Getting horse to canter under saddle

[niagaraduval]

So I've got this trotter, On the left rein he is perfect has the most beautiful canter, very controllable, can lengthen shorten the stride, collect etc, Can turn tight turns and have him balanced and looking fab.
But I cannot get him to canter on the right rein, when I ask for canter he does a big fast trot and is all over the place, V. unbalanced, It feels as though he is going to fall over, and he often slips up behind.
I've been lunging him to get him to canter on the right rein and he does go into canter with a little help from the lunge whip, but again, he is so unbalanced he looks a total mess.
So I was talking to mum, getting advice and she said to sit deep and ask him for the canter as always on a flat straight and give a quick tap with the whip behind the saddle as to kind of make him jump into canter, So I tried this and he just freaked completely.

Does anyone have any help as to get him cantering on the lunge and more importantly under saddle ? When jumping a course He jumps half the jumps in a beautiful floaty canter and the other half in a fast trot - Which looks ridiculous.
When on the XC he does it all in canter as it's a straight course with no rein changes. If I could get him cantering as well as he does on the left rein I think he would make a lovely dressage horse as many people have commented on how well he carries himself and what lovely gaits he has..

This is getting me down I have tried almost everything to get him to canter and I got him to canter once out of chance where he tripped and went into canter, but it was so sloppy it honestly felt like I was hanging on he was all over the place, he legs were slipping all over the place underneath him.
If I could first get him to canter even fast and all over the place I could then work on that as He was the same with the left rein when I bought him he didn't even know how to canter (came straight off the track). And then I could work on turning and collecting.
Thanks for any advice available

 

[anglo]

If you have had all the usual checks done and are sure that this is not a pain related problem then you need to work on suppling and balancing exercises either in the school hacking or even in the stable.

Working on thelunge get him used to the voice command

 

[canteron]

Having similar canter issues with my boy. On advice I am going to work on the trot until it is really balanced and springy - and then work on 'springing' into a canter rather than rushing.

Other things that have been suggested is long reining, not lunging (so can work on crisp canter transition) working out how you do it (ie do you need more outside rein, inside bend, whatever) and trying to recreate when riding.

Also asking over small jump on the circle, or doing small circle and asking as you come back onto track.

Good luck - like you I find it slightly depressing, but have taken the view it will happen. My job is to get the horse confident and supple enough so he can do it easily?

 

[martlin]

I'm not quite sure what you are asking (I'm easily confused), but will have a go at answering.
Correct me if I'm wrong in my assumptions:
you want to improve right rein canter, but are struggling to get a transition to it
the horse is fine on left rein
So, I would try asking for transition into canter over a pole or a small jump.
To start with, when you get the canter, go straight into forward (two point) seat and let the horse sort itself out, asking only to keep cantering, nothing more.
Practice makes perfect, so the more he manages to canter the better he becomes at it.
If he doesn't offer a right canter over a pole/jump; get a left canter, approach a small jump on a figure of eight, asking for a flying change over the jump, he *should* land on the right rein and then you only need to keep the canter up.
Hope that helps

 

[anglo]

Sorry cut my reply short as had to do some worrk
If you can get someone to lunge while you ride and ask them to use the voice commnad and the llunge whip if needed while you use your aids . I also think martlin and canteron have posted some good ideas .

It is frustratign but I am sure it will come given time

Good luck

 

[Steorra]

Try trotting a small circle (10m if he is balanced at this size, otherwise 15) at a point on the track. This will help him to engage his hind legs, and the correct flexion will be in place to help him strike off on the correct lead. Half halt then ask for canter as you reach the track and ride a few strides on a larger circle. Try to bring him back before he becomes unbalanced - three decent strides then a transition you asked for will help him get the idea better than six strides and falling back to trot.

Presumably he canters out okay, if you are taking him XC? If there is a nice level field then try cantering him right on a really wide circle where he won't feel restricted by the school / be worried about making it around the next corner.

Canter transitions tend to show up issues with suppleness and engagement. When you ask for left canter what does he do? Does he overbend to the right so you lose the shoulder, or does he struggle to flex to the right and offer left canter instead? Try using lots of suppling exercises in walk and trot every time you ride. Any exercises that help him to engage his right hind leg will also be useful. Try serpentines, half circles, leg yield, shoulder in and jumping / pole work.

This is assuming you have had all the normal checks: saddle, teeth, back and particularly his right hind.

 

[Dubsie]

Have you had your back checked, someone look at you for straightness etc? (Daughter had huge problem with one leg longer than the other earlier this year = tight quads one side + slight centre of gravity/balance issue = pony leaning, has evened out now)