Trotter pacing

[aimsroan]

Hi all, I’ve recently bought a cross with no breeding background (prev owner believes Tb x trotter) he’s 4 years old and needs more schooling, but I was wondering a few things with his schooling as I’m not majorly experienced with training:

what would be the best way to stop him pacing so much?

How to help him gain his balance in canter and trot?

And an unrelated issue as he’s young I know he doesn’t have a lot of muscle, what’s the best diet for him to build it up? Thanks

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I would turn him away over winter, with plenty of hay/lage, preferably on a hilly field to fill out a bit and develop some muscle. Unfortunately Standard-breds, which is what is usually meant by 'trotter' do pace naturally. You will need to train him to trot as well.

 

[SEL]

I worked on a yard in Australia many years ago where we got a lot of ex-scully racers in who paced. I used to teach them to canter on the beach which was very long by popping them behind something else that could gallop, letting them watch first and then trying to encourage the canter behind the other horse. Not all got it quickly - then can get up to one heck of a speed pacing!

Much less luck re-educating the trot, but that wasn't an issue at the time