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Loulabella1980

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Got a new horse before Christmas. A lovely welsh d. He’s absolutely perfect on the ground and very keen/willing when ridden. However I’m just trying to get used to him and am struggling with two things.

1. Stands at the block perfectly, however as soon as you get on he goes off marching before you get chance to put other foot in stirrup sort reins etc.

2. I’m finding him very strong/fast in canter. I’ve tried asking on a circle when returning to the track but it doesn’t help, I’ve also tried just asking for a few strides and then Returning to trot. It’s definitely worse on one rein. Sometimes I even struggle to go back to trot.

I’m an established rider, can lack confidence, just a bit stuck. We are starting having regular lessons with my previous instructor this week. He’s in a simple snaffle bridle and loose ring bit.

Any tips much appreciated.
 
And from the right hand so he can't swing his bum away from the mounting block. I would suggest one or more of several options. Have your saddle checked, rushing can be caused by an uncomfortable saddle. Try some groundwork, I recommend straightnesstraining.com or the DVDs from Manolo Mendez, it will help his strength and balance. Canter only in straight lines, and some of the time canter for only a very few strides, before he can get away from you, and come back to trot. I know you've been trying tha but he's can't balance on the turns, so take that factor out. Don't try and repeat in the arena till he's much more with you on straight lines. I would also do a lot of walk work, take every thing back down, he needs to strengthen and straighten to gain his balance.
 
I had a very similar issue with my boy and mounting when I first had him. As long as you have someone to help this works brilliantly. Start with someone holding him. As soon as you're on, get that person to give him a treat (it sounds like you might be able to skip this stage as he already stands ok for you to mount). Once he's good at this, progress to someone standing next to him and giving him a treat, then standing a few steps away, then around the corner, then give him a treat yourself from on board. Every single time, he doesn't not get the treat unless he's standing perfectly still. I used to dread having to get off for any reason when I was out. Mine hasn't had any treats for 10 years now but still stands like a statue no matter where I am.

In terms of the canter, it sounds like a balance thing to me. Practice out hacking in straight lines. I'm sure the lessons you have planned with your instructor will help you too. It sounds like you've got the right help on board.
 
I would ask a trainer to help you develop routines for your horse and maybe do a little schooling too. As you get to know him even more things will feel easier.
 
I had a 11yo connemara arab x who was very fast and very strong in canter. He would motorbike around corners, head up in the air and was pretty scary to ride! So what I did was go back to basics and just lunged him in a roller and cavesson. I then used long lines once he was happy on the lunge. Once he was 'voice' trained and his canter nicely balanced on the lunge & long lines I lunged him for short periods with a harbridge. Problem was also any contact whatsoever and he'd simply go faster... So I needed him to understand contact wasn't a terrible thing. Once he got used to the harbridge on the lunge I started riding him in it. Again for short periods only. It wasn't long before I never needed the harbridge again and I had a nice relaxed snaffle mouthed pony with the most beautiful canter ever! Now... I have to say harbridges don't work with all horses - I think I was just really lucky with this one. Certainly the lungeing/long lines helped enormously though.
 
Mine's a D cross and I have to say forward propulsion is in the Welsh DNA. Nothing in my 50 plus years experience kit bag works when it comes to making her stand under saddle. I've tried the stop, stand for 10 seconds and have a treat trick - I never got over 8 seconds so rode with same pocket full of treats for most of most of one summer before I gave up. She loves a canter and can be very strong but I'm a speed merchant so I usually just go with it. It took me most of my first year with her to make her realise that if I say no to a canter I mean it and she can't herself whenever she feels like a leg stretch. I ride in an English hackamore which I find better at stopping her than any bit however I do ride mainly from the seat and that is much more effective on her (and most other horses) than using my hands.
 
Oh no.. you bought a welsh D! Ha ha, is that all thats irritating you? does he not have any other 'welsh' ways? Experienced the inner welsh dragon yet? :D

Standing at the mounting block, a good way is a treat as above. My welsh D now knows 'treat' and turns his neck around to my for a treat which could help I trained him that for after a schooling session he gets a treat. I just kept mine walking to the block and saying 'stand' if he didn't stand, he'd be moved again and i'd say 'stand'' he now waits lovely at the mounting block it didn't take long for him to get that one.

The strong canter is common in Welshies, they're power houses. What bit is he in? When did he last have his teeth done? My D is more difficult when his teeth are a bit sharp, although in open spaces hes ridden in a stronger bit (and snaffle for everything else!) This morning I took him in the fields for a early morning hack in his snaffle and once warmed up asked for a canter, and we took off at a rate of knots. I had 0 control and had to wait for him to stop, we were racing cars, well that will teach me for taking him in open fields first thing in a snaffle! One thing I know is once hes gone nothing will stop him, but if I put him in his grackle or gag hes a completely different horse. Hes schooled nicely but full of it in open fields.

Could be worth asking his previous owner what he use to be ridden in.
 
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