Horse bolting into the canter

[Pink Gorilla]

I was wondering if someone could give training advice for either me, or my new horse? I’m not quite sure which of us is the problem, but I suspect it’s a little of both with mainly me being the issue. My 5yo Irish cob X has come over from Ireland and although being very well schooled in walk and trot, gets very worried through the canter transition. When I first tried him out, the transition itself was a little daunting because he goes from a balanced trot, to feeling as though he’s bolting as soon as I ask for canter. He doesn’t run through the trot into the canter though, he goes straight into canter, but at 100mph. He did however steady into a nice rhythm after half a lap around the arena. The thing I find hard is keeping my hands soft. No matter how much I tell myself not to pull back on the reins when he bolts those first few strides, my body doesn’t listen and my reflexes take over. But then he also seems extremely sensitive in the mouth and although he comes back to me easily, his head goes straight up in the air, he’s very tense and worried and sort of bounces on the spot with his head and neck upright until I really slack my reins and talk to him reassuringly. I’ve never had this before but I don’t want to cause a rearing problem, so I’ve stopped asking for canter at the moment until I can do my trailer test to get out for lessons (test was postponed due to lockdown). Earlier on today I was just trotting and gave him a little click while I was on a corner meaning for the trot to be more energetic, but he thought I wanted canter and again shot off, which took me by surprise. Again I caught him in the mouth accidentally and he came straight back to me, but with his head right up and body very tight. I have an ‘oh shit’ strap, but it still doesn’t stop me letting go of the strap and pulling back as soon as he shoots off. I get so mad at myself for doing it as I’ve been riding 28yrs so should be better at going with him and not immediately pulling back. But my reflexes overrule my head and to be honest even though I’m taking a hold, I’m not yanking his back teeth out, so he does seem more sensitive in the mouth than your average horse. He did a lot of hunting in the past when in Ireland, so could this be why he thinks canter means GO!? He’s also a worrier by nature. I’ve booked him in with the dentist and physio though, because as I’ve said he’s not strong, but seems very sensitive in the mouth. Please be kind I know I need to have soft hands, but as much as a try I can’t do it perfect and he still panics at a slight pull back (although he’s fine with half halts in trot). Ps: I know he’s only a baby too (he will be 6 in May), but is it normal for a baby to panic so excessively during the canter transition if someone takes a contact to steady them? My 4yo warmblood took to canter like a duck to water, so this is new for me. My old boy used to either run in trot into the canter, or buck into canter which I eventually solved. But never had a horse feel as though it bolts into canter. This feels a lot more daunting.

 

[MissMay]

First he isnt bolting. he sounds very unbalanced and possibly is not strong enough so "runs" into the canter as hasn't the strength.
I would get out of the arena and teach the canter on a hack- behind a quieter lead if nervous and then do short and regular transitions. when I'm working on young horses I use an uphill it builds strength and they work harder so tend to come to a stop at the top. I dont over do it.

take him slow build the strength and trust

 

[Flowerofthefen]

My tb was the same!! I must gave caught him once into canter and then after that he used to scoot off. It was really unnerving. He realised if he did it I would bring him back to walk then regroup and go again. Easier work for him!! I made sure I held the neck strap so I couldn't catch him and I also used a pole on the ground just as something for us both to focus on. Then I made myself do loads and loads of transitions. It could also be that your boy feels unbalanced in the school? How does he canter on the lunge?

 

[Pink Gorilla]

I was wondering if someone could give training advice for either me, or my new horse? I’m not quite sure which of us is the problem, but I suspect it’s a little of both with mainly me being the issue. My 5yo Irish cob X has come over from Ireland and although being very well schooled in walk and trot, gets very worried through the canter transition. When I first tried him out the transition itself was a little daunting because he goes from a balanced trot, to feeling as though he’s bolting as soon as I ask for canter. He doesn’t run through the trot into the canter though, he goes straight into canter, but at 100mph. He did however steady into a nice rhythm after half a lap around the arena. The thing I find hard is keeping my hands soft. No matter how much a tell myself not to pull back on the reins when he bolts those first few strides, my body doesn’t listen and my reflexes take over. But then he also seems extremely sensitive in the mouth and although he comes back to me easily, his head goes straight up in the air, he’s very tense and worried and sort of bounces on the spot with his head and neck upright until I really slack my reins and talk to him reassuringly. I’ve never had this before but I don’t want to cause a rearing problem, so I’ve stopped asking for canter at the moment until I can do my trailer test to get out for lessons (test was postponed due to lockdown). Earlier on today I was just trotting and gave him a little click while I was on a corner meaning for the trot to be more energetic, but he thought I wanted canter and again shot off, which took me by surprise. Again I caught him in the mouth accidentally and he came straight back to me but head right up and body very tight. I have an ‘oh shit’ strap but it still doesn’t stop me letting go of the strap and pulling back as soon as he shoots off. I get so mad at myself, but my reflexes overrule my head and to be honest even though I’m taking a hold, I’m not pulling his back teeth out, so he does seem more sensitive in the mouth than your average horse. He did a lot of hunting in the past when in Ireland, so could this be why he thinks canter means go? He’s also a worrier by nature. I’ve booked him in with the dentist and physio though, because as I’ve said he’s not strong, but seems very sensitive in the mouth. Please be kind I know I need to have soft hands, but as much as a try I can’t do it perfect and he still panics at a slight pull back (although he’s fine with half halts in trot).

First he isnt bolting. he sounds very unbalanced and possibly is not strong enough so "runs" into the canter as hasn't the strength.
I would get out of the arena and teach the canter on a hack- behind a quieter lead if nervous and then do short and regular transitions. when I'm working on young horses I use an uphill it builds strength and they work harder so tend to come to a stop at the top. I dont over do it.

take him slow build the strength and trust

Yes it’s definitely not true bolting, as I can still steer and stop after the initial strides. That’s just the only way how I can describe how the transition feels. I’m home alone in very flat Lincolnshire, so no other people to ride with, or hills unfortunately. I did try to work on it yesterday while getting him to just pop over an irrigator pipe on a hack instead of asking for a canter transition, but each time he shot off I reacted by pulling back, so each time we tried it he just got more and more tense. Soo frustrating when your brain says one thing, but your body does another.

 

[Pink Gorilla]

My tb was the same!! I must gave caught him once into canter and then after that he used to scoot off. It was really unnerving. He realised if he did it I would bring him back to walk then regroup and go again. Easier work for him!! I made sure I held the neck strap so I couldn't catch him and I also used a pole on the ground just as something for us both to focus on. Then I made myself do loads and loads of transitions. It could also be that your boy feels unbalanced in the school? How does he canter on the lunge?

He definitely shoots off on the lunge initially, but doesn’t panic and throw his head up like he does when I’m riding him if I take even a little hold.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I was lucky with my tb as I knew he wasn't actually going to do anything. The Scot was very unnerving as I said. I'm sure he was worried about me catching him again. Hes very good with me riding on a long rein. Lazy infect so one day I got brave and after walking and trotting on a long rein I asked for canter. Lovely transitions as I didn't touch his mouth proving it's me!! How about doing a little jump and having a little canter afterwards? You need to make it so it's not a big deal. Easier said than done, I know. With time he will find his balance when he strengthens.

 

[Pink Gorilla]

I was lucky with my tb as I knew he wasn't actually going to do anything. The Scot was very unnerving as I said. I'm sure he was worried about me catching him again. Hes very good with me riding on a long rein. Lazy infect so one day I got brave and after walking and trotting on a long rein I asked for canter. Lovely transitions as I didn't touch his mouth proving it's me!! How about doing a little jump and having a little canter afterwards? You need to make it so it's not a big deal. Easier said than done, I know. With time he will find his balance when he strengthens.

Thank you. That’s reassuring that yours was good on a long rein. I think my horse has definitely gotten worse, so it’s probably my fault for catching him in the mouth those first few times. So now even though I feel I’m making more of a conscious effort to stay soft (although I’m far from perfect), I feel his reaction to the transition is getting worse. He’s probably anticipating me catching him again. I definitely want to check his teeth are ok though, so I can rule out pain. I can tell he’s unbalanced as he sometimes goes disunited too, but I just want to make sure the panic response to my contact isn’t caused by a reaction to pain in the mouth. Yes I will try and pop a jump as he did that beautifully when I tried him out and left the jumps on a steady, balanced canter.

 

[ycbm]

Could you try walk to canter? I often find it better for a baby horse that throws itself into canter.

 

[Michen]

I had a similar sort of Irish boy (I say had because he’s a confident, cheeky boy now!) To be honest he was just worried about life in general to the extent that I started from scratch as if he’d never been ridden before, groundwork and all.

I would probably get yours out of the school and hacking like someone suggested (mine didn’t see the inside of a school under saddle for about 2 months of ridden work, and even then I went back to hacking after a bit of school work pretty quickly as he just wasn’t quite ready), cantering behind a nice lead in a straight line. It may be that the school worries him, he could have been booted into canter and got the wrong lead, felt unbalanced and panicked etc in the past.

I’d also probably do a little lunge work with him, I went a bit off piste and did mine with a Richard maxwell halter and a long rope. It was more changing direction and learning to respond to pressure than lunge work in the traditional sense, no bit involved but I taught him the transition into canter with voice aid and clicks and this meant it was easy to transition it to under saddle to get him going in canter. It wouldn’t be my first choice on teaching canter but it worked to do this with him and include a gentle leg aid but so he knew what was expected.

Oh and FWIW mine used to buck quite a bit in canter. I had every check done but it was definitely a sorting legs out/balance issue, the only time he does it now is if he gets in a bit of a muddle.

 

[Pink Gorilla]

Could you try walk to canter? I often find it better for a baby horse that throws itself into canter.

Oh yes I could try that thank you.

 

[Pink Gorilla]

I had a similar sort of Irish boy (I say had because he’s a confident, cheeky boy now!) To be honest he was just worried about life in general to the extent that I started from scratch as if he’d never been ridden before, groundwork and all.

I would probably get yours out of the school and hacking like someone suggested (mine didn’t see the inside of a school under saddle for about 2 months of ridden work, and even then I went back to hacking after a bit of school work pretty quickly as he just wasn’t quite ready), cantering behind a nice lead in a straight line. It may be that the school worries him, he could have been booted into canter and got the wrong lead, felt unbalanced and panicked etc in the past.

I’d also probably do a little lunge work with him, I went a bit off piste and did mine with a Richard maxwell halter and a long rope. It was more changing direction and learning to respond to pressure than lunge work in the traditional sense, no bit involved but I taught him the transition into canter with voice aid and clicks and this meant it was easy to transition it to under saddle to get him going in canter. It wouldn’t be my first choice on teaching canter but it worked to do this with him and include a gentle leg aid but so he knew what was expected.

Oh and FWIW mine used to buck quite a bit in canter. I had every check done but it was definitely a sorting legs out/balance issue, the only time he does it now is if he gets in a bit of a muddle.

Will definitely give the groundwork a go. Luckily I had a natural horsemanship guy come out last year to give me some lessons on it when I first got my 4yr old who was completely bad mannered and on top of me at the time. It transformed him on the ground, so will definitely give it a go with the new boy.

 

[proseccoandponies]

Don't worry about the canter too much for now. He sounds like he is lacking balance, just do lots of circles, bending, walk to halt, walk to trot, trot to walk transitions, poles etc. Build it up so he feels a lot stronger so the canter will be easier for him, and yourself. Then maybe worry about the canter later when you can get out hacking, or for some lessons with someone else, that way your not making it any worse or making a habit or an issue out of it for you or him.

 

[Branna]

While you are on your own without an instructor it limits you a bit, but here are my thoughts!

I would work on my own balance to try and avoid that moment where he shoots forward and you end up balancing on the rein. My favourite easy way to do this is very short stirrups and standing out of the saddle in walk, start for a few seconds and work up to minutes. I do it hacking or in the school.

Do you use anything eg. side reins when you lunge? If he is used to side reins I would consider a ridden aid like a equi-ami riding aid or a bungee riding aid, loosely fitted. Not something I use very often but in this case I think it might help you have the confidence to keep hold of the neck strap rather than grabbing the rein because he won't be throwing the head so high that you panic.

I always prefer to get young horses cantering in a straight line out hacking when possible, but with the current situation and the fact you are on your own that wouldn't be something I would suggest for now.

But as previous posters have said, I wouldn't over worry about it now, if you left the canter entirely and focussed on balance & strengthening the walk and trot it should all feel easier when you return to it.

 

[soloequestrian]

If you're comfortable with double reins, put an extra set to the noseband and have those as your main rein during the canter transition, with the bit reins loose. Then you don't need to worry about yourself so much - if you pull back it won't be a sock in the teeth for the horse but you still have the bit rein available if needed.
After you've done all of the above of course!

 

[ihatework]

This isn’t abnormal by any stretch, they are all different and some find some aspects of training easier than other things.

Firstly look at the positives - he isn’t bolting, he is just quickening, and that will be through a combination of tense/worried state of mind and lack of balance. He has a sensitive mouth, great! He will come back to you.

When they are like this I wouldn’t rush to be cantering in the school unless you are lucky and have a really big school! You need to be able to get into canter and allow the horse to find its balance and come back to you, without hoiking the mouth - so you need a big area. Either a nice straight track out hacking, a huge school, or my favourite which is a nice uphill gallop - I spent the best part of 6 months teaching an enormous Welsh x to canter by boxing to gallops very frequently, as our 20 x 40 school was next to useless.

When you do canter use a neck strap rather than a saddle strap. Really useful for balancing yourself and you can train them to slow by pulling on it, saves the mouth.

It also won’t hurt to get the horse good on the lunge and in between cantering outside of the school a bit of work on the lunge getting in and out of canter without a rider will help.

When back in the school having now hopefully a better canter, walk to canter can be useful for some.

 

[Pippity]

I was having a similar problem with my cob in my lesson tonight. She's a sensitive wee soul and not very confident. Like yours, she's unbalanced so throws herself into the transition. I then panic and pull back, she stops, and I've accidentally taught her that, no, I don't want her to canter. She's then confused, gets less confident, and starts creating when I ask her to canter because she can't figure out what she's meant to do.

What helped for me was:

Inside hand wrapped around the jesus handle/oh shit strap/neckstrap. Inside hand does not move. Concentrate on inside hand not moving in walk and trot. Inside hand does not exist. This is hard, I know!

Don't ask for a transition. Just keep asking him to go bigger and faster in the trot. Praise him when he does. He's doing the right thing! What a clever boy! I know, not what you want in the long run, but you just want him relaxed and chill. You want cantering to be almost his idea, not yours.

When he does lunge into canter, steady him with half-halts. Concentrating on using my outside hand helped me remember not to use my inside hand. For some reason, "Do this," is easier to remember than, "Don't do that."

I practised all this in walk and trot before trying canter. It took a few tries to get the hang of it and, yes, it is fairly terrifying when they launch off and very difficult not to haul back. Having one hand locked down and one hand available to use really helped me to focus on half-halting, not fully halting, and also helped me with my balance so I didn't get left behind.

And, yes, hack. Although it's bloody impossible at this time of year for me - only two days when I can get out in the daylight, and then I'm dependent on weather, trails not being flooded, and hacking buddy being available and willing to go out in the inevitable rain.

 

[Pink Gorilla]

Thank you everyone. These are all amazing suggestions. I think I needed someone to tell me it’s ok to leave the canter from now until I can get to an instructor in a very large arena! I put myself under pressure to be able to do everything with him straight away. I totally get that cantering on hacks is ideal, but for some reason I find that more daunting now I am at home alone with my horses, rather than when I was on livery. If he was steady I wouldn’t mind, but I can’t get the ‘what if he bolts home back to his field companion’ out of my head, as they are very attached and shout for one another when I’m hacking. I think I’m a little weak in the core too, as I’ve only ridden a fraction of the amount I used these past 5yrs to due to having two babies and an old horse that was only in very light work. I definitely don’t feel as balanced and able to go with the movement that I used to. I love the exercises though! Anything to work on myself is great and I’ll practice them in walk and trot tomorrow.