Cantering instead of trotting?

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Denzel

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Hi,
I have an 8 year old TB ex-racer. I've only had him for just over a month, previously he'd just bee thrown into a field and done nothing fr a while. He's lacking in muscle on the hindlimb (well everywhere really) but we are working on building it up, my instructor is giving us exercises to do to help.

Anyway, the last two times I rode him I'm trying to push him on in trot and he keeps dropping into canter. I think he's finding it easier to canter than trot so is trying to do that. Any ideas how to stop him doing this? I dont know if i need to really shorten my reins, but then he sticks his head up a bit. I want him nice a rounded, but he gets tired. Any ideas?
 
I think some horses favour canter and others trot. Can you get voice commands sorted on the lunge so that when you are riding you use voice commands, rather than trying to push him on and him getting muddled?
Mine was a little like this, only in walk to trot. I would just ask her to move on a little more in walk and she would trot. Only because that was the easier option! For us getting voice commands sorted, and then when walking I ask her to move on the smallest bit and then reward that effort. With time I have been able to ask for more walk without going off in trot. Just little bits at a time, and accepting what is given, rather than asking for a little more, little more etc, opps trot!!
If he isn't that fab at balance and his muscle tone isn't great then I wouldn't hold him up more, I would just establish the three paces on a soft rein until he is more used to the idea and can hold himself in each pace, then you can worry about where his head is! Though tbh by then if he is working forwards well and has developed his balance then you won't have to ask him to bring his head in, it will already be where you want it!
 
I think you have only had him a month and you say he is soft, from the field, give him a little time to get some fitness and strength before you try to push him in each pace. If you want a bigger trot, try to get it on a hack, going uphill, they can often lengthen more willingly that way.

If you push him too hard at the stage you will confuse him and make his muscles sore, which he may resent.
 
A lot of what Pony says is right especially about voice aids.

If your asking for more because he is not forward enough then personally I wouldn't settle for what he offers.
work on the voice aids on and off the horse. Then when you ask for more trot, if he canters, gently say no and bring him back, repeat repeat, as long as you are relaxed about it he will eventually get the idea. Remember tho it only takes once for you to accept the canter from him to undo hours of correcting him

As you said yourself he is doing it because it is easier and as long as he is allowed to he will keep doing it
 
My boy is the exact same way - came here underweight, and is massively lacking in muscle. I've been doing lunge work at a trot with him, have now added poles to get him using his hind end more. He too finds it tiring to work correctly in trot, where he actually uses his whole body not just sticking nose in air and hollowing his back. He gets lots of walk breaks when we lunge, and I never do it for long periods as it's not fair to him.
 
Just bringing my Welsh Cob back into work on the lunge and he's just like this, will do a sluggish trot and then pop up into canter when I push him on. But I do find, if I push him on into canter he trots better afterwards. But at first I seem to spend all my time telling him to woah, he's very well voice trained he stops straight away and goes back to his sluggish trot, monkey. He's just finding it difficult.
 
Thanks guys!
I know he's doing it because its hard and I dont want to knacker him, but he's only started it in the last few days. He's very big, 17hh and I wonder if initially I found him fast because my previous was 14.2, but now I'm used to the speed so may be pushing him on too much. I'm having a lesson on monday so I'll see what my instructor says too. I havent been lunging him enough though you're right, I'll get on that one!

Dont worry, I'm not letting him canter when he does it, I bring him straight back.

I'll update you after my lesson! Thanks!
 
If you've only brought him out of the field a month a go I'd be walking still, to fitten him, increasing the length of time you ride him, rather than increasing the pace, just yet. Lunging would also be useful to establish voice aids but be careful not to do too much at this stage.
 
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