Cantering in the school

[Ehound679]

My horse was moved to a next yard 6 months ago and they have an indoor school. He has become used to the school now and is fine in trot and walk but as soon as we ask for canter he does a few strides then throws his head down then up and stops. When he does this he unseats me and makes me nervous about asking for canter. I don't know why he does this and don't know what to do to make him canter in the school. Can someone help??

 

[be positive]

The best person to help you would be an instructor who will be able to see what is going on and help you get over the nerves, at the moment he is probably upset because you are nervous and giving him mixed messages about whether you really want to canter or not so he sets off then stops because you are tense, it will be a vicious circle that needs something to change in order for him to get going confidently again.

It may help if you lunge him in canter so he can learn to balance himself and keep going without you on board, I would also do the normal checks, teeth and saddle, to ensure there is not something else contributing to it but getting proper help will be the best solution.

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

It may be that the school is too small for him, and he has decided to object as soon as you ask for canter.
I would get a good instructor to ride him through it, this is often the quickest and most cost effective solution.
It is summer now,,,,,,,,,,,, don't stay inside when you can hack and canter freely across the fields and meadows
It should not take him more than a a few minutes or even sessions to "get used" to a school, unless it is very tinny, which can upset nervous horses, but give them other things to think about.