Slowing the canter

[DB1]

Any hints and tips? I have a just 6 year old 15hh very ponyish gelding. When I got him at 4 he was very ridged through his mouth/neck and would lean and pull. He is so much better and walk and trot feels lovely. He is jumping well, but when I try to work on canter on the flat he still pulls and only wants to go flat out. I am using lots of transitions, trying so hard not to pull, leg on, pushing my hands forward, giving and taking with both reins and one then the other, anything rather than pull back. Sitting up using stomache etc, but all he want to do is move his legs very fast and find the contact and pull. In a dressage comp, he is really good, I think the boards, car etc backs him off enough and he feels normal. Any schooling tips to help a manic scurry style canter much appreciated.

 

[lizziebell]

He's still young, and depending on conformation could still be finding his balance and strength in the canter. Sounds like you are doing the right things. Try some baby leg yields in and out on a circle, and also some shallow loops off the track on the long sides of the arena. Both exercises are great for suppleness and will help engage the hindquarters to help the balance.

 

[PorkChop]

I would maybe work on the canter a bit on the lunge/long lines, loads of trot-canter-trot transitions.

Also, when ridden I really rate a shallow loop in canter, changing the bend, or counter canter

 

[DB1]

Thank you. We are only allowed to ride in the arena, no lunging, but I had forgotten about shallow loops! will try that and some counter canter. I use a neue Schule starter bit or myler comfort snaffle, must admit I have been tempted with stronger, but worried a will make things worse in the long run.

 

[Cortez]

Walk canter transitions, and very short transitions - 5 steps canter, 10 steps walk, over and over again.

 

[muddy_grey]

My mare has a very big canter and building balance and strength has taken a long time. Agree with Cortez walk to canter is much better than trotting and keep canters short. When you do a downward transition you need to rebalance asap. Don't let him fall out of canter and run in trot. I also use counter flexion quite a lot, but you need to work on that in walk and trot first.
From my riding point of view I have worked really hard on keeping my hands up. When they are struggling to balance it is easy to allow you hands to drop, which can make them rigid. Also when asking for a downward transition from canter I often used my voice so I didn't have to use to much rein.

 

[ohmissbrittany]

I've done a couple different things depending on the horse.

1. I have a nasty habit of hopping up into a light seat immediately when asking for the canter. My horse takes that as permission to rocketship forward. Instead, pretend you ate a bucket of ice cream and sit your "fat ice cream butt" down in the saddle and almost resist the first strides, rocking out a rhythm you expect the horse to stick to.

2. in a biggish area (because you want to avoid adding lead changes to the equation), anytime he speeds up, turn enough to slow him back down. The turn naturally slows them down. Eventually they realize that cantering in a nice relaxed rhythm is easier than turning.

3. serpentines, where you trot the straight and canter the bend. Again, the bend helps control the speed and allows you to half half liberally to keep the rhythm. But make sure this is a definite take and a definite release.

4. "posting the canter" - sit a stride, half seat a stride. This is particularly useful for lengthening exercises and maintaining a rhythm.

 

[scats]

I have a 14hh cob X mare with an immense canter. She eats up the long side in about 3 strides and getting control of the canter is still a work in progress. What I have found is to initially ask from walk, canter a few strides and then trot and walk again (a canter to walk transition is impossible right now). I repeat this a few times. Then I build it up to cantering one long side and one short side, before trotting again. Cantering a circle is still a bit hairy, I often ask on the second half of a 20 m circle and then go large.

This particular pony didn't have a canter when we got her, she then had such a bold and onward one that it was near impossible to get a canter in the school so we had to do 6 months hacking first. It was this time last year that I started to get the canter in a school but it's a massive work in progress. She is an absolute powerhouse to ride and finds the whole thing fantastic fun!