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  Discussion on Running into canter
Author Message
Member:
kiwi1

Posted on Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - 10:12 am:

Any suggestions to help me get my 5 year old green broke horse to properly transition into the canter? He tends to run into it which I do not want to encourage. Then when he does pick up the canter, it is often on the wrong lead. Should I just focus on picking up the canter correctly rather than the proper lead? Any tips?
Member:
dtranch

Posted on Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - 10:56 am:

Sandy ..
How many days do you have on this horse. For a young green horse, I don't worry much about leads or proper transitions, and running into the canter is not unusual. Your horse has to learn how to canter and balance with someone on his back. It is usually rough and rowdy until he figures out how to carry himself. I would not discourage his "running into it" immediately as we don't want to discourage forward movement, and we really don't want to get into his mouth so that he thinks cantering causes his mouth problems.

In my opinion, I just try to be patient and when you think your horse is getting more comfortable with the canter, then I would start speed rating and transition work. I will usually let him start the canter, then steer into a large circle. As your horse starts to settle in, gradually work on getting the circles smaller. Eventually, your horse will slow into a nice lope, then stop and reward. If you work on this regularly, your horse will begin to take up the canter much smoother on the straight. The other advantage of the circles is that it encourages the proper lead for balance.

This may take a few weeks, but your goal is to get your horse as soft and supple as possible .. lots of flexes and lots of circles and figure 8's. Once you have your horse cantering nicely, then you can start working on picking up the leads.

One last thing, don't overwork your horse on these drills. Work for 10 minutes or so, then rest and work on something else. Then go back to the canter exercises for another 10 minutes. End your workouts with some flexes and relaxing.

Good luck and let us know how you are doing ... and welcome to HA.

DT
Member:
kiwi1

Posted on Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - 11:15 am:

Thanks for the advice! He was broke on the trails as a 3 and 4 year old and has never had formal ring training until now. Would lounging help? Or the use of a stick behind the legs if he does not respond to my leg aids? I don't want to get him excited about canter work and cause future problems.
Member:
dres

Posted on Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - 11:19 am:

I agree with DT on the canter.. strength has to be built up slowly.. I had a mare that was not naturally balanced at the canter.. in fact all i got was a hand gallop .. i stayed out of her face and let her get the feel of me on top while moving out.. slowly we have come to gallop circles about 30 meters round.. and slowly still again we can canter a 20 meter circle but can't hold it long.., She is getting stronger daily .. Transitions with in the gait is a strengthening exercise and should be used as well.. After time you can start riding a 20 meter circle at the trot getting balance then ask for a canter for a circle, when the horse starts loosing balance bring them back to a balanced trot..
Always put a horse away refreshed not exhausted..

have fun..

On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots..
Member:
muffi

Posted on Thursday, May 31, 2007 - 10:46 am:

I am by no means a trainer or a old sage horse owner - I have had only three horses in the past 4 years (still have two of them) and can only speak from that experience but here goes. My big guy I got when he was 5 - sounds just like your horse Sandy. He was trail broke and green at that. I was boarding him at a place where all we had was an arena with jumps in the middle. the arena was not very large by arena standards - about 100 * 50 or so. I could not get him to maintain a Canter or even a trot well around the corners - as dennis said he was not sure of his balance on short corners at speed and would veer off and do crazy things from time to time cause he would get frustrated. Circles did help him. We only were there about 3 months then moved to our home wtih out an arena and long strait trails. What I did was to work on the walk trot canter transitions with him. He really liked to buck in to the canter or gallop. we got thru that with persistance and patience. we both learned a lot. I used HA and read magazines & books. take all the advice you can get and use what works for you and your horse. Every one's view of what is happening and needed for any particular horse is skewed by their personal experience, their individual horse, their envireonment (Arena large small or none) all that. But remember these guys on this post have tons of experience. and i would try their suggestions first (I always have and often with good results) so yea - be patient, find what provides good results for your each time what feels good. and really pay attention to what Ann said. Put your horse away refreshed and happy not tired and frustrated. You too !!! Happy riding. BTW - My guys after 2 years of strait trail work just glides in to a trot / canter / gallop on the trail or in my neighbors arena. I fall in love with him all over every day !!!!
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