Snickers
Well-Known Member
Is it possible to retrain a trotting pony to have not only an established canter, but a nice balanced one? Is it very difficult? And how long would you expect it to take?
Trotting Ponies
- Thread starter Snickers
- Start date
*hic*
village idiot :D
Depends on the individual but in the main it's a lot of hard work and effort for indifferent results, especially in stressy situations.
thinlizzy
Well-Known Member
My friend has one off track you need to re-school to slow the trot you can control this by rising slower to slow this down in arena and come in on the inner track and smaller circles, but not to were horse cant do them .They can also canter 
you may find a good friend/ instructer to help at first six weeks regular schooling and trotting /cantering on hacks will help. I know two people who have ex trotter s one has competed dressage and xcountry both have fabulous temperments and very willing both have fabulous temperments .An instructer will speed up the process , but it can be done
you may find a good friend/ instructer to help at first six weeks regular schooling and trotting /cantering on hacks will help. I know two people who have ex trotter s one has competed dressage and xcountry both have fabulous temperments and very willing both have fabulous temperments .An instructer will speed up the process , but it can be doneSnickers
Well-Known Member
Yep, they would have frequent lessons, but this girl is really a lot like me, loves dressage! So a good canter is really essential... Hmm, this is a little worrying, the pony is really lovely in every other way, but like I said, canter is so important!
She'd have 1/2 lessons a week with a good instructor, frequent schooling ect, but she want to compete in dressage this winter. I have no experience with trotters, didn't realise it would be such a problem.
She'd have 1/2 lessons a week with a good instructor, frequent schooling ect, but she want to compete in dressage this winter. I have no experience with trotters, didn't realise it would be such a problem.
Lanky Loll
Well-Known Member
Our pacers canter - even when in training, Mags did a couple of laps of the field in perfect working canter the other week when she was supposed to be pacing 
Has your friend's pony just come out of training? When we've finished previous horses from training to become riding horses we normally advise (depending on how quickly they leave us) that they are given time to "let down" their muscles, as usually when they're in training they're not exercised in canter at all so their muscles develop for pacing rather than canter work.
During the winter though ours are hacked out and taken to the gallops and their canter work definitely improves with time.
As thinlizzy says - lots of slow trot work getting the pony to trot properly and build from there. I know of several (including the horses we don't race anymore) that have gone on to make lovely riding horses competing in the different disciplines.
I'm currently trying to persuade my dad that Mags should have at least a year as a rider when she finishes racing (he's already picked the stallion he wants her to go to) as she's got fab dressage paces.
Has your friend's pony just come out of training? When we've finished previous horses from training to become riding horses we normally advise (depending on how quickly they leave us) that they are given time to "let down" their muscles, as usually when they're in training they're not exercised in canter at all so their muscles develop for pacing rather than canter work.
During the winter though ours are hacked out and taken to the gallops and their canter work definitely improves with time.
As thinlizzy says - lots of slow trot work getting the pony to trot properly and build from there. I know of several (including the horses we don't race anymore) that have gone on to make lovely riding horses competing in the different disciplines.
I'm currently trying to persuade my dad that Mags should have at least a year as a rider when she finishes racing (he's already picked the stallion he wants her to go to) as she's got fab dressage paces.
tabithakat64
Well-Known Member
Yes it's definetly is possible to train them to canter etc.
My friend has a 4 year old she brought to sell on.
She's owned her for 6 months and backed her herself.
Ruby is now out competing (and getting placed every time out) in SJ/dressage/XC at RC level and is ready to affiliate.
She's fantastic
My friend has a 4 year old she brought to sell on.
She's owned her for 6 months and backed her herself.
Ruby is now out competing (and getting placed every time out) in SJ/dressage/XC at RC level and is ready to affiliate.
She's fantastic
monkeybum13
Well-Known Member
I have a standardbred, so she is bred for trotting/pacing.
She has never raced or been in training but she's struggling with her canter in the arena, even as a 5yo, although she is a very big girl so still gangly however in open fields, going xc she's fine.
So yes, a trotter can do a perfectly fine canter
One of the instructors I have rc rallies with has/had some trotters and finds their canter fine and she knows what she's talking about (been around Badminton etc)
She has never raced or been in training but she's struggling with her canter in the arena, even as a 5yo, although she is a very big girl so still gangly however in open fields, going xc she's fine.
So yes, a trotter can do a perfectly fine canter
One of the instructors I have rc rallies with has/had some trotters and finds their canter fine and she knows what she's talking about (been around Badminton etc)
thinlizzy
Well-Known Member
Dont worry, i forgot to post the canter bit, i do know people with these horses for riding,they CAN canter and are good at dressage AND jumping, its not harder than any other horse and they have a excellent temperment i know one girl who has ex trotter who won years and years ago and has done well in dressage and xc !I have rode two different ones and i really like them !Get a good long hill and trot fast and ask for canter up there , depends how quick hes at picking things up but will learn new aids and commands , keep us posted !You are worring about nothing a orlov trotter won a medal in last games !The famous hall showjumping medalist hyorse was off the track !
thinlizzy
Well-Known Member
Our pacers canter - even when in training, Mags did a couple of laps of the field in perfect working canter the other week when she was supposed to be pacing
Has your friend's pony just come out of training? When we've finished previous horses from training to become riding horses we normally advise (depending on how quickly they leave us) that they are given time to "let down" their muscles, as usually when they're in training they're not exercised in canter at all so their muscles develop for pacing rather than canter work.
During the winter though ours are hacked out and taken to the gallops and their canter work definitely improves with time.
As thinlizzy says - lots of slow trot work getting the pony to trot properly and build from there. I know of several (including the horses we don't race anymore) that have gone on to make lovely riding horses competing in the different disciplines.
I'm currently trying to persuade my dad that Mags should have at least a year as a rider when she finishes racing (he's already picked the stallion he wants her to go to) as she's got fab dressage paces.
Pictures on new post please mags - sorry im not hijacking posts my horse is tbx standy he has a natural pace at times but hes soooo fab id love to have a pure bred off the track on one day <maybe in five years > im a big fan of them for riding !Thanks
Mahoganybay
Well-Known Member
I have a Standardbred mare who after 3 years of owning her still struggles to canter in the school, having said that the school we have is small and quite deep so not surprising really.
She canters in the field and out on rides on a long slightly uphill stretch but it takes some work to get her going and is defiantly better with a lead horse.
She prefers to trot and finds this a more comfortable gait.
I have spent the last 3 years working on her getting her trot slow and working from behind and she is still a work in progress (but then again i am not the more experienced of riders but i do have an instructor).
Can't fault her temperament and good looks.
She canters in the field and out on rides on a long slightly uphill stretch but it takes some work to get her going and is defiantly better with a lead horse.
She prefers to trot and finds this a more comfortable gait.
I have spent the last 3 years working on her getting her trot slow and working from behind and she is still a work in progress (but then again i am not the more experienced of riders but i do have an instructor).
Can't fault her temperament and good looks.
monkeybum13
Well-Known Member
The joys of getting them to slow down and work from behind, I can sympathise! Sounds like our two standardbred mares are very similar.