Teaching my little lady to canter ? need advice <3

[Shannenm99]

So i seem to be posting alot of threads but i am finding this forum one of the most useful things i have signed up for

With my just turned5 year old 14h tradtional gypsy cob she has learned her walk and trot . Now time for canter .....

I have tried lunging her and asking for canter but she just trots quicker and quicker ? any tips for cantering on lunge before i ride her into canter ?

Alot of people saying I should hack her out and go for some canters - is this advisable as we have some great ash paths ?

 

[ridefast]

Young horses find it hard to get canter and it's easy for them to run into it, if that's what she needs to do initially on the lunge then let her, but don't let it become a habit, just so she knows what you're asking. She may find it easier loose schooling without the restriction of a lunge line. I cantered my cob out on hacks for a couple of years before I even had access to a school. If you're out with someone on a reliable horse you can run yours into just in case, ask for canter on a hill and don't try to hold her back, because she'll probably want to plunge into it and may have a buck to get herself going.

 

[ImmyS]

So i seem to be posting alot of threads but i am finding this forum one of the most useful things i have signed up for

With my just turned5 year old 14h tradtional gypsy cob she has learned her walk and trot . Now time for canter .....

I have tried lunging her and asking for canter but she just trots quicker and quicker ? any tips for cantering on lunge before i ride her into canter ?

Alot of people saying I should hack her out and go for some canters - is this advisable as we have some great ash paths ?

I was schooling a hackney cross cob when she was a 5 year old. When starting canter I took her on large uphill stretches where I could ask for canter and let her find her own balance, once cantering confidently in straight lines I then translated that to the school. I think cantering out in the beginning in a safe and secure environment is a great tool for getting the initial canter transitions and balance.

 

[Shannenm99]

Young horses find it hard to get canter and it's easy for them to run into it, if that's what she needs to do initially on the lunge then let her, but don't let it become a habit, just so she knows what you're asking. She may find it easier loose schooling without the restriction of a lunge line. I cantered my cob out on hacks for a couple of years before I even had access to a school. If you're out with someone on a reliable horse you can run yours into just in case, ask for canter on a hill and don't try to hold her back, because she'll probably want to plunge into it and may have a buck to get herself going.

Thank you for your advice i very much appreciate it . the school is not too great and i am moving yard in 2 weeks so may bay start her in the school then , in the meanwhile there are not too many good horses to go out with but there is an ash track that leads up hill to a gated end , don't know if it would be a good idea or bad lol ?

 

[MerrySherryRider]

She needs to be quite balanced before cantering on the lunge.
A poor surface in the ménage can be difficult for unbalanced youngsters if there's not enough purchase.

Try hacking out with another horse, let her follow the lead horse and she may trot very fast before launching herself into canter before lapsing back into trot.
Its often very funny, so you should laugh and pat her lots.

 

[MerrySherryRider]

Agree with other posters, if she does a small buck going into canter, don't worry (neckstrap), its just her rearranging her legs. 4 legs are harder for peanut brains to work out.

Don't hold on to the reins, she needs her neck to balance herself and she may feel she is being held back. You need to think canter and go with it. Don't think about how you will stop before you start because that may translate itself to her. You'll stop fine.

 

[Gloi]

Put a cross pole by the corner of the school and when you lunge her or ride her ask for canter as she goes over the pole. It will help her break out of the trot.

 

[Patterdale]

Young horses (particularly cobs) aren't often balanced enough to canter in a school.

I always do the first canters on a hack. Find a long straight area, preferably slightly uphill. Your ash track sounds great.
Get into trot, behind another horse, lead horse canters off, yours will trot faster and faster until she eventually canters. Then pat etc and sit in a light seat to help her.

 

[TrasaM]

Young horses find it hard to get canter and it's easy for them to run into it, if that's what she needs to do initially on the lunge then let her, but don't let it become a habit, just so she knows what you're asking. She may find it easier loose schooling without the restriction of a lunge line. I cantered my cob out on hacks for a couple of years before I even had access to a school. If you're out with someone on a reliable horse you can run yours into just in case, ask for canter on a hill and don't try to hold her back, because she'll probably want to plunge into it and may have a buck to get herself going.

Same here and also cobby creature Last year aged 5 his First canters were really unbalanced and he would lower his head and hurl himself into it the first few attempts were very uncoordinated but he did soon get the hang of it.
He Is now 6 and canters very well when on lunge.