Question about boots and another qtn. too.

[JustKickOn]

First of all, am i right in thinking that brushing boots fasten with the velcro going towards the back of the horse?

And secondly; I've recently started exercising a friends horse, I rode her for the second time yesterday and whilst sorting out the walk to trot transitions which I posted about around 2 weeks ago asking for help on (thanks to those who replied, your suggestions helped a lot!!), we now seem to have problems with the trot to canter transitions!!
She isn't in regular work and can be quite stubborn to ride.
When asking for canter her ears flicker and her trot just gets a lot faster, more that she's "running" than trotting. I'm sitting up, outside leg back and bit, inside legs on and when she doesn't go after the second squeeze (and my legs are telling me the squeezes were pretty strong today) I gave her a firm flick with the schooling whip. The problems are more on the right rein than the left, and we did finally get a canter, but it's just a chore getting her into one!!
I asked her to canter either in the corners, or when going onto the track off a circle, but the transition still seemed to cause problems. Once in canter she seemed ok, if a little sluggish, but was cantering fine, right lead and opening out if asked.
Sorry if that didn't make much sense, so does anybody have any ideas on how to get her to canter??

Many thanks
Lizzie x

 

[gally]

no ideas sorry but yes straps go back

 

[Natassia]

Straps go back..I had this problem with a horse I used to share, i know its really difficult but try not to let her run and bring her back as soon as she does this and ask for canter agin firmly. Is she leaning on the bit as she does this and trotting faster?
I think its just a case of schooling her, she could be confused with what you are actually asking her to do, even though your aids are clear, try using your voice as well. You could try lungeing her to improve her response to your voice, and from the ground you will actually be able to see if she has any problems with the transition on either rein.
Hope I've helped! Nx

 

[toomanyhorses26]

If you have a safe place to hack try asking for your transistions while you are out as horses tend to be more forward going when they are out. Another trick that I was taught for getting canter (it's not v stylish I am afraid!!) is too have a slightly looser rein contact establish your trot then take your sitting trot and generally use your leg strongly and make a bit of a fuss (voice is normally a good one flick of the reins if not too flighty) but don't restrict or take a tight contact as a lot of problems with canter transitions can be from mixed signals given by the rider. Always praise her after she has made the transitions and I have found that lots of short sharp transitions are better as it will help to build the balance and muscle for carrying herself rather than one transition then a circuit of the school then another. Hope this helps.

 

[piebaldsparkle]

Straps gp back (unless they have double velcro, then the 1st ones go back and the top ones go forward)!!!!

re: canter, you could try doing walk/canter transitions to get her more off your leg.