Rushing canter transition

[Foxychops]

I'm currently retraining my ex pointer. He is a lovely boy. He has won his last 9 intro tests at various places so is well ready for prelim/ novice. Unfortunately has started to bomb off after a canter transition. He has been checked over, tack fine etc. He doesn't do it every time. I have been using a pole on the ground whilst lunging and have asked for canter over it. I have gone on the riding over it and asking for canter but we are still getting these silly moments. I'm trying to leave his mouth alone. He doesn't go very far it's literally 4 or 5 strades then assuming we are on the correct lead I carry on and his canter is lovely! ! He is more unbalanced on the left rein so trying LY or SI for the transfer but we are on occasion getting this problem. I think it's mainly due to him feeling unbalanced. Any tricks or tips would be greatly appreciated! !

 

[Pinkvboots]

It does sound like a balance thing I think it's going to be the more he does it the better, do you canter out on a hack?

 

[be positive]

He will improve if you keep repeating the exercise, as his canter is generally good I would get into it and work on the canter until he is really soft before coming back to trot and once rebalanced ask again for canter, stay on the rein he finds easiest until he has done a couple of good, or better, transitions then change the rein and work that way.
Too often people think they have to do equal amounts both ways, change direction before getting one rein established and the issue never really settles either way, I will sometimes do a session mainly on the better rein until the penny drops, once they get it on the easy rein it tends to transfer to the trickier one more smoothly, it tends to be about gaining their confidence as much as anything else so keeping it as simple as possible and making it easy builds them up so they start to trust themselves, I might also try using a tiny x pole to get the transition if a pole on the ground is not working consistently..

 

[milliepops]

agree with BP wholeheartedly
My ex racer has a reasonable walk and trot education, he has a nice rhythm, got some lateral work, decent in the contact and pretty supple. Canter is a LONG way behind because he is not confident even though his natural balance is pretty good. we also have the whoosh into it and then we are staying in canter until he relaxes about it and accepts my leg. Although my natural inclination is to try and fix the transition, that's not really the root problem, the issue is his anxiety.

I only do one rein at a time at the mo, as mine is so green it takes a lot out of him mentally so we only repeat on the other rein if it's gone particularly well. he does equal amounts in walk and trot on each rein so his body is fairly straight anyway.

 

[QueenT]

My trainer has recommended this exercise for the very same thing: On a steady canter, go into the diagonal, do a 10-15 meter circle, continue towards the corner, keep the canter (now counter), change at A/C. This has helped me a lot!

 

[ycbm]

I feel your pain ? My four year old is currently getting far too excited about the possibility if a canter transition and rushing into it and then trying to run on. I find it helpful with horses like this to teach canter from a walk because you aren't moving so much yourself and have a better chance of not being thrown out of balance.

BP gives some great advice as usual.

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