walk to canter

T

traceyell

Well-Known Member
Joined
31 March 2007
Messages
250
Visit site
what is the best way to teach a horse how to walk to canter my instructor has been having us reining back then forwards into it but my neddy gets very wound up and starts stropping which doesnt take a lot i know so just want to avoid this if i can thanks
 
I was told you just keep reducing the strides of trot. Then when he has the change refine it to taking more weight behind and getting a cleaner strike off. rein back to canter will wind up even the most placid horse!
 
I taught my horse this, but cant remember how. I would start with lots of transistions walk to trot and back again, halt to trot and then start including canter aids when walking. If he trots instead, ask for canter straight off. Canter a few strides, go back to walk and try again.

Also when I used to ask for canter from trot, I would teach my horse a voice aid such as 'canter' so he understood that way too in preparation for walk-canter transition.

I hope this helps. I am not a dressage rider, but it worked for us.
 
I could be totally wrong and I am ready to be corrected but I've just been doing this with my mare who thankfully has got the idea, and don't understand how reining back will benefit yourself or your horse?!?

We've been trotting, lengthing and shortening the strides etc, coming back to a nice forward going walk and then asking for canter?
 
O.o My mare just done it first time I asked her, I backed her myself so I know no ones done it with her before. Saying that though, she did also do flying changes first time with no teachings...

I just realised how un helpful my post is..sorry!
 
Think the reining back bit could be do with trying to get the horse onto it hocks in preparation for the transition - although not how I did it. TBH I don't remember 'teaching' my horse this necessarily - but I now use it much more than I used to. I think it just came gradually with doing lots of sj - not that I am recommending that as a method!
 
[ QUOTE ]
I was told you just keep reducing the strides of trot. Then when he has the change refine it to taking more weight behind and getting a cleaner strike off. rein back to canter will wind up even the most placid horse!

[/ QUOTE ]

This is how my instructor talked me through walk to canter transitions, it was half a cirle of trot then canter, then 6 strides, then 5 strides etc. The reining back would get your horses hocks underneither him but if he's getting stroppy I would avoid doing it, he won't be learning if he's throwing a paddy at being reined back
smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]

This is how my instructor talked me through walk to canter transitions, it was half a cirle of trot then canter, then 6 strides, then 5 strides etc. The reining back would get your horses hocks underneither him but if he's getting stroppy I would avoid doing it, he won't be learning if he's throwing a paddy at being reined back
smile.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

I think this is what the rein back is trying to achieve but i'd much rather get them obeying then polish rather than upset/confuse them asking them to do it perfect first time. Eventually you'll be wanting them to take the weight back so their not rushing into the canter transition and produce it uphill
 
My geegee is great at doing this, he will also do it from halt too....but he was very well schooled when I had him
smile.gif
 
Make sure you have trot to canter transitions perfect so you can get them when you want them (this makes sure the horse understands the canter aids). Then start with a nice forward walk, ask for trot and immediately ask for canter. You should get a stride or two of trot, then canter. As your horse gets more used to it you can do away with the in-between trot strides. Through-out remember to stay very straight and upright in your back, nice long relaxed legs and just apply the aids (don't be tempted to grip if nothing happens or in anticipation of nothing happening).
 
Hi,
Rein-back to canter is for the collection to sit the horse 'back' onto it's hocks, and have them using their backend to push through more.
However, in our experience with this, you need to make sure the rein back is correct - and not a case of you sticking the bit through the horse's ears etc... to get a backward step.
A horse correctly trained to the pressure of the seat/hand/leg for the rein back will not strop but accept the command and move back as directed. (Ok some pull faces all the same!)
If your horse isn't doing this softly and with submission (by this I mean a lowered head position and giving you their back), then you are going to have one rather stroppy horse - I would if I was pulled back!

Firstly, ask yourself "Are we ready for Walk to Canter?" - is the horse established in basic transitions, moving promptly when asked into a faster or slower pace with the same tempo, self carriage etc... and clear in his understanding of your aids?
There are different approached to the work from this point, and rein-back is one, but it all depends on horse and rider to be honest.

Some of our youngsters understand pressure from the leg and respond - i.e. from a decent walk (not a slop down to the pub-style walk) we apply the command for canter and the 'pressure' in that sense is the cue for canter.
The horse will offer something, he may throw up his head and 'camel race' forward, the aim is that he remains in his carriage and 'pings' to canter.
Most often do.
We've only had afew that are quite tricky and require some out of the box thinking.
Remeber that you are trainng the horse and so you judge what feels right to you... don't allow your horse to become resistent with an approach to training that you question.

Good luck!
 
Its amazing to see the actual REAL way you can teach your horse this, but thankfully I do it the easy way and simply sit back and pretty much say canter and ask for it with a little leg and henry is away! Lol!!! Naughty me for not doing it the correct way lol!!
 
I had a horse that could not strike off on the correct leg, so after trying several different suggestions, none of which worked, it was finally suggested that I taught him to canter out of walk. EASY!

It gave me more time to time my aids correctly and think about the aids I was giving him. You can make sure he doesn't run out throught he shoulder, which was what my horse was doing.

You know when the correct hind leg in on the ground, so you time you aids to canter at the appropriate moment. To start with say "canter" as well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top