Ideas on first canter/gallop??

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fitzaud2

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As title?? I have my beautiful baby, who is now trotting fabously, but I'm a bit scared of canter/gallop. Saw him buck in the field today, and went "I'm dead if he ever does that with me on his back". Now, he hasnt bucked, or done anything out of the way so far, is he jusy waiting to get his own back on the "bitch" that put him to work in the first place, or just letting off steam on his own time. he is very polite in every other way. My friend thinks i should start hacking up the mountain, and gradually ask for canter uphill?? Any info would be great???
 
Assume you've cantered her in a school? That sounds safest option to me!!

Think if it was me on a hack, I'd go for somewhere uphill but in a wood/confined space of some sort... she might spin round and bugger off back down the mountain lol!!

Seriously though loads of horses bugger about in the field.. sure she'll be fine! :)
 
I wouldn't worry at all re what you see him get up to in the field. To me that's "freetime" and they are allowed to buck, spin, generally fling themselves about at will! Most won't behave that way under saddle ;-)

With regard to the first canter, I would pick somewhere uphill, with containment, ie hedges either side, and pretty straight so there is reasonably only one direction to go in..have fun!!
 
Mytwo turn themselves inside out in the field, but neither have ever bucked under saddle... Don't focus on it. The youngster occasionally did some tiny "whee" bucks in canter at first, but nothing that would ever unseat a rider.

Youngsters often find it difficult to balance in the small space of an arena, unless its a 60m arena perhaps, so I'd find a nice soft, straight, slightly uphill field/track for the first canter, and have another well behaved horse in front (my mare doesn't mind at all if others get too close, or bump into her, so she's a good one to have in front..). Keep the canter steady and don't make a big deal out of it. Just enjoy it. Leave the mad gallops until you're perfectly happy/feeling secure in canter..
 
With mine, I've always done it on a hack with a sensible horse in front. Choose your day when you're both going well, preferably pick an uphill gradient and follow the lead horse. Be prepared for a faster trot til baby launches into canter and then afterwards laugh your socks off and give big pats. :)
Its a magic moment.
 
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I have always done first canter on a hack with a sensible nanny in front.

Somewhere uphil, preferably with trees/hedges on each side to ensure you stay in a reasonably straight line and it tends to be easier the first time to just let them fall into canter naturally rather than ask for canter.
 
Would think that a sensible nanny at the front to encourage your youngster to go forward might be a safer option than cantering in the school, where they would probably be really unbalanced round corners? Or is that just me stuck in scales of training of "forward...straight...." ;)
 
PucciNPoni said:
Would think that a sensible nanny at the front to encourage your youngster to go forward might be a safer option than cantering in the school, where they would probably be really unbalanced round corners? Or is that just me stuck in scales of training of "forward...straight...." ;)
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Ditto this, this is how I did it I am still not asking for canter in the school (thats if I get to ride!! ) I also then went out again and did lots transitions to get her listening.
 
You will be fine!!

I first cantered my girl behind our sensible lead horse, and did that a few times untill she got the idea! She is also trained to voice commands from lunging and long reining so that helped!

Since bringing her back into work (she had to have the summer off due to putting her pelvis out rolling in the field) she has been a star and we didnt need a lead at all. She has also had a bit of time off due to the weather and i was expecting some freshness...she was a complete babe! She hopped on the spot a little when the horse we were riding with took off but i could almost sense her thinking 'i cant be naughty, i cant be naughty' :P and she walked on calmly!!

Good luck!
 
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