Funny trotting issue - SJ'rs?!

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juliehannah58

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Wondering if anyone has had a horse with a similar problem....

My new girlie is only 7 but has done a fair bit of jumping and been in several jumping yards, she has AMAZING paces but it seems all she wants to do is canter
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It's not like she pulling my arms out, which is the weird thing, in trot she's lazy if anything but when you put your leg on her she goes straight into canter or tries to strike off, she'll do halt to canter no probs so she moves off your leg, it just seems that leg on in trot = canter, LOL, she can do fast or slow canter, bouncy or long so great for jumping but to use her lovely floaty trot would be nice! I know it's a naughtiness thing really, as if we hit a down hill (mostly school in my field) she moves forward, then uphill she starts this canter thingy. It's quite frustrating I have to say! Finally cracked it last night by keeping a decent contact on the outside rein whilst legging her on, but it's not easy as she can be a lazy so and so.
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Only had her 3 weeks so I know I'll work out the right buttons in the end.....

I thought it was a myth that show jumpers only cantered, but it seems it is true
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Anyone else had this kind of resistance with a lazy horse and how did you overcome it?
 
Yep, my old horse Murphy couldn't trot, i had to reteach him too! He was a grade B SJer. He had a fantastic walker to canter transition, but you had to hold him back to trot.
Keep at it, they get it in the end
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persevere with leg on and outside rein and she will "get" that leg doesn't mean faster. I would do some flat schooling and include lots of small circles, serpentines, change the rein often... just go back to basics and she will get it.

How is she with trot poles? Does she try and canter them? If so, you have to be strong and don't go over the poles unless she's going forward at the speed you want. If that means you ask her to half halt or even halt before the poles, then so be it. I had to do this exercise with Henry, just a few times until he learnt not to tank into poles. After maybe 3 or 4 times of me asking him to halt (if he was tanking), then turn away, then approach nicely, he got that he was meant to trot calmly over the poles without charging at them!
 
Bl00dy show-jumpers!!! It drives me mad that they never trot! Glad to hear you want to solve it!

What's she like on the lunge? I taught several horses lengthened trot on the lunge just becuase you can really egg them on with you voice & they just seem to 'get it'.

It's probably merely a communication thing - perserve & she'll soon understand what you want. Just be careful not to get cross with her - very tempting with something this frustrating...
 
Echo what others have said about persevering, but also, make sure your leg aids are applied in exactly the right place too. If she's anything like Bo then the slightest hint of leg behind the girth will induce a canter
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No she's quite good at trotting poles that I've done, although often jumps the last one. She never tanks into anything, just goes into this lovely bouncy canter. She's not at all strong either, just wants to canter all the time!

Sal-E - I'd like ot do some dressage with her as she has the most amazing trot, it's just encouraging her to use it!
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She sounds super - def do some dressage with her when you've got it sorted! Rambo makes a good point actually - it may be worth trying with your leg a little further forward just to see if she's got different 'buttons'.

Don't forget to use your voice... (I don't mean 'look you stupid bl00dy animal, just TROT!!!'
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oh its very very true...my mare does all of the lateral movements in canter perfectly but ask in trot and she says wtf??? basically i've just been reschooling her in trot to improve it and doing loadsa trot poles, bounces etc so she learns that she can use trot for "fun" too
 
my oldie will trot but not really interested in anything but walk, canter gallop or jump! - trotting is far too much effort, ask him to canter from standstill then yes straight away, plenty of impulsion and balance and always on the right leg!!
 
Have you tried really dictating the trot rhythm with your posting, perhaps with a slightly slower cadence than she naturally wants to go? Close the hand softly, be very definite with your rising and keeping your shoulders up and wait for her to settle on to your leg a bit (which is basically a half halt) and then be very quiet with your contact. If you move your body or give too much she'll most likely lurch back into the canter. And be careful of her straightness - she will have to shift her quarters to canter so if you can catch it there, before she's settled in the canter, so much the better. Be very aware of her straightness in the walk and trot since often horses that aren't straight will canter because it's easier for them.

Otherwise it's just repetition and letting her know she's doing the right thing when she's trotting. Like every training step she just has to understand what you mean and then stay relaxed about doing it but that will take some time. Don't be discouraged!

It's not so common here to see showjumpers not trot at all but there are a few people around I have literally never seen do amything but walk and canter. I guess I can see the argument that jumping horses don't "need" to trot but then I guess professional athletes don't "need" to go to the gym so long as they play their sport. So not the point. Plus what if the horse turns out not to jump for a living? Pretty shortsighted to take away a whole gear!
 
when he's being particularly lazy Flash will canter instead of extend his trot, it can be quite annoying, I think its a communication problem.
 
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