Tot Canter Help - Advice and Ideas please

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pathelschoice

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My 5 year Old daughter has been having lessons for just over year now - we started off with a weekly group lesson which she progressed very little and I opted for her to have a weekly private lesson around 4 months ago, she has now come on in leaps and bounds, yesterday she showed some great trot work - ***proud mummy****

So she is now ready to start cantering ....so instructress says " put reins and whip into out side hand, hold onto saddle with inside hand and kick really hard when you get to a corner of the school"

My daughter loses confidence then and starts to cry because she cant hold the reins and whip in one hand (hands too small) .

I whisper to her as she passes me in the school to gently drop her whip to the floor, which she does, but still finds it difficult to hold both the reins in one hand and hold onto the saddle with the other.

Now i dont want to sound like a know it all at the school or during her lessons with the instructress (i keep it quiet that i hold by BHSII...ooooh long time since i taught though) but i just mentioned at the end of the lesson , that she may be better with a loose fitting neck strap to place a finger through to help balance her, or alternatively a strap through the 2 d-rings at the front of the saddle, just to help.

Well i nearly got my head bitten off, she said that the neck strap would only pull her forward and unbalance her, I said she cant be more unbalanced than she is at the moment and also with reins in one hand she cant even turn the pony, again trying not to sound like a know it all .

So where would you go from here ????
I like the riding school , I know the owners well, The instructress is a stage 2, no offence to any stage 2's out there, but I sometimes think unless somebody has had a child that they cannot empathise with a childs needs and terminloigy understanding etc.

sorry for this being so long, tea and biccies for all......oooo and vodka later!!!
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Does a five year old really need to carry a whip in the school? I know they can be useful for young children with very little legs and naughty ponies, but if she's struggling to hold it then I'd dispense with it altogether. It only gives her something extra to worry about. I also agree with you about the neck strap, a forward seat when you are learning to canter isn't necessarily a bad thing, it will make it a lot easier for her! Alternatively can she not go on the lunge on a large circle so she can drop the reins and hold on with both hands until she gets the idea?
 
I think you'd be better with a pelham rounding attached to the d rings of the saddle (shamelessly marketed as 'balance straps') That way she could manage reins and holding on.

Would agree that neck straps will only pull her forward if she's little - I had the same problem with my daughter and her pony. Though to be honest, I solved it by chucking child and pony in the indoor school and letting them get on with it. Obviously though in a riding school scenario that won't work!
 
I would of thought it'd be much better to follow the continentals on this one. Put her on the lunge, let her feels what canter is like (just i've seen some tiny's get a bit scared on first canter and everything goes out the window) before she has anything else to hold onto. I can understand about the neckstrap and ifyour little your'll have to learn forward to hold it but i also think your bridging strap on the saddle is also a good idea as wont have to lean forward. I think now would be the time do qualification drop...
 
I wish I could do that with her, and i agree it is the very besy way for kiddies to learn to ride. I just wish our damn house would sell and we can buy the property we want then she can have her own pony.

I mentioned to her about the "balancing strap", i said i would bring 2 spur staps with me - fastened together if they didnt have anything suitable. that recieved a no. They would try a martingale neck strap next week! now am I being stupid but is that not the same as a neck strap.
 
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I solved it by chucking child and pony in the indoor school and letting them get on with it. Obviously though in a riding school scenario that won't work!

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I must admit this is how I learned to canter; it's a very easy pace to pick up if the trot is well established. After all it is easier than rising trot!

Is she genuinely getting upset because she cannot manage the reins and holding on or is she a bit scared of the faster pace? I know boys tend to want to zoom off as soon as possible but girls can get quite comfortable with trot and then get all tense and worked up about going faster.
 
Again i agree whole heartldly with you on this one, and maybe I have to drop the "instructress card". I just dont want to sound like a total snob andknow it all. I dont want it taken the wrong way, god maybe im just too damn nice. I would love to teach her myself by I feel with me being Mummy she has a little more respect at the moment for a person who is not mummy!!

I think the lunge would be superb for her, you read my mind as I was thinking that yesterday while she was on the lesson.
 
I've taught lots of children in my time...and I would suggest you put her on a larger horse for the canter work.
I know this sounds all wrong, but in my experience, the slightly larger ponies (14hh plus) have a larger, softer, more rocking canter, and tend not to corner quite as dramatically as the Shelties, Welshies, etc.
I'd pick one of the riding school saints that sets off in trot, and when the instructor says 'canter' rocks into it, goes round the track to the end of the ride. That way, the reins can be tied in a knot, and you can pop a piece of baler twine or a spur strap across the D rings at the front of the saddle for her to hold.
Sometimes kids do better if they are led in canter - I used to lead them round all the time...
Hope this helps
S
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That makes sense shils, in saying that the pony she has every week is a saint. Welsh section B and of course she loves him because hes a "pink" pony. He belongs to the owners daughter. I will have a chat about a bigger pony with rocking horse canter. thanks again.

Some times you cant see the wood for the trees!
 
I worked part time at my old livery yard teaching, mainly kids and we had the same method to teach them to canter. basically hold on tight to the front of the saddle and kick. I agree that a neck strap can make you tip forward and if she struggles to hold onto 2 reins, then she's not going to manage the reins & a neck strap, which are generally stirrup leathers. however, I would not have objected to a parent bringing up a balancing strap to clip on to the D rings, these are a great idea. I can't see how they could object. Could you gently say to the instructor that your little girl is complaining of sore fingers/getting scared because she can't grip the saddle ?!? and baring in mind what she said about the neck strap, you found this which might help her would she mind if your daughter tried it on her next lesson.

Bet she would like this one. It's pink!!

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/horsecare/1370/105866.html

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170214458979
 
I taught my 5 year old daughter ( and my 38 year old hubby- although obviously not on same horse!
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) to canter with a strap between the d-rings- both found it really useful for a short while until they got their balance and confidence, and quite quickly stopped needing to use it...and as you say, 2 reins and a stick is alot for a small hand...
 
I think we were told on a ride to canter at a riding school when i was a kid - i seem to remember "right we're goingt o canter, hold onto your pommel!" and that as that, us gripping on for dear life!!! hehe

Seriously though i do not see why a 5 yo should have a whip, is that really necessary? I don't believe we EVER had whips at that age.

I think a lungeing session though would be a good idea so she can learn to sit to the canter, holding the pommel to start with before trying to hold the reins. It's a lot to do for a child that age.
 
I have always taught little ones including my own and four nieces by putting a spur strap or flash strap in the d rings at the front of the saddle, get them to hold the strap with the inside hand and get them to pull themselves in to the saddle , give a bit of slack on the inside rein so that pony can go forwards and child is not hanging on to the mouth and let them hold the outside rein so that the pony stays out and can be stopped, choose a pony with a steady trot (not to bouncy)to make it easier to sit and kick.I also tend to put them on the lead-rein for the first attempts, NOT the LUNGE,this is because when you canter them on the lunge force tends to pull them outwards and loose balance and if they do fall of they tend to fall into the back legs!
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also agree with Ladyt none needed to use a whip to get ponies going, taught them all to ride with there legs and seat effectively from an early age.What is her sitting trot like?
 
The whip scenario only came about a few months ago, when she was on a group lesson and had great difficulty getting one of the school ponies to trot (little legs) so she was given a whip just to help.
 
I have been teaching little ones for many many years and first I insist the trot work has to be secure and sound and the child can move between sitting trot and rising trot well before any attempt at canter. Again I agree a strap on the front of the saddle is much better for a small child to hold on to. Slacker reins so that the pony can go forwards and no chance of an accidental jab to the mouth. Again I always run alongside for the first few attempts as it gives the child confidence that you are there to help with steering and stopping ! also you can pull the pony up if it looks like you are about to 'lose' your small client!!

Small children shouldn't really have whips as they can't use them as they should be used but I do appreciate that some Riding School ponies always know when a whip is carried regardless of if it's used! Lunge work is very good for all of us but the pony used must be an absolute master at lunge work and most Riding School ponies aren't lunged !! otherwise it could be a nightmare !

I would talk to the instructor after all it's your child and your hard earnt cash that pays for the lesson. There is a difference to intelligent conversation and a pushy 'know it all ' mother !!!
regardless of qualifications !!

Good luck .
 
Oh Yes, I agree with the lunge if you can. my little ones learnt this way and on our stallion too - he abit big for them at 16hh but was all I had safe enough at the time. We did canter on the lunge and then off they went once they were balanced and learnt the movement and feel, it did take time. Boys are still fairly wreckless but girls can be a little more reserved.

Small hands, Yes big problem, but how is a child learning to ride with holding a whip?
If the horse is not forward enough - then is the child being taught a whip is the key???!!!!...is the horse right for the job.

Our 16hh goes forward for both little ones, and they barely reach the saddle flaps! (Oh they're never left unattended or anything).

OK, I agree in the situation as it is, whip dropped and a good strap to hold onto. Every beginner is going to tip a little to start but something to hold whilst they get the feel is crucial, so I would say - ask for the strap!
Would you be able to ask for a lunge lesson for her?
Good luck

Yes please to the vodka too!
 
I agree with tigrablack horses last comment. At five it should also be about having fun with a pony, it does sound like she is not ready?
 
As for the whip situation i remember when i was in the traditional kids saturday morning lesson that instructor carried a lunge/schooling whip so with any of the more stubborn ponies or riders who's legs were too short she could touch hocks. Great thing was she had brill timing so would only do it when rider had given correct aid already. Saves flapping and i and insecrity plus no tinys need carry a whip
 
Thanks guys for all the constructive comments.

Her trot work is great she can sit and rise with no problems at all, change rein, ride 10 and 20 m circles without a problem and can distinguish which are the correct and incorrect diagonals!!

Her seat is pretty secure and she actually has lovely gentle hands.

I agree with the enjoyment factor, of course, that is the main thing and not just because Mummy wants her to ride, she must want and enjoy doing it.

I also agree with the whip carrying, my argument in the beginning (not with instructress) was she needs to learn how to use the leg more effectively rather than depending on a stick to get the pony going forwards or up a pace.

I think and feel she is ready to canter, I just want her to be safe and secure, she is not the most confident little girl at times, and I was starting to question my own abilities and thoughts and the way i had been taught / have taught at this stage.
 
Lets us all know how she gets on ! It's great to hear feedback from people who want to do things right - makes our jobs as instructors so much easier !!
 
Well next lesson is on tues, so hopefully my ordered balance strap will be here in time. Will keep you posted, and send piccies too. Thanks again everybody x
 
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