Darn! that horse just loves to canter!

sparklypickle

sparklypickle

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 June 2013
Messages
93
Location
cambridge, UK
Visit site
Hi there,

I ride my friend's horse who is on loan (28 y/o thoroughbred-type) he's a lovely boy - very gentle to handle and in fantastic shape for his age. He used to be a riding school horse who hadn't been out on a hack for years - but he is living out his retirement with my friend and her pony - just hacking out twice a week and he seems to be loving it :)

I have found one little issue though...when out hacking he is lovely and responsive in walk, trot and going into canter however I can only presume he's having loads of fun because he is quite hard work to get back into trot from canter! The other lady who rides him has the same problem...unfortunately there isnt a school we can ride in and the grazing fields have too many rabbit holes!

He wears a snaffle and always has so I am loath to try a harsher bit - he is obviously used to a slightly different command for "slow the hell down you crazy horse we are about to run out of bridleway" I resorted to saying "Woah" to him because seat commands and reins were not having the desired effect. I should add that he wasn't bolting - I asked him for a canter, and it was great up until the last few metres of bridleway when I thought we weren't going to stop! but we did. <phew>

I have been riding a highland pony (of largely lazy disposition) for the last year and a half and it was more of a job to KEEP him cantering, not stop him!

I'd love to hear any suggestions people have but please don't be mean - I have been riding horses since I was 6, worked weekends in riding schools and livery yards as a teenager and ridden a fair share of horses. I'm not a total novice but this horse has me wondering what cues the riding school were using!! My though is to try some trot - canter - trot transitions on the bridleway, just a few strides of canter then get him listening to what I want him to do? Maybe he is used to someone shouting 'trot' or ' back to trot' or somesuch and never needed to pay attention to the riders that much!

Incidentally I am also considering getting a neckstrap for him too (as he is some two hands taller than the last pony) and I don't want to unbalance him while I'm wrangling him back into a trot!! Any thoughts on that?

cheers!!
 
Personally I always ride in a neckstrap out hacking, and after yesterday's session it's going back on in the school as well for the moment ;)

I'd ask for very very short canters when you hack - two or three strides, then back to walk and lots of praise. Break up long canter stretches into lots of transitions with enough walk in between canters to relax again, and never canter in the same place twice. The cue the riding school was using was probably having a horse at the front that came back to trot so that all the others did, so you'll have difficulty replicating that!

To be honest, I'd do the above but I wouldn't worry too much (in any case, worrying will make you tense up and him go faster!) - you sound as though you know what you need to do, and you managed to stop him, after all; it may just be as simple as the fact that you are actually having to ask him to come back to you, instead of just stopping pushing on the old horse, so it feels a lot worse than it is!
 
I used to ride a thoroughbred mare who would canter the entire hacking route, no matter what I did. It wasn't always a fast canter, in fact at times she was almost cantering on the spot haha :D her owner was a little blind to the problems this caused - made crossing a main road interesting .....

I think it sounds like you plan to do the right things - transitions is a great idea. Do lots and lots and lots of them! You can also incorporate some other schooling exercises out on a hack just to get him listening to you. For example, shoulder in, leg yield, rein back (where safe!) and try riding him in a few different frames like long and low and then up into a more collected outline etc. This will hopefully go some way to making him more manoeuvrable and responsive.
 
Sounds like you have a pretty good idea what you need to be doing with lots of transitions. I would also make him rein back anytime he doesn't slow up well enough
 
Thanks all for your replies!

Theocat -I'm not sure how practical it is not to canter in the same place twice but we can certainly mix it up a bit :). you might be right, but even my friends forward going pony responds well to the 'please slow down' aids I normally give!

Sprinkles - that sounds, erm interesting?! I will put to use that schooling knowledge that I've acquired and see what we can manage between us! I guess because he is retired and we are hacking I want him to enjoy the ride and not feel like he's being schooled the whole way around - having said that - there is a point where you have to accept that having at least *some* control over your pace as a human+horse combo would be really quite useful or even if he's having a whale of a time if I'm having a few seconds of panic it's not so fun!

Soulfull - I hadn't really considered reigning back - I'll see if he is willing to do this when I get get on board. I used to practice on the highland I rode before almost every ride (much to his displeasure!) to stop him getting bored and pawing the ground.

FfionWinnie - Oh to have a hill to canter up! it all flat flat flat around where we are! and for an old boy he's got quite the spark left in him :)

I'll report back if we have limited success but I'm glad you all seem to agree that transitions is the way forward (if you'll excuse the backwards pun)
 
Hello all!

I took the old boy out today for a hack and tried out a few different things - while having my friend trot ahead of us, we transitioned walk,trot, canter,trot, walk successfully. We did that twice and we slowed down without too much trouble because the other horse was in front of us!

we were going to try a longer canter (and try to go back to trot about half way along the bridleway) but after a debacle with an old lady with a walking stick (our companion apparently found her almost as scary as a flapping plastic bag!) we decided to walk that part instead (which is probably good for him as that's where we cantered on the last ride). Trotting is not an issue he listened to me when I slowed down his hurried excitement when he thought we were off for a blast (not this time my lovely!)

As to the suggestion about reigning back - I could not get him to do it today- nor was he receptive to the idea of working long and low, but a collected outline was fine. I still have the niggling feeling that I cannot quite trust him to respond to me in general even if transitions were fine - he'd rather just take cues from the horse in front and pretend I'm not even there! It would be fine but he just gets so strong when he canters it is making me a bit nervous (I KNOW that's the worst thing I can do!)

I am now thinking about maybe getting a balance strap rather than a neck strap - is that ridiculous for someone who has been riding this long? I just don't feel quite relaxed enough and think knowing there is an emergency handle to grab if some drama happens might help me!

Another thing is that I am not used to a horse who responds to voice commands better than seat /legs/ reins...but it would seem if I SAY what I want him to do, he's more inclined to play along...does anyone else have a horse like that? I'm more used never saying commands and only using my voice for praise and reassurance.
 
Last edited:
Perhaps I should mention that when I say 'snaffle', I mean single jointed Eggbutt and we were told that he can get quite excited on hacks (I bet he does after all those years of schooling!)
 
Last edited:
Hi all.
After a few hacks focussing on transitions and one good controlled (ish) canter today I was expecting great things but no, as soon as i asked him to canter he refused to listen to me and we had another slightly scary experience where I could not slow him when I wanted to and now I am actually starting to fear canter even though it has always been my fave gait. Both I and the other lady who rides him are having the same issue, he's perfectly controllable in walk and trot but just goes hell for leather if he gets a stride or two of canter under his girth!
Now I have to assume that I am not a good enough rider to control such a strong horse and will have to resort to changing his bit and / or noseband. Does anyone have any advice? He has had single and double jointed snaffle and always a cavesson noseband...what would allow some safer control without hurting or upsetting this veteran horse?
 
sparklypickle said:
Hi all.
After a few hacks focussing on transitions and one good controlled (ish) canter today I was expecting great things but no, as soon as i asked him to canter he refused to listen to me and we had another slightly scary experience where I could not slow him when I wanted to and now I am actually starting to fear canter even though it has always been my fave gait. Both I and the other lady who rides him are having the same issue, he's perfectly controllable in walk and trot but just goes hell for leather if he gets a stride or two of canter under his girth!
Now I have to assume that I am not a good enough rider to control such a strong horse and will have to resort to changing his bit and / or noseband. Does anyone have any advice? He has had single and double jointed snaffle and always a cavesson noseband...what would allow some safer control without hurting or upsetting this veteran horse?
Click to expand...

I know when I was at a riding school when I was younger when we would canter it would be in a line, maybe if his friend was in front he would slow down as he slowed down. If he's in front he has no one to follow and is obviously just setting his own pace. Maybe try putting him behind the other horse and see if that works. Must say its lovely as he's obviously having such a great time on his hacks!
 
Well actually I did have another horse in front this time for that reason but he wanted to overtake and he wouldnt slow down until she went back to trot (with 'woah's). The last more controlled time WE were in front...so im not sure that is the trick!
Oh yes he is LOVING his 'retirement' home, he now whinnies when we arrive, and trots around the field all excited, his condition has improved no end too, it's just lovely to see him so happy (and relaxed) if it wasn't for this canter control issue he would be perfect! He's a lovely natured boy but his warpspeed canter with seemingly ineffective brakes is confidence knocking (for me and the other rider) :/
 
could you ask the riding school what bit and noseband combination he was hacked in? or even what they would suggest putting him in ?
I would probably try a flash noseband, making sure you can get your fingers in so its not tight, until he opens his mouth, then it will work, if he is opening his mouth when refusing to stop
or is he leaning and pulling on the bit? in which case I would maybe try a three ring bit with two reins, so you use the lower rein as and when needed, or a lose ring bit which is harder for him to grab
a three ring was a popular bit for horses who went strong in a snaffle at times when I taught in the riding school as most of the time they were ridden on the top ring and moved down as needed
 
With a single jointed snaffle, draw your hands closer together to slow down when he does not respond. This will engage the nutcracker action of the bit. I would use that to get transition to trot when out of control and need emergency brakes.
If you just need to slow down the canter, try putting him into a shoulder in. It's much harder work for them and usually make them slow down. I take care to change the bend regularly to make sure they don't become one sided and make sure the horse bends his whole body, not just the neck.
Also, look up how to do a one rein stop, but might not be practical on a narrow bridleway.

ETA: and don't forget to sit up and breathe :)
 
I found my ex racer slowed down by pulling his neck strap almost more than using the reins. We found this by accident when a friend was jumping him and he'd pull up in front of jumps for her! She was getting nervous and grabbing the neck strap tighter and tighter! We then tried the theory out on the flat and it was true- try that?
 
Hi Curio - yup a call will be made today asking if he was ever in anything else for hacking (or when he was a lively youngster!) but he came to us with his tack and the owner knew he would only be hacked out.
A flash or grackle would be easier to try out than a drop noseband because drops need the bit to have a hanging cheek no?
He is evading the bit but I am not sure if he is opening his mouth (though that makes sense) he doesn't lean on the bit but when he feels resistance on the reins (only in canter) he just pulls back and he's a lot stronger than puny me!
Using a three ring bit would give more leverage and adjustability depending on how he responds...can you using roundings like for a pelham if you use a three-ring snaffle or is that too harsh?
thanks for your advice :)

Hi Palindrome,
I seem to have the emergency brakes working eventually (touch wood) but virtually no control over speed - to be honest I am too busy thinking "Oh crap!" to consider pulling any dressage moves! though yours is a good one :) As for a one rein stop or circling - if I felt he was bolting rather than just taking the piss I'd certainly implement those (at the moment Im only cantering him on stubble fields where there is a ton of room to manouvre (and stop) but I don't want him to think that every time we go into canter I'm going to emergency stop him!

sitting up and breathing is a good thing to remember especially when your bum refuses to stay in the seat and you feel yourself tipping forward from nerves! ieee. I think at this point both I and the other rider feel sufficiently out of control in canter that we would like to try a different noseband and / or bit. I am loath to rely on these as I would much rather sort out the issue through mutual trust and training than just by going with a harsher bridle component but if this carries on then I (and the other rider) are going to get a canter-phobia!
 
RAfter seeking advice from the owner and local saddlery, we tried him in a three ring snaffle and witha flash noseband. I was concerned at using such a harsh combo but he was comfortable and went really well for me responding well in all paces. I hope we can wean him back off the flash and move the reins to the snaffle ring before long, it was the first canters we had together where I could relax and know I was largely in control. I know people wont agree with the change in bit and noseband but until all riders can trust him to respond, it seems sadly necessary.
 
I have a mare that atm is very strong and will not stop. The only thing that works for us is: i have to sit up as if i was riding a dressage test, move my leg forwards slightly, and ask for canter, the second she takes a step in canter, i hold, for a few strides she'll normally be a bit bouncy trying to be a cow and trying to naff off with me, then i release her for 2-3strides, and every 3 strides, i pull back slightly just to remind her that i'm there and that i want her to keep this speed rather than going any faster. This normally gets me a collected canter. I'm not going to say calm because she isn't calm, she's peed off that she can't go as fast as she wants and that she has to do this silly poncy canter when it'd be perfectly acceptable to go at the speed of light and refuse to stop at the end. :rolleyes3: But then i have a few gallop tracks where i allow her to go as fast or as slow as she wants, knowing that she will stop near the end by herself, without me having to even pull, i just say 'aaaaannnnndddd sloooowlllyyy' and she stops. :) good luck OP :)
 
Hi pingpongpony, thanks for your reply, I tried your technique of reminding him that I was on board and wanted to keep that pace and he responded....we are slowly getting there, we trust each other a bit more and relaxed a bit. Im no longer afraid to canter him as he is getting more responsive ( I tried him on third ring of dutch gag but had barely any steering and felt it was too harsh for him - today we moved to the second ring which he was comfortable with.

Sadly as I was paranoid about interfering with his breathing, thr flash was not done up tightly enough so on one occasion he decided to take the piss, three his head down, crossed his jaw, leaned on the bit and generally went (na na I cant hear you!) and bombed it down the stubble field. I guess on that occasion I put too much pressure on his mouth to slow him and he just though "screw that...I just want to canter!"
Im not blaming him because I know I'm not the world's best rider, but at least I managed to stay calm and that one superspeed stretch I was just about to start circling him when he took up contact again and slowed down.
I think we had 4 canters, two controlled, one manic and one catch up to the pony in front then calm!

How can I teach him to respond when I ask him to slow? I want to be able to take the flash off him but I want him consistently responding before I will feel safe doing that. I would think the issue might be the fact this single jointed bit is uncomfy * But he is worse in a French link snaffle!
 
Last edited:
im pleased you've found something that helps, how is he doing now? have his teeth been checked at all?
my mare used to do the head down and mouth gape when she first came out of he school and started hacking with me she wore a lose ring French link with flash and I always had a breast girth to hold onto.
she did get better but it took time as it was just so exciting
if the 3 ring works for him I would keep him in it for hacking to stay safe, remembering the bit is only as harsh as the hands at the end of the reins, I would much rather stop with a small touch than haul on his mouth
and probably in the rs he was used for beginner's who when they were learning to canter balanced on his mouth hence the pull down and keep going till you get to the horse in front so will probably always ignore a plain snaffle as its now programmed into him
so I would not canter in the same place every time, relax the hands, and if youre confident enough when he pulls release the rein by pushing your hand u his neck then take it back so you in effect drop him and don't end up in a tug of war match and try using your voice in different ways to see what works to slow him down as in the rs I always used my voice to slow a pony going too fast
 
Hi Ffion Winnie - it HAS occurred to me that he perhaps needs a bit more exercise but he's 28 and the school he came from were only using him for 2 x 1 hr lessons a week - we figured that 2 x 1.5-2 hour hacks a week would be enough...

Hello curio - he's missing a few teeth being an old boy but he has been checked teeth and back within the last few months.
Yes I have learnt the hard way that i need to release the reins even though his head is between his legs and we're going a bit too fast...I do use my voice but it depends what mood he is in whether he wants to listen or not! we are going out again today so hopefully I can get some better control - the other two ladies who ride him only let him do a few strides of canter because he starts to get strong - so I like to allow him to let off some steam. I'll do some cirlces in the stubble fields and see if he starts listening an may also ask my friend to lunge him with and without tack and see if he does the same on a lunge rein (i really doubt it!) He has very little topline so I guessing its hard work for him to bring his head up and engage his back in the canter, but charging off on the forehand can be a scary experience!
 
Today's update. We had the most beautiful controlled canter. No head down, no pulling, responding when asked to go back into trot. Soo fun! The trick was to keep my leg on to keep him engaging his back. Then we met some other horses which was so exciting that the little so-and-so pulled a little rear...from standing to show off. Unperturbed and not unseated we carried on and had a second canter which started well but as I asked for the transition back to trot he was far too exited and wasn't listening so I circled him until he came back to me (rather than engage in a tug of war) and he soon slowed down! We did lots of trot-halt-trot transitions to get him listening to me and made him do circles in a field (much to his disgust!) I was totally calm, except for the seconds before and after rear, I dont think I tipped forwards or back the whole ride and we both felt nice and balanced together :) now I call that progress !
 
Also, the old ones know all the tricks in the book to test you, especially if they are ex-riding school. Sounds like you are being patient and doing the right things to make him see it from your point of view. Well done. And like to hear of life and va va voom in the 'old *******'!

Ooh, H&H has censored me! Fair enough, I suppose. But it now looks like I put a really rude word there. It wasn't. Just something that rhymes with mugger. They say much worse than that on Radio 4 these days!!!
 
Last edited:
Haha! Sure, if I'm ever brave, experienced and rich enough to buy myself a young horse then Casper will have shown me plenty of the tricks to look out for! Bless him, he's definitely got va va voom, just ask the mare he normally shares a field with who came into season...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top