How to teach a young horse to collect the canter?

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Charla

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I haven't done much canter work in the school with my 4 year old, mainly just out hacking but this year the proper schooling will start. I find his canter is very rushed, flat and fast and quite unbalanced. What do you suggest I do to get his canter more collected? Thanks!
 
Is your walk and trot balanced and responsive atm?
Can he canter in the school on the lunge or on long-lines, or loose (try cutting the school in half), in a balanced manner? Can he work in a pessoa in walk and trot (and eventually canter) using his back correctly? If no to any of the above, then a balanced, collected canter under saddle is gonna be a pretty big ask for a baby, and I'd focus on getting those right before moving on.
 
I agree with the above re making sure they are absolutely ready, they really do need to be strong enough before you start asking more complicated questions. Once they are ready I like to begin their training outside the arena using gentle inclines, as I think youngsters find this much easier to cope with. I also think you need to keep sessions short so they don't tire. Good luck :)
 
As above and also do lots of transitions ask for canter do one or two good strides reward by going back to trot. Improving the trot will also improve the canter.
 
My 4 year old was quite like this in the canter to begin with as his stride was so big. Definitely time is the biggest help but the best specific exercises are:
- Shoulder-in in trot along the long side and then canter in the corner to get the horse to sit.
- Leg yield in and then back out on a circle and then ask for canter.
- lots of canter trot canter transitions.

Also, I generally always keep mine on a 20m circle so he doesnt get the chance to rush.

Mine is now addicted to collected canter, specficially on the right rein so now if I ask him to go faster he's always like "are you suuuuree?" :P
 
It depends on the size of your arena but it is easier for young horses to balance on a large circle. If the arena is too tight I would use a field if the going is ok and keep on a circle/oblong so you are always turning a little and stay in a light seat. Like this encourage the horse to soften into a long round outline so when you half-halt it is easier for the horse to bring his hind legs more under his body and change his balance. Vary the size of the circle - smaller will balance the horse and larger takes the pressure off. Remember that the horse has to stay forward as you half-halt to slow and re-balance. If the horse is tight and lacking engagement then you will need quite a lot of leg to activate the hind leg but not a driving leg to push him faster.
 
oldvic said:
It depends on the size of your arena but it is easier for young horses to balance on a large circle. If the arena is too tight I would use a field if the going is ok and keep on a circle/oblong so you are always turning a little and stay in a light seat. Like this encourage the horse to soften into a long round outline so when you half-halt it is easier for the horse to bring his hind legs more under his body and change his balance. Vary the size of the circle - smaller will balance the horse and larger takes the pressure off. Remember that the horse has to stay forward as you half-halt to slow and re-balance. If the horse is tight and lacking engagement then you will need quite a lot of leg to activate the hind leg but not a driving leg to push him faster.
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I totally agree with the ESP the light seat I found this a great help when I was teaching mine to canter more balanced, at 4 I wouldn't be collecting him too much just aiming for a balanced canter on a large circle and responding to the aids, no more.
 
use lots of leg and try and 'hold' him with your thighs and stomach muscles but try to stay as light as possible in the saddle and stay very soft with your hands. If you pull he will tense and find it more difficult and most likely just drop to trot. Only ask for 1 or 2 strides of a little collection at first and then reward and let him relax. Also try and ask on a large circle / oblong as will be very hard work for him on a smaller circle :)
 
looking for a little advice, ive only had this mare a year she was backed and schooled by a professional at our yard and im a novice rider. Shes goes fab, collect the canter etc but with me she doenst drop on the bit and work from behind i have had the collected canter once or twice but cant seem to get it all the time what arnt i doing is it enough leg thanks:)
 
For now I'd be working on sending the canter forwards, aiming to get a balanced canter, letting the horse find its own rhythm and balance, then once that's established working on altering the collection and extension. Lots of the above suggestions are useful, I especially like the leg yielding into a 10m circle from a 20m circle, then leg yielding back out onto the 20m and once you hit the 20m mark/track, then asking for canter, getting a few steps, bringing back to trot, praising and building it up from there. Trotting shallow loops I also found very good for improving balance, transitions also, including from walk-trot-walk and halt-trot-halt, and lunge work to let the horse sort itself out without the rider onboard. Have fun :) xx
 
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