Rein back to canter?

[arwenplusone]

Right, clever folks - I am struggling with this a bit at the moment.

Horsey does a nice rein back, and also does a nice rein back into trot - but if I try to do rein back to canter I kind of get rein back to bronc.

I know this is a movement that winds horses up, but does anyone have any tips? He is a little bit tense in walk to canter transitions so I think maybe he finds it hard, hence why he's throwing his toys out of the pram?

I can only try it a couple of times & then I have to go and do something else otherwise he becomes a bit silly.

Any thoughts/advice appreciated! (have lesson on sat but would like to show progress!)

ta

 

[Kayfm]

what about trying walk to canter without rein back first.

 

[kerilli]

i think i'd get the walk-to-canter as relaxed as possible before asking for rein-back to canter, tbh.
is he reining back softly and happily? if so, and you are able to give a very light canter aid just after asking him to go forward again (not as the same aid, as this makes them tense imho), he should improve.
what i mean is that i go from rein back aid (both legs back, light seat) to go forward aid (both legs on girth) to canter aid (outside leg back, inside pushes at girth). i do 99% of it with leg aids, no change in light contact. hope that makes sense!

 

[kick_On]

i would say that reason he's throwing teddy out of pram is that he can't carry himself correctly, so struggles and then stropes!!!

i would say you need to work in a very long and low outline and in this form put in lots of transitions up and down. As muscule built up correctly he'll be able to engage hock correctly and come through correctly.

Good exercise double poles eitherside of X and canter figure of 8 as you come through X change downwards to trot and then at end of pole pick up canter on other lead on continue with figure 8.

Once horse as got idea add in going down to walk and then halt and the rien back etc... Then once gg has really got idea do exercise with poles

 

[arwenplusone]

[ QUOTE ]
i think i'd get the walk-to-canter as relaxed as possible before asking for rein-back to canter, tbh.
is he reining back softly and happily? if so, and you are able to give a very light canter aid just after asking him to go forward again (not as the same aid, as this makes them tense imho), he should improve.
what i mean is that i go from rein back aid (both legs back, light seat) to go forward aid (both legs on girth) to canter aid (outside leg back, inside pushes at girth). i do 99% of it with leg aids, no change in light contact. hope that makes sense!

[/ QUOTE ]

That does make sense - thank you.

His walk to canter is fine in a normal session & when I am jumping - he anticipates dressage though so as soon as I have done rein back he gets stroppy when I ask for walk to canter - he knows what is coming!

He does rein back nice and lightly and he will go forward into trot beautifully from it - I think though I am a bit tense also so I am giving him quite a 'big' canter aid. I have worked quite hard to get my canter aid very specific because when I first got him he thought any leg aid at all meant canter

Interesting thought to give more of a forward aid first and then the canter aid. I lighten my hands and seat but don't give a forward aid with my legs as much as I could - I just go very quickly to the canter aid. So I will give that a try

 

[arwenplusone]

[ QUOTE ]
i would say that reason he's throwing teddy out of pram is that he can't carry himself correctly, so struggles and then stropes!!!


[/ QUOTE ]


I agree with this completely.
We do do lots and lots of long and low work, but he is a very big long horse and it takes me a lot of transitions to get his quarters underneath him in the first place & I know that he does find it hard work. Perhaps I am rushing him & need to go back to this - I just thought he was ready. In fairness he doesn't normally buck so I do think he is telling me that either it is hard, or he is confused.

I like your pole suggestion though, thanks

 

[daisycrazy]

It might help if you adjust your canter aid generally. Practise halt, walk and trot to canter on a straight line - look straight ahead and then keep your shoulders and head back and lift your inside hip to "step" forward into canter, as you would if striking off into canter on your own feet. Initially this will also require a prompt from the legs, but once he recognises your body language for the canter strike off you should find it easier to keep him softer through the transition and by making it straighter he should also find it easier to come "through" out of a rein back.