Moving up with schooling, need help with canter work!

[Florrie]

Hi all
So after 5 months of re-schooling Tag we've finally got him working/pushing himself from behind and working on the bit. He's finally relaxing through his shoulders meaning he is more supple and will actually bend around his corners! We've cracked his walk to trot and trot to walk transitions so they're almost perfect.

Now I want to start him on some Canter work but here is the problem - his canter is awful. Whenever I have cantered him undersaddle in the school he will do 8 quick strides of trot (and I have to 'pony club kick' to get him in to canter!) and when he does canter he is very behind the leg and it only lasts 4 strides. If i'm lucky enough to get him around a corner he will drag himself and fall onto the inside track. It's also quite hard to get the canter relaxed as he thinks a tiny squeeze on the reins for a half halt means stop completely and go back into walk.

He will canter fine on the lunge with a huge lunge whip behind his bum but undersaddle he just doesn't understand.

I'm thinking I may need a pair of spurs when it comes to his canter? It doesn't help as I can't sit to his canter very well (it's like trying to sit to a gallop )

Can someone recommend me some exercises to practise and to improve his canter?

 

[be positive]

There are lots of things you can try, some may help others may not
Work on your transitions, walk to trot, halt to trot so he is really in front of your leg then try walk to canter, it should help cut out the running trot.
Leg yield to canter, ask him to move away then ask for canter when his hind leg is more active.
Keep the canter periods short, ask for trot before he stops, even if you only get 2 strides it is on your terms not his, then go into canter again after just a few strides of trot, keep repeating this, you should then have him more in front of you and can keep going a little longer when you want to.
Use a small jump to pick him up, canter poles are also good to help get them thinking forward.

If you find sitting difficult go into a light seat, it will help to keep his back relaxed and easier for you, once he is carrying himself more forward sit for a few strides then go into light seat again, then sit, it will keep him thinking and stop him expecting to do a downward transition just because you move your weight.

Dont be afraid to back up your aids with a schooling whip, it will probably be better than spurs at this stage.