Maintaining the canter, and better transitions?

[Holly B]

Out hacking, Lisa's canter transitions are perfect, she instantly springs onto the leg I ask for, and she would canter forever if you let her (ignoring any attempts from me to slow her down, normally... :rolleyes: ). In the school however, she ignores my canter aids and I have to use my whip, then she goes back into trot after a few strides! I have to keep using my legs and whip as every time I reward her for staying in canter by stopping with my legs/whip she goes back to trot again, it's driving me up the wall! My instructor doesn't seem to think there's much wrong with my aids (though I sometimes feel that I don't have that much contact with her sides as she's only 14hh so my legs come down to the bottom of her stomach rather than in the middle of her sides) and she says my position is fantastic. I'm an experienced rider (11 years) but haven't done much schooling in an arena. I just don't understand what I'm doing wrong or why Lisa is being so lazy! I don't have a hope in hell of performing a test but I really want to compete next year... her cantering is just so terrible though! Her trot and walk can also get lazy in the school, occasional taps of the whip are required, but the canter... :eek: Please help me, I'm so frustrated! :(

[xxxkristinaxxx]

Sounds like schooling isnt her favourite thing.
To get her motivated maybe you could set up some trotting poles, canter poles. Maybe jumps?

Xena doesnt like schooling much but when you put a jump up she loves it :)

[coss]

as above.. sounds like she's schooling sour.

you need to get your leg so that it is in contact. my legs come right down my horses sides and i have to have them in contact to maintain a correct canter. they aren't pushing, they are passive but they are in contact.

how much seat do you use?

[Willingbe]

Does she goes back into the trot just before a corner? If so she's probably feeling unbalanced in the confines of the school.

Start by using longe work to ensure she understands that she needs to be forwards in the school. Then ask for your instructor to longe both of you. Then you should be able to ask for canter on a 20m circle on your own, practice that until she has more confidence, then when you feel she can maintain the canter take her down the long side. Don't try to ride the corners too deeply at first just make them like a quarter of the 20m circle. She'll improve provided she isn't overfaced.