teaching a young horse to canter

[traceyell]

hope someone can help i have a 5 year old cobx doing really well at schooling have achevied a really nice trot started canter work, now slowly getting the idea on the left rein going forward instead of on the forehand and on the right leg but on the right rein whether im riding or lunging i cannot get him on the right leg or off the forehand i know it takes time but i seem to have hit brick wall with this one help would be much appreciated

 

[dianchi]

Have you tried doing work out hacking? sometimes with the confines of a school and corners they are more willing to go forward. Once its established and working well return to an enclosed fiels then back to a school. ive done this with my babies and they soon get the idea! Good luck

 

[sfward]

Try lungeing him in a pessoa, which will get him working behind and lighten the forehand. Start on a large circle and gradually make it smaller as he gets stronger and better able to carry himself. Alternatively (or additionally) try lungeing in 2 reins with the same principle. I have a 5 year old mare also on forehand in canter, she used to dive round at full speed changing legs behind when it got difficult, both these have helped her no end.

 

[lastresort]

Hi i have had exactly the same problem with my 4 year old. My trainer started to ride him for me to help and she said go across the school diagnal and strike off when you reach the corner and amazingly this really worked.This being after i had really given up and got v fed up. My ISH is not strong or mature but in 3 months he can now canter rather well. I also started to jump him over smaller jumps and he naturally canters on landing. from this i keep his canter going. This really helped with going forwards too.
Its hard going i know and i have another horse who is the total opposite so riding them both each day is challenging!!

 

[Zaf]

try asking at the very instant you change the rein at trot, either across the diaganol or on two large half circles, I dont know why it works but it does most times if you time it right, I used it to re-school an ex hurdler that just couldnt understand canter on one rein and it worked wonders

hate gagets so I steer clear of these pessoa things YUK.

oh I just read the post above, seems like its a tried and tested thing to do!

 

[teapot]

Try up a hill out hacking (assuming you're not living in Norfolk) as that way he'll be able to use his back end to power himself along instead of dragging with his front legs. Plus going up hill means you'll be in a light seat which will take the weight off of his back and thus he'll be free-er to move underneath you.

In the school, don't ask for too much inside bend, infact, ask for a little outside bend. That way, when you ask for canter, he can't then fall out through his outside shoulder and fall onto the wrong lead.

 

[Elitemareslol]

I found that going out hacking with an experienced horse did more to encourage my then youngster to go forward than anything i did in the school. Once they get a few muscles and a bit of balance they seem more willing to understand schooling aids. I wuld vere away from more advanced schooling mechanisms like Pesoa until the basics are understood.

 

[Gucci_b]

The best way i learnt my horse to canter was to do lots of poles on the ground, then put up a very small jump, head towards the jump in trot as the horse goes over push into canter the other side just to get a few strides in is a good start and so on. works for me and my horsey mates who break in their horse's... just go day by day no rush...