she'll just rush her trot abit shes very lazy for a youngster. we've tried nearly everything just stuck as to what can do now to get her to go into canter i know she can do it as she ran off with me the other week
 
Hiya, I'm not being very articulate today so I apologise in advance incase this doesn't make much sense
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Can I ask what stage you are at with the backing process? Is walk and trot on the lunge fully established? Does she understand voice commands? Are you riding her?

Sorry for all the questions but the answer to your query varies depending on what stage she is at!! The reason being, if she is still farly new to the backing process you may be asking a bit too much of her too soon?... in the same way as you wouldn't call a toddler (human) who recently started walking 'lazy' for not running (because you recognise he hasn't got the skills or the coordination yet) perhaps you are asking too much of your mare to be cantering whilst ridden (or on a lunge) at this stage?

If walk and trot are well established (she is working as required and is obedient to your commands) perhaps there is a physiological reason she is reluctant to canter? For example perhaps she isn't naturally a very balanced horse (is she front heavy so inclined to be on the forehand? or perhaps still a gangly 4yr old trying to coordinate those continually growing limbs?) This sort of problem is fairly common but will take patience and lots of building exercises to help her.

Out of interest does she canter about in the field when you turn her out? If not it may be worth getting her checked over to rule out any pain making canter too uncomfortable for her?
 
I would agree with the points about watching her canter on her own & without a rider.
Without sounding too harsh, perhaps you are unbalancing her in the first instance. I dont know your level of experience or how independant your seat is, but I strongly suggest you get a professional to help you. Ultimately you are shaping your horse for the rest of its life, you want to ensure you lay the proper foundations & that may be best left to someone else.
 
shes fine in walk and trot listens to everything you ask of her but is generally a very lazy horse. she wont canter on the lunge either but will canter/ gallop when turned out. vet has checked and he has said he thinks shes being stubborn.
 
Its really hard to offer advice without knowing how advanced your riding and seat is and actually seeing what happens but i generally think that if u ask the horse the right questions you will normally get the right answers. I have taught a few seriously awkward horses to canter and generally its persisting and patience that will reward you- dont lose your temper and give up! If you are not managing i would seriously get a professional to help as already mentioned you are laying the foundations and really dont want to get it wrong. I hope that helps - but maybe if you havent got anyone to help i would get someone to film what is happening and post it here - there are some very knowledgable folk on here that will be able to pinpoint immediately what is going wrong and help you fix it. xx
 
I think all the important points have been made very well already but I might add one more. I'm guessing that you are asking for canter on a bend -either the corner of the school or lunge? Is it possible that a lack of balance/strength means that the bend is too sharp? If on the lunge, you need to make sure she is on a large circle to start with in order not to demand too much of her baby-balance!
 
yeah ill try for few more week if still not getting anywhere i'll get a video done thanks
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ill try with lunge again try and get her going on a bigger circle. thanks for the good advice
 
Shes a baby. If it were me id just be focusing on the walk and trot atm, getting her doing some good transitions and more responsive and less 'lazy' from your leg in those two paces. Go out for some hacks on your own etc, i wouldnt be rushing to push her.
 
at the moment even thoh lazy on a hack if we come across a car or person she goes absolutly berserk so until can get sumone to hack out it isn't an option at the moment unfortunatly but i'll just keep trying slowly with her
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