The Canter

[toohorsemad]

I know everyones going to think Oh My God how basic but Im having a tad bit of a problem with my horse Vic and his canter... ya see hes a bit of a chancer when it come to breakin into trot and I tend to tense up when Im in canter and start "pumping my body" anyways I was wondering how (a) I can stop myself panicing that we dont have enough implusion and (b) how do I get a really good show jumping canter and (c) how do I get him going in the speed rounds... Hes not a bad horse or anything... Im just so used to him breaking into trot and I cant just relax and keep him in a nice slow but very collected canter! :( Help

[toohorsemad]

Anyone?

[Joyscarer]

I'm just wondering if it would be possible for you to try on another horse to get your confidence back again and stop you tensing up. I say this because htis is exactly what I am doing at the mo to make me better able to get the best from my own horse :)

[toohorsemad]

By the way I jump about 90 cms so its kind of important I get my canter sorted out soon

[toohorsemad]

Joyscarer Im now helping out in the stables... its not really a question of confidence going fast... its more the show jumping because me and Vic take on anything outside on cross crountry just in show jumping especially inside he tends to break a lot more in trot

[toohorsemad]

Bump

[PennyPony]

Is it just when jumps are involved? How bout having a flatwork session where you work on transitions (both up and downwards). That should help getting him to listen to you. Also taking the jumping out of the equation for a few sessions might help you relax and learn how to get him going forwards. Transistion work will get him listen to your aids more which should help with your jumping.

Hope that makes sense

[Cool Rider]

You should get someone to lunge you while you practise your position in canter so you can practise on you and the other person can steer and make sure your horse keeps going.

[dilaika]

make sure that you are using a decent amount of BOTH hand and leg...it always seems counter-intuitive b/c you don't want to use a lot of leg on a fast horse or a lot of rein on a slow horse...but no matter the speed of the horse, to get impulsion you need to use a balanced amount of both. If he consitantly breaks to the trot, make sure that you are using enough reins to collect him (with many horses, if you just use your leg they will get too long and/or unbalanced and so will break). Try experimenting with different amounts of both.

About not pumping - I wish that I knew a great answer to that (I tend to do it, particularly at the transition). Some things that have helped me try to improve it are to visualize a string running through your body and out the top of your head pulling you up (sounds weird, I know, but an RI told me that and it helps)

something else that I would try would be to do a lot of cantering (including upward and downward transitions) in a full 2-point. That way you can't use your seat to push at him, have to use your weight, legs, and hands to balance him and ask for the pace.

[RobaDob]

Honey used to do this, until i bought a pair of spurs to keep her going, as she always used to break into a trot, whilst we were doing a lovely smooth canter.

Have you tried using spurs?

[toohorsemad]

Mia-Cavalla: No when my old instructor suggested them my leg position was not strong enough but now its much better... I am doing pony camp tomorrow and I will ask my new instructor there is my leg position strong enough? Also one question about spurs... do they make the horse immune to the leg without spurs?

Dilaika: I will work on this... Thanks for the advice

PennyPony: Yes its mainly when were show jumping... I can do anything with him cross country and flatwork is a little bit iffy but not terrible! And our transitions our very good actually normally when hes not in a very lazy or tired mood... For example I can get him to go from walk and halt to canter! ;) Its just get the implusion in the canter for showjumping! :(

To everyone thanks for all the advice ;)