Help lunging small pony please

[Cottontail]

Hi, I have small pony who lunges well on both reins in trot but I cannot get him to canter on either rein, I tried for a week or so on a small circle and on a large circle to no effect. He only does lead rein with a very small child so no hurry. but am getting discouraged as he just goes faster and faster in trot never working out how to canter. Has occasionally cantered of the lunge with an older child but she hates riding him as he very green off the lead rein. Any advice much appreciated?

 

[Surreydeb]

Don't try on a circle as may feel too unbalanced. Try walking a large oval around the school so you have a 'corner' to strike off and a straight side to canter before ask for trot before next 'corner'

 

[piebaldsparkle]

Try putting a pole on the ground and asking for canter as he goes over it (should help him get the correct lead too).

 

[Cottontail]

Unfortunately lunging in field as no school! Both ideas make good sense, thanks will try them both out.

 

[Montyforever]

My welsh struggles with cantering on the lunge .. But she can do pirouettes in the field?
She just takes a lot of encouragement as she seems to think she's being naughty when she canters it's hard trying to explain to her cantering sideways and bucking because another horse walked past is naughty but cantering forward when asked isn't

 

[Littlelegs]

If pony has only ever done lr its possible it doesn't know how to canter under saddle, just like a young horse. In which case its far easier on a straight line out hacking. There's more room to run in to the transistion slightly on a hack, & easier to balance once cantering. I'd get an older child to do it out hacking, & teach it as a voice aid too. Then once you have a good transistion & canter in straight lines you can gradually bring in bend & lunging.

 

[Cottontail]

Had success on both reins yesterday, whoopee possibly the past six weeks or so go lunging in trot built up muscle tone and balance? Striking off in the corner and running with him for the straight seemed to help so thanks for that one. Now seems to be getting hang of voice aid, just got to be careful not to double click as do not want him going into canter with small child on board when she is also riding him on the lunge!

 

[Surreydeb]

Glad it worked yes now need to keep steady for little one to ride!