Pacing

[cider loving mare]

I have a 4 year old trotter x cob. Who is very well behaved. I haven't done much with her because the people that had her before me, had her in a cart before she was 2 I gave her some time off, backed her when she was 3 and did some light hacking then turned her away and picked up where we left off this spring. She goes out well on her own ( there isn't always somebody to go out with) and I haven't done alot of schooling. I am going to start doing more now though. Her transition from trot to canter when I'm long lining is fine on both reins. She still hasn't quite got it when I'm riding her and starts to pace, even when there is a horse infront. Today I took her out on her own and got 3 strides of canter. I am finding it difficult to go from trot to canter without her pacing first. Any ideas on what we can do? Thanks

 

[ossy]

I have a Wbxtrotter and he was not very well schooled when I got him either, he now does Novice level dressage pretty well, his problem was coming from canter to trot though, but for the trot to canter... Try using a lot of half halts slow the trot right down way before the transition to try and have him sitting on the hind legs before the transition and then ask with the normal aids, if he paces slow the trot down again and then ask, repeat this again and again untill he gives you a canter then big praises, he will soon learn that the canter aids you give him are actually for canter and not pacing. With most young horses its all about repetition so they learn what each aids are for and as they develop their own mucles and blance the transitions will improve. You need to be patient and disaplined yourself too not to just rush for a bit canter.

 

[trickivicki]

Hi,

I had a trotter for years and found in the early days the best way to build up the canter was on a figure of 8 cantering the short sides and a slow/ bouncy trot across the middle.

Also grids/ athletic jumping (probably best to start with poles/ raised poles because of your baby) to build up the right muscles.

Let me know how you get on!

 

[GLEEK]

I have a standardbred that likes to pace. Usually when i try to catch her though!! I havent done very much with her at all though. I hope to do endurance with her next year but would also like to do a little RC stuff. Sorry i havent been much help i would just like to watch this thread though

 

[cider loving mare]

Thanks for your replies.

Ossy I'm in no rush just want to get things right. Also I don't always have her full attention so this is something else I need to work on!

trickivicki did your trotter also pace?

gleek not sure this post is going to get very far maybe I should have made the explanation a bit shorter and more reader friendly!

I guess because she was used in a cart pacing may have been encouraged? So I'm also guessing she still doesn't really know what I want her to do

 

[thinlizzy]

practice cantering up a hill and giving definate canter aids very clear practise the trot slowing your rises i would recommend lessons as a big help having instruction from the ground .Also you could try pole work horse will come off cantering at a certain height this is very achieveable i have friends who have wonderful ex trotters and have done really well competing wise and yes, they were full blown trotters and won races and have competed dressage and cross country

 

[DanaHart]

Some very good advice there..... just a thought tho, if he canters on the lunge fine and only paces when ridden, it could be that he is unbalanced (with a rider on top) and once he finds his balance, this 'problem' may just go-away

 

[cider loving mare]

practice cantering up a hill and giving definate canter aids very clear practise the trot slowing your rises i would recommend lessons as a big help having instruction from the ground .Also you could try pole work horse will come off cantering at a certain height this is very achieveable i have friends who have wonderful ex trotters and have done really well competing wise and yes, they were full blown trotters and won races and have competed dressage and cross country

I really enjoy having lessons and it is something I need to start doing again. She enjoys going over poles, but unfortunatly we don't have a lot of room in the schooling area we have at our yard so getting her to canter out there is hard. Its good to know that the trotters you know are doing well, and I really think Milly will be ace when she is a bit better schooled!

Some very good advice there..... just a thought tho, if he canters on the lunge fine and only paces when ridden, it could be that he is unbalanced (with a rider on top) and once he finds his balance, this 'problem' may just go-away

Yep she is definatly still unbalanced with a rider on her. Once she is in canter she is fine its just the transition.

Lets hope tomorrow's weather is ok then I can give it another try. Also where we road today was the first time she had been there on her own so she could of also been feeling a little insecure.

 

[thinlizzy]

you will be fine just practise horse has just been schooled in a different way your horse will trot normally, canter , gallop and jump just needs re schooled and tbh standardbreds are highly inteligent i know of one for sale and ive asked hubby if i can buy and he said no dont ask again !Ive tried to think if i can hide it from him but financially i cant haha just remember lots of circles, etc and have a look for a hill to practice those canters you will know a difference let us know how you get on

 

[cider loving mare]

Thankyou I will, and yea she is too clever, was a nightmare trying to keep her in the field I wanted to, and she was really good at getting out her stable. If company's ever need to test a product to make sure its horse proof/ escape proof then Milly would be a great one to try things out with!