tips for snappy transactions

[clairefeekerry1]

esp trot to canter. going to move up to novice level thid yr (or attempt to!) but i know they need some working on. my boy is pretty responsive but they just dont feel very quick and to the point, bit slow and lumbered! any tips? my instructer always says i need to push my tummy towards my hands more but easier said than done!

 

[letrec_fan]

All I can think of is making him use his head a bit more - sounds like he is just getting a bit bored and isn't putting the effort in..? I would just do loads of different transitions one after the other, where he wont expect them or suddenly. Or half way through a movement .e.g. on a serpentine or across a change of rein just perform a transition down or up continually while you ride. It certainly helped my ex-racer. Obviously try to follow your instructors directions aswell.

Good luck!