Lazy Youngster!!

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Kiko

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Hi All

I've started my lessons twice a week and it seems to be going well, got him going really nicely in trot but when it comes to canter, he just cannot be bothered, he bucks, is slow and its just almost impossible! He only does it in the school, not on hacks at all. Is this just something I have to keep persevering and keep asking him for canter? Once he realised what we were doing he turned his bum towards the instructor threatening as he was blaming her for it, little sod!! Has anyone had this before or have any tips?

Thank you ! xxx
 
Mine did this alot. He resents being made to canter in an enclosed space as he finds it difficult to balance. Carry on building his strength by hacking alot, and keep canter to short intervals in the school, try and let him bowl along a bit, until he has the confidence to balance round the corners.
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Mine was the same as a 4yo - just not balanced enough to make the turns of the arena in canter.

I schooled for ages in a field (subject to ground of course) allowing the canter circle/shape to be big enough for him to cope with and bowl on a bit - once he'd strengthed he found it easy.

How long are your lessons? Do you do the canter work towards the end when he is getting tired?
 
my lessons are only 30minutes, an hour would be way to long for him at the moment. We attempt canter in the last 5-10 minutes in the lessons, we managed to get 4 strides last night without a buck, just very slow and you have to really push him on. Will defo get his saddle checked as well I think!
 
try cantering out on hacks. Straight lines with another horse. Make it fun and make him think forwards. Youngsters seem to benefit more from hacking than schooling. I would never school a 4yo for more than 10-15 minutes - they are all different and make you re-think how you do things!
 
My youngster struggles as well, so you're not alone. He's fine in trot (15m circles etc) but struggles with the transition to canter. Once he's in canter he's fine & does keep going but is very unbalanced & onward bound
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but we do very sweeping corners & aren't attempting anything other than full circuits of the school at the mo. As with yours he fine out hacking.
I echo what said above.... it's alot for a youngster in a 20 x 40. Do little and often. If we're schooling, we hack for 15mins in walk to warm him up & then do max of 30 mins in the arena. He spends the first 10 mins in walk doing halt transitions, changes of rein & small circles. 15 mins of including trot - circles, transitions & changes of rein again plus a few transitions to canter (max one circuit of the school) & 5 mins walk to finish.
Each time we go in the school he's improving. I would def try & canter out hacking as they find it so much easier & maybe canter earlier in your session while he's still fresh. Don't make an issue of it as it will come.
 
thanks for the info guys! glad im not alone. I canter frequently out on hacks and had a good gallop with another horse and that sent him forward as well as he's not that forward on hacks either! would much rather follow along behind rather than side by side or infront. But hopefully it will come in time
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I totally echo KATB- my 4 year old does the same- we got her canter established out hacking as it really encourages her to go forward and lenghten but in the menage she finds it harder and puts in some pretty huge bucks too.
She is just resisting as itsmore difficult.I perserve with it and try and sit light and come out of the saddle more often to help her out. I do quite a bitof work on the pessoa in canter to establish the balance without a rider.

Coming out mof the saddle when its safe to do so, then siting back down quietly with your leg on has worked for me! Good luck x
 
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