Can't Do Trot-Canter Transition

[epcd3000]

Hey! .. I've been taking riding lessons for about 7 months now, and a few weeks ago my instructor allowed me to try going from trot to canter... Unfortunately after 2 1/2 lessons I still can't get it. I go into a sitting trot, and awkwardly attempt to bring my outside leg back behind the girth, however the horses I've ridden just go into super trot. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I've been told that I tense up, but I don't know what else to do.. I'm also not quite sure what to do when I get into a canter.. Will I just be bouncing around aimlessly?

[IrisSilverMoon]

I posted on your thread in the cafe area...:)

[virtuallyhorses]

You're probably giving your rein(s) away and tensing up.

Try putting your leg back a little before you go into sitting trot - it should be anyway since asking for canter on a corner is easiest for beginners. So then just give a couple of 'brushes' with your lower leg, this is just a trick to cue the horse 'hey, we're about to canter'.

If you're not sure what you're doing with your reins, pop your outside hand on the pommel and let it sit there (this is a crude sort of half-halt but it gives you something to do with that important outside hand) then sit, lean back a little and ask for canter with your inside leg (we won't worry about seat or weight aids just yet, but its sort of a little flick with your seat)

If you still can't get it, pop your horse into canter from walk. I used to do this for ages when my sitting trot was rubbish and that caused me grief in the canter transitions - but from walk its a doddle.

[ajhainey]

I'm no expert but here's the practical tips I've picked up over the last 4 weeks while I've been learning to canter. Your aids sound correct to me, take an active rising trot, approaching a corner take 2-4 strides of sitting trot, move your outside leg back, give a small leg nudge to warn the horse a transition is coming up and as you take the last step into the corner use strong leg (both of them or only one of them depending on the horse - ask your instructor) to ask for a canter.

If its not working then firstly your instructor should be putting you on a horse that transitions easily - check they have! But that aside it really is just a case of relaxing and only trying for the canter in a corner. If what you get is a super speedy trot (oh have I been there!) then slow the horse down in the straight, go back to a steady rising trot and try again 'clean' when you have you balance and comfort back in the next corner. Otherwise you and the horse get tensed up and tetchy and just scramble around the arena bouncing all over the shop at ultraspeed sitting trot until your instructor calls it quits!

Once you get canter sit 'back' into the saddle (don't lean back but sit firmly and slightly more backwards weighted than normal - it will make you feel safer for your first few attempts) and just go with the flow(don't lean on the reins if you need extra support grab the pommel or some mane instead!) - its MUCH less bouncy than sitting trot btw - should feel great once you actually get going. As long as I'm not on a crazy horse its my favourite gait - its so smooth and speedy!

Good luck!


Aj x

[NuttyMare]

Make sure you are in a good balanced trot before your ask your horse to canter. It is best to ask for canter in a corner, so that your horse will understand that it should strike off on the leg that is on the inside of the corner.

Go into sitting trot a few paces before you give the aids to canter. Sit up, keep the contact with your horse's mouth. With your inside leg on the girth and your outside leg slightly behind it, squeeze the horse's sides. It will feel like a little hop as your horse 'strikes off' into canter.

As your pony starts to canter, try to keep your bottom in the saddle. This is difficult at first, but it is easier if you relax a little. Your back should stay straight and your hips should move with the rocking movement of the canter. Let your hands follow the movement of your horse's head and neck. If you don't your horse will think it has to go back into trot.

To go from canter to trot, make sure that your canter is steady and balanced before you ask your horse for a transition. When you want to go into trot, stop squeezing with your legs, keep your hips still and sit up. Take a firmer hold on the reins until your horse moves into trot.

Hope this helps! :)

[Tootsie4U]

Before you even ask for canter you should be setting your horse up for it. That requires you to do certain things with the reins and the position of your seat in the saddle. You probably haven't been taught this yet and your instructor just wants you to get used to the feel of canter first.

When you set them up properly before giving the command to canter they will be less likely to rush into it and be better balanced. Give it time, You will get there~

[epcd3000]

You guys are so cool! :D I love all the advice I've been getting, and I'll definately try it this Saturday. I'm looking so much more forward to it now since I'll have several different techniques to test out!!!

[NoviceNic]

I found it difficult to get into canter to start as my seat was not deep enough. Before you canter try sitting trot without stirrups just so you can deepen your seat. Also you may be leaning forward as though to push the horse into canter. This will just confuse the horse and he will speed trot. Keep trying though some things take longer than a couple of lessons to get into the swing of. Enjoy canter it is fantastic.:D

[virtuallyhorses]

That's definitely a problem NoviceNic, that's why I'd avoid the 'go into sitting trot a few strides before' scenario if your trot is the problem - instead, do the prep in rising trot and then ask as soon as you sit otherwise the whole trot phase can be a self-defeating nightmare ;)