how to help an ex trotter to canter

[pogstar17@gmail.com]

Hi all i have an ex trotter and she is really struggling with canter any ideas to help her? Currently using a pessoa have had her nearly 3yrs bare in mind she was also a rescue case. Her canter is brill on the lunge just not when im on the back!

 

[anna22]

How do you ask for canter on the lunge? If she will go from your voice then maybe when you ride her instead of using leg aids (which she may assume just mean get faster), use your voice - and as she responds positively gradually introduce the 'feel' of your legs in the proper place for asking for canter until she gets that the legs in a certain position and canter go together. And possibly try a light seat until she's got the hang of it? It'll make it easier for her to use her back.
I used to ride an ex-trotter, it took him a while to learn canter, but blimey once he did it was like sitting in an arm chair!! We used to have to have a good, balanced, forward trot to get the transition, he would just get faster in trot otherwise.

 

[Darremi]

Have you tried cantering in two point position rather than sitting on her back? She may find that easier the begin with.

 

[Sprout]

My daughter is working through this with her horse - a lighter seat does help, but also trotting him over a little cross pole, when he will often choose to land and canter away seems to take the stress out of it for him.

 

[daffy44]

I used to teach a lady with an ex racer, and it would also canter on the lunge but not under saddle, so to start with we used to ask for canter only from walk (using the voice command it understood from the lunge at the same time). This worked very well and gave the horse confidence that it was able to canter under saddle, as the horse got happier and more confident with its canter work then we could ask from trot as well.

 

[Nt9]

I have an ex pacer so have plenty of different ideas. What is her canter like on a hack? Out of the saddle def helps. What are you getting with canter when you are on her, what exactly is she doing. Have you video'd it?

 

[pogstar17@gmail.com]

Thank you all! She goes really well of the voice on the lunge and she understands what i ask of her from the leg aid because she goes into canter straight away she just cant sustain it and keep her balance. Then if you ask her to keep going she just gets a bit grumpy with you and breaks to trot. Shes a very enthusiastic jumper and loves it.her canter is much better when shes jumping, hacking out she rushes a little but sustains it well. We have been trying for the last year to get this canter and its better than it was but have hit a wall. She rushes alot sometimes but she has improved dramatically.

 

[neddy man]

trotters are pulled up when they canter as it is not allowed in racing, she has been trained to stop cantering and return to trot ,it will take a lot of time and patience .They are trained to work from voice and hand commands ,use the voice for praise and to scold ,keep calm and do not loose your temper ,with care and consideration you will achieve your goal .