how do you get canter to walk??!!

[sophie]

i can get walk to canter really well on the pony i ride but when it comes to canter down to walk i can't make make him go directly there! he always puts about 5 strides of trot in! i sit tall and lean back slightly, i play with the reins, i don't know what else to try!
please can anyone give me some tips?
sophie

[lesley cox]

Sophie,
don't be too disappointed that you aren't able to get canter to walk, this is quite an advanced movement and takes alot of practice and patience. Canter walk transitions aren't asked for until elementry dressage level, a few steps of trot is quite acceptable at your stage. Your horse needs to be really light in front, not leaning on you and very receptive to your aids. Try trot to walk and trot to halt transitions first, get your horse switched on and really listening, half halt before you ask, to just make sure hes listening and to make him aware of whats coming next, legs on and sit tall (as you have been doing). Its not really your fault it may be that your horse just doesn't understand what your asking. Good luck,

Regards

Lesley

[sophie]

thanks for your help
soph

[Wally]

Don't be hard on yourself or your horse. This is a difficult exercise. You need to have a light balanced horse. It sounds as though you are nearly there, Keep practicing. But please don't be too hard on the horse. It isn't easy to perform.

[olympicprincess]

Yes, take your time with this. Just to add to the other posts, sitting tall= sucking up all of his energy through your spine and out the top of your head. Sometimes descriptions like this work better for me. Remember that trotting in between is quite alright- he needs to build up to this.
Good Luck.