Getting the illlusive "canter" with newly backed horses

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moneypit1

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I have only backed and schooled on 8 horses. BUT, in 5 of these cases the canter proved troublesome. I do not particularly look for the correct lead, in fact a clean break to canter would of been coverted. The latest horse I am working on has had problems breaking to canter. I have found that it is due to lack of momentum rather than forehand problems. He does not "motor" forward enough. Most unconvenional but I use my whip to criss cross his behind (without actually touching) and my voice! Am most interested in your experiences with break to canter with youngsters. Please share....
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I suggest just working on actually getting them into canter first and then when the aids are clear then work on the correct lead. its one thing to teach a breaker to canter with someone on their back in balance let alone on the right lead.
 
I taught my Pony to canter out on a hack, gentle hill, forward going trot, sit deep, (hold on) squeeze and Voila!

Never had any problems getting her to canter after that, could have been a fluke though as I have not backed another one since
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I tend to use the same method to test out any new horses though, usually on a steeper hill incase they buck, take off etc
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It's think it's really difficult to get a young horse to canter in a circle in an arena. Like Horse Crazy I start off out on a hack on an incline. It's much easier for them and once they get the confidence you can fine tune it in a more enclosed space.
 
Nearly all the starters we do have their first canter out hacking. We'll have previously worked on getting them confident with a really forward trot, then will alow them to run on into the canter. Over the next few days we'll ask in the same place so anticipation works in our favour and sharpen up the transition.

With really backwards thinking horses we'll use a lead horse to try and get them excited
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I've done pretty much what air78 said
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Usually the first canter is done uphill whilst out hacking using a lead horse to encourage them and letting them run into it.
I also use a voice command if they've been loose schooled or have been lunged.

Saying that I've only helped back a handful of cob/native types so am not the most experienced
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out on a hack, behind another horse and up a slight hill to prevent being bucked off!

they don't understand the aids to canter so simply let them run into it from a fast trot and get in 2 point position to keep weight off their back.

until they are established with the above routine, i wouldn't try canter in an enclosed area.
 
I went with letting them run into canter from an active trot.

You can always get someone on the ground with a lunge whip to encourage a more active trot, then allow you to ask for the canter.

The other method we used was to trot into a jump & normally they find it easier to land in canter, then you keep it going.
This didn't work with Dolly, she just thought it was a high trotting pole.
 
No offence to anyone, but there are lots of horses that learn to canter in an arena and make out just fine.
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Many race horses first canter with a rider in a round pen and lots and lots of performance horses (I'm guessing the majority in Germany, Holland etc.) would canter first - perhaps only ever - in an arena. Courses for horses.
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Having a well established vocal cue - usually a kiss (very North American) or a chirrup (European and racing) will do the trick. Taught originally on the longe or in a pen then used when the canter is asked for under a rider. Some people just go off the voice a few times then add the aid, some use the aid along with the voice cue from the start.

A great deal has to do with the rider. One component is not to wait too long in the horse's education to ask for the first canter. The longer you trot and teach the horse that's what you want regardless, the harder it will be to "shift gears" when necessary. If a horse will trot under saddle confidently and safely it will canter, so as soon as it's reasonably balanced in rising trot I'd ask for a few steps at least.

Timing is all. It's a bit of a trick to change the tempo and balance in rising trot to "invite" the canter but it's the best, stress free way to sort of "bump" (along with the voice aid) the horse up a notch. It's important the rider stay light in the seat - even the most Germanic of dressage training regimes stress that initial canters are done in a light seat. The fact is sitting the canter properly is trickier than most people seem to think so removing that as a factor for young horses is a big help.

As to where and when to ask, that depends on the horse. I can usually feel when a horse is ready and where in the school it will be best to ask. Not really something you can learn on the internet.

I also ride with a schooling stick right off the bat, in part so the horse learns it's an aid, not something to worry about. If one is really, really laid back and doesn't offer to move up when encouraged I might add a touch at the right moment to bring the new hind leg under and "split" the trot to encourage canter. Sometimes the little surprise - LITTLE being the operative word - makes it very obvious to the horse and keeps the sense of fun in it.

I'm not a huge fan of running horses into canter too aggressively. I find the quality of the canter suffers and it can make a horse worried about something it doesn't have to worry about. After all, horses canter all the time, it's just learning to balance under a rider that's different and if the rider is sympathetic and balanced her/himself that's not a difficult process.

I'd agree it's very "natural" and obvious to give a young horse a start in canter in a straight line, on welcoming footing, with a good lead but alas, that's not everyone's reality.
 
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out on a hack, behind another horse and up a slight hill to prevent being bucked off!

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I think this is often the best way to teach canter as well. Once they get the idea of the new gear then normally its then much easier to teach the command to get into it. Saying that, the ponies Ive backed I simply taught them in the field at home - just let them run into canter until they got the idea. Never really had any problems.
 
i teach them voice commands on the lunge and make the canter command very distinctive and then use that plus an 'aid' just before to get them to canter.
if they are gangly and not very balanced naturally, doing it out on a hack to allow them to 'run on'can help as initially you just want them to respond and go forwards
 
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