Need schooling help please!?

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noodle_

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My lovely 5 year old mare is still bucking when asking for canter ... and thats if i can actually get her to canter!..

Just to also state........... her back has been done a month ago (along with a new saddle fitted by a master saddler!), her teeth were also done in june, shes had the vet out in the past 2 weeks to check her legs etc.

So that said - im well aware shes been a pillock. Shes very good in walk/trot, balancedish!... (we are getting there)!, Once ive done loads of transitions with her she is quick (but still lazy) off the leg, i always carry a schooling whip and im not frightened of using it to back up my aids...

When i ask for canter - she either - f-ks off in a quick trot, so i bring her back to a controlled trot and ask again, this time with a tap with the whip - if she bucks she gets a crack on her backside which normally puts her into place and *sometimes* elminates the bucking.....

If she dosent run off she pops into canter (shockingly 90% of the time gets the correct lead)....and then manages half a school (whether i get off her back or not) then dies on me.....

I dont want to change her temprament and bung energy into her.... im tempted to buy some rubber spurs but dont want to hit the deck....! :D

Oh - but she does canter when she can be bothered when im riding her in the field (no bucking!) so i know shes being a witch in the school.!

i had a (fab) instructor but i have lost my job and cannot afford any lessons right now at all!!! (im lucky to keep my horse)....

Any help as to what to do/try??? or any suggestions and i will try to answer :)
 
Either it is her, or it is you - no way of telling without seeing you working.

let's treat it as if it is her for the time being - lateral work in walk and trot is really good for teaching horses what their hindquarters are for and moving them off the forehand. Every horse will canter better in the open and in a straight line, yours is nothing unusual in that respect.

and if it is you....keep you hands up and your leg on!:D
 
I generally tend to ask for canter over a pole or a tiny jump - it normally gets the interested enough to a) canter and b) not buck. After a few times like that, I ask for canter next to the jump.
As to maintaining canter, I am assuming she is young and green, so probably not balanced enough to do a full lap? I would strike off in canter and only carry on along the long side, bringing back to trot before the corner, once happy with that, do one long side and one short side, etc. In the meantime, if you have access to some long straight stretches of canter-friendly hacking, I would build up her strength and balance there.
I recommend velcro pants, though :D
 
on the lunge she is brilliant! she has voice commands - and even once did walk to almost straight away canter lol.

i use my voice undersaddle just for canter.... not walk/trot unless shes forgotten to come down a gear then i only use "whoa" :D

she does buck when shes having fun on the lunge... mainly trot-canter transitions

I dont have the stickiest of bums but ive so far *touches wood* sat these but if they go any bigger i think i will be taking flying lessons :D

For trot/canter undersaddle - she knows EXACTLY what it means.... when i had my instructor even she said she was probably taking the pee.....(then had saddle/back checked and ruled that out - she had slight soreness but nothing to shout home about but thats all 100% fine now)

shes 5 i recon shes trying it on.... but id like to get out to do dressage sometime this year..... :D
 
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