HELP-CARNT CANTER

[littlelady]

plz help me with my french trotter, she is only 4 but shes from france n i got her off a dealer as a project pony, but its gone wrong because i dint no she had been in a cart. so she carnt canter at a normal pace, she goes 100 mph, how can i get her to canter properly and take small strides. PLESE HELP! <font color="blue"> </font>

 

[Hollyhorse]

Try long-reining and lunging. If you're a competent rider and are using half-halts etc when riding and that hasn't worked then I would try to steady her without having a rider pulling her mouth as you'll do more harm than good.
We have a 4 yo that was really fast on the lunge at first - not so bad to ride actually but on the lunge there was only one speed - gallop! So I long-reined and then lunged her with two reins so could use both bit rings to half-halt, then I used my voice lots - in a very commanding firm tone - to get her doing transitions. Once she listened and understood my voice I could get her to trot, canter, trot, canter and this helped steady her as she was listening to me more and couldn't do lots of trot-canter-trot transitions if was galloping. Worth a try!

 

[leanne123]

i find working from the ground is the best to start (free school, if you have small enclosed area), and remember plenty of praise when she starts to respond to your voice. if your still struggling take her back a step until she is comfortable and the procede.
remember its harder for a horse to un learn things than to learn.

best of luck, and keep going shes only young so you should be able to re train her but don't try to rush things.

 

[leanne123]

oh i forgot to say small amounts and often is the best way forward shes still young at 4 years old. 10 /15 mins a day is better than 30 mins plus 3 x a week.