The day has come, the big 'C" word!

[Tootsie4U]

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Yeah! We actually tried it! A few months ago, I never thought I'd see the day. :D:D:D

But, he didnt get it. :confused:

Well, sort of. To his credit, I got one hop into it after three tries and then after six tries, he gave me two and a half strides of canter and then freaked out. (insecure about this new gait with mom aboard)

Tried some more, probably shouldnt have, but all I got was a rocket fast trot. My back is aching from all that bouncing, and I suspect his is too. *blush*

It was fun though and I wasn't worried that he'd tank off with me or buck. I think we've got that "relationship" I've always wanted!

But anyway, some qwirks that have come up along the way that dont bother me too much because in comparision to before, these are nothing.

At trot, his head is all over the place. He used to be head high, but now on the contrary, he's trotting along with his head bent to his knees. Im actually not asking for any head set and just letting him do his thing. When he does drop his head though, I push him forward into the bit. He'll stay there for about five strides and then its head-to-the-knees all over again. What is he asking me-what is he saying?

Also, any thoughts about helping him understand canter a little better. As usual, he is having a hard time transferring ground work to mounted work. He responds immediately on the ground. Someone suggested having a helper push him along on the ground, but I want this to be low stress for him. I dont think he'd appreciate someone chasing him with a whip. I want it to be a pleasant experience.

Again, none of this has me upset. Im on cloud nine despite these little ordeals. :D

What do you think?

[Echo64]

Since you worked him on the ground, I assume you used some sort of voice commands. You might try talking to him when you want your horse to canter: just like you would on the ground. It may or may not help, it's just a thought I had. Congrats on the canter though - isn't it a blast?!

[galadriel]

Congrats on your first canter!

There's the whole progression (which can be done one at a time, or several steps in several sessions):
* canter on lunge;
* add rider and canter on lunge;
* add rider's canter cues, lunging person also cues for canter;
* on lunge, rider cues for canter WITHOUT lunging person doing anything;
* take away lunge line but leaving lunging person;
* finally, work in "lunge circle" but without lunging person; if he can get it then, you can then try it elsewhere and work on convincing him that it's the same idea everywhere.

It's worked for me in teaching horse a couple of things that horse wasn't getting under saddle. It unfortunately takes two people, so you can't do it solo--but I find that breaking it up into itty bitty bitty steps really helps.

[Tootsie4U]

Hi Echo, thanks for your suggestions.

Maybe I should fill you in as to how I asked in the first place. :p

First, I went into my 2 point and gave the voice commands

Second, I went into my 2 point and did the voice commands with the leg aids. This is what worked.

Also, sat the trot gave voice commands and flopped on his side with my leg (poor boy).

Im sure he was just confused about the whole thing. As always, Im sure practice will make perfect.

[galadriel]

Oh, and as for his head--
I think that horses who duck back are confused about what's expected of them; you put pressure on the bit, so you must want them to pull their heads back, right? And as it's harder to actually do it *right* than to just duck back behind the bit, they'll spend most of their time there unless you can spend every stride maintaining a *push push push* as hard as you can.

If you can get him to stick his nose out in front of the vertical when he can't stay on the bit, it'll be better. Ducking back, I think, is worse than going around with head in the air.

[Tootsie4U]

Hey Gal, thanks for that.

I'll give it a try. But, thought maybe having a go at it on the straight aways would be easier for his balance etc.

Also, Im riding him on a loose rein with light contact just as I did before. The only variable thats changed is when my friend rode him in that outline for over an hour. Now he's pulling this new head set. I agree, I'd rather have him head high than like this.

[Esther.D]

Congratulations!

[Tootsie4U]

Thank you, I really am quite proud :D

[Mehitabel]

what a clever chap!

i'm having a proud granny/mummy moment today as well - i trotted petal's youngest under saddle for 2 circuits of the school in both directions today! :D only the fourth time she's been sat on and she as a poppet.

we trotted for the first time on wednesday - she didn't get it then either. we kind of jogged, then flopped, then stopped dead, and then kind of heaved into a waddly trot for about 4 strides. today though, she got it much easier. sure bon will as well once he is sure that's what you want.

[Tootsie4U]

Oh Es, I've missed you! But glad to see you're keeping busy with the little ones. Congrats to you too :)

[galadriel]

Originally posted by Tootsie4U
I'll give it a try. But, thought maybe having a go at it on the straight aways would be easier for his balance etc.

Probably, but if he is having a hard time getting the idea, it may work to go into a situation where he *knows* the command and can interpret it, rather than not really understanding and jolting the both of you in a fast trot. You have to trust your instincts :) and decide which is going to end up actually teaching him the idea.

Teaching him to canter, you're just going to be going a few strides, right? He won't have to do too much circling then, especially if it's a large circle. (In fact, sometimes lunging I'll run with the horse down the long side, then half circle across the short side, then run along the long side--it's a thought. Just make sure that the pattern stays the same through every step.)

Also, Im riding him on a loose rein with light contact just as I did before. The only variable thats changed is when my friend rode him in that outline for over an hour. Now he's pulling this new head set. I agree, I'd rather have him head high than like this.

Oh, dear, oh dear, poor Bonny Boy. Sounds like he did indeed get a little confused about just what you're looking for.

I think it's probably very important to stop this now before it becomes a real habit. If you can work out some way to correct him gently any time he does it, that might help. I think I've mentioned that with Kat I found that raising my hands straight up brought her out of the overflex. (She briefly was trying to overbend when I started working her with contact; she wanted to give too much.) If you can get his head back up immediately when he overbends, and combine that with some sort of "no" sound so that he figures out he's not supposed to, you may be able to get him to cut it right out.

[H & Bailey]

the way i have taught Bailey and am teaching rose to canter are...
starting on the lunge and getting them into canter and saying 'canter,canter,etc' and giving lots of praise. and now when ridden giving the correct aids for canter and saying canter to them out loud so they understand that what i am doing with my legs etc means canter.At first it was all abit rushed and they just trot faster...bailey was a gypsy pony and can trot forever and it seems rose does the same.It did help going out with someone else and getting them to canter steady in front and the youngster tends to copy so you can say canter and they seem to pick up fairly quickly what is meant.
Im still working on collection and transitions but i am sure that will come!
as galadriel has said it will be easier to go on a straight as balance and co-ordination is difficult till they get used to carrying someone.I tend to ride figure of 8's with rose and get her to canter across the diagonal and trot round the curved bits.Or ask for canter turning out a corner canter up the sides then collect for the corner again.

[Tootsie4U]

Thank you you two. Thanks Gal, you put alot of thought into that for me. I appreciate it. :)

Makes good sense!