needs some advise please

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samisheen

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so I have had my rescue horse for 3 months and all has been going great, until today. I decided today would be the day to ask her to canter under saddle. We do not know her past so been taking things slowly. She canters on the lunge and in the round pen on both reins with just voice commands. So I get a nice balance trot, sit deep and asked for canter.... well she got faster and faster in her trot which resulted in me dismounting. The trot was so fast there was no way I was staying on. She did not even attempt to break into canter. I got back on and walked and trotted some more to make sure she was calm and balanced and that we ended on a good note. Not sure what to do about this? any advise would be much appreciated
:)
 
hi, no my yard manager is helping me, i am hoping she will agree to help me with this as she is very good. just wondered if anyone had any idea's.
Think I may ask my yard manager to work with her for me as I dont want to do anything wrong with my mare
 
i used voice command as well as leg, sat deep and relaxed my reins, I was thinking she doesn't understand what i am asking her to do, but not sure how to get over it as on the lunge she reacts immediately. I just dont want to do wrong by her, will speak to yard manager tomorrow and see how she thinks we should deal with it
 
Green horses quite often get unbalanced doing a canter transistion under saddle first time, especially in a confined space. I'd do it again on a hack on a nice straight stretch. If you think you'll struggle to sit to the too-fast trot that often happens at this stage before canter, get your ym/instructor to do it initially.
 
It sounds like she might not know what to do, and maybe can't balance herself, hence getting faster and faster in trot.

I agree with littlelegs, out on a hack with no tight turns might make it easier.
 
Thanks for your replies, no we dont know anything about her past so spent the first month doing in hand work and groundwork and slowly built up from there. I did think about the lunge line and will put it to my yard manager tomorrow. She has been giving me lessons with her which has helped. I did wonder about taking her onto the beach and trying there but again may ask my instructor, dont get me wrong i would love to be able to reach the milestone with her but think she needs a slightly stronger rider for this stage, and i would not forgive myself if i did something wrong and really upset my mare as we have come such a long way
 
I always start them cantering on a hack up a slight hill I do it in a off the back jumping position and send the companion on slightly in front and get them to break into a slow canter then I just say canter and let the green one follow on.
 
samisheen said:
, dont get me wrong i would love to be able to reach the milestone with her but think she needs a slightly stronger rider for this stage, and i would not forgive myself if i did something wrong and really upset my mare as we have come such a long way
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I think you are being very sensible considering a more experienced rider initially. It will still be a big thing the first time you canter on her, just hopefully a bit easier...

I also agree with a canter in a straight line on a hack, rather than the school, but the beach may be too open for your first time..
 
Do you have a grassed lane you could use that would do it to it best in a situation that draws them on , I would not do the beach at first either, too open.
 
When you've cantered out on a hack a few times and you're ready to try in the school try asking over a single pole laid on the ground. It helps give a clear strike off rather than running.
 
brilliant thank you, i will let you know how we get on, am thinking on a period of 4 weeks so we take it slowly.
will let you all know :D
 
Hi just a little update. After speaking to my yard manager we have decided that I shall pay her to work with my mare for 7 days at the end of the month when i am away. She is going to put a plan together and take things nice and slowly with her. In the meantime i am just going to take her for some walks on the beach across the road and do some bending work with her. I am so pleased my yard manager has agreed to help us out, she thinks it wont take long as my mare learns quickly, and once she knows what is being asked of her then she will be fine. I will update once i return from my holiday
thanks everyone :D:D:D:D
 
Hi there, do you know what breed she is?

It's just that people who've had trotters as riding horses have found that when they ride them and ask them to make the transition to canter, the horses simply get faster and faster in trot (as this is what they have been trained to do). Trotters can achieve some pretty eye-watering speeds in trot as well!

Just a thought...
 
samisheen said:
thanks Golden, that sounds like a great idea, unfortunately i live on The Romney Marsh which is totally flat lol
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Oh you lucky thing, I love that place!

Totally agree with doing it on straight lines. You don't say how old she is but it could well be that she doesn't know how to balance herself with a rider on her in which case, hacking out in straightish lines and over any terrain will be a big help to her.

I have visions of you riding along like Tamzin in the Monica Edwards books now! :)
 
Hi Sarah, i was told she was trotter cross but after many people looking st her we actually believe her to be thoroughbred. picture below.
Hi Maesfen, I love living here, my yard is just across the road from Dymchurch's long sandy beach.
I have been told she is 9, when the vet looked at her teeth all she said was she was definately older than 5... not much help i know.
here she is
DSCF3478.jpg


Pru1120.jpg
 
The Standardbred trotters have a lot of thoroughbred in them. I am guessing it would be hard to tell once they have been crossed.

Many of them will pace naturally, have you seen her do this on the lunge or in the field.
 
I was the proud owner of a Standardbred Trotter, never mastered canter with her, she just trot faster and faster. I did see her canter in the field but with a a rider on board struggled.

On a slight uphill straight track I would get a couple of canter strides and then back to super fast trot, my mare trotted faster than my gelding galloped lol.

Having said that i have read on here and seen video's of Standardbred's cantering, so don't lose hope if you think your horse may be a Standie.
 
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