SJ canter transition and flatwork canter transition

miskettie

miskettie

Well-Known Member
Joined
10 January 2010
Messages
538
Visit site
I've been doing walk and trot dressage with Enys and have now moved up to Prelim level. We score really well on our walk and trot but then get let down by our canter transitions (often getting 3's and 4's).

The silly thing is, is that when I am showjumping him I just have to think canter and he goes into it beautifully yet when I am doing flatwork we end up bouncing around and struggling to get into it.

Do you think it is something I am doing wrong or do you think it is because he isn't putting the effort in (he likes SJ much more than flatwork and is naturally a bit lazy!).

Would value any opinions or tips :)
 
You just need to sharpen him up. How are you asking for canter? I just drop my outside leg back and if they don't go they get a tap with a stick. Just do loads and loads of transitions until he goes straight away every time. You have to repeat, repeat, repeat and stick with it. Don't nag with your legs, use a light leg aid and if he doesn't go use a stick, he needs to learn to go straight off your leg every single time.
 
I think its most likely he is more motivated to canter when he knows theres jumps involved. My horse will jump into a lovely bouncy forward canter with barely a touch when there is a jump up in the school compared to huge efforts to get her going in canter for flatwork. You could leave a cross pole up in the school while you are doing flatwork and occasionally canter him over the jump to improve his motivation.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top