Won't Stay in Trot

[CanadianGirl]

It's finally drying up here enough that I can ride in the outdoor ring and "school" my mare. I want (and need) to work on my posting, but my girl hates trotting.

She always wants to canter immediately. If I post she does it sooner, if I sit the trot she will go for a while, but break into a canter after about 1 trip around the ring. I correct her and bring her back to a trot as soon as she does it, but it's annoying and I feel like I'm constantly yanking on her mouth.

She was a "Western" horse when I bought her if that makes any difference so she's not used to her rider posting, but it's been years since she's been ridden in a western saddle. I do not come down heavily on her back, so I don't think it's that. Could it be that she's out of shape? Does anyone have any suggestions of what I can do?

(She also does not like to trot when I lunge her, she breaks into a canter).

 

[eva]

I had that with my boy in winter when he was freshly clipped - adding some dead sheep helped loads. Could it be she's uncomfortable in her back? it's always worth to check that out

 

[Jennyharvey]

If she has been trained as a western horse, it may be that she is getting confused with the aids. a well trained western horse will be very light to the aids, so make sure you arent accidently riding her too much forward. Or maybe she did a lot of work in canter before, and she needs taught how to trot better. We had an ex race horse many years back, fresh from the track. First time my sister rode him, all he did was canter. He just didnt know how to trot. But after a while, he figured it out.

Try lots of transition with her. Keeping her mind thinking 'slow'. I know its sometimes hard not to pull, but perhaps trotting on a circle might help. Keep the circle small so she doesnt find canter as easy, and lots of changing directions and keeping her thinking. I like this way better than using two reins to slow her so that she doesnt learn to pull on you. If she tries to canter off, use your inside rein to make the circle smaller, and then gradually make it bigger again when she is trotting nicely. It might just take time for her to understand better, and stay in the right gait for you.

 

[bryngelenponies]

Since she's western trained she probably isn't used to you posting on her, maybe she has not yet found her balance whilst you're doing this and is therefore going into canter. I'd just keep working on it until she has improved her balance- I'm sure others will be be able to give you more advice!

 

[Miss L Toe]

Go back to basics, with long reining or lunging, use voice aids and make sure you do transitions walk, two circuits both reins, then trot , then canter, then trot and walk. she will get the idea and then you can use voice aids when riding.