Trot-Canter transition nightmare continues

[epcd3000]

A couple months ago I posted about some of the transition issues I've been having with Boomer. I try to cue for a canter on a corner, and he just goes into super trot mode. That was back in September. It's now New Years Eve and I've still been having so many of those frustrating attempts to get my transition down pat.

Here's what I do:
As I go into the corner, I slow Boomer down as much as I can in a trot (Which is still quite fast) And start sitting trot.. As I'm doing that, I hold back on the reins, bring my outside leg back and squeeze simultaneously with my inside leg at the girth. I try sitting up and everything along those lines my instructor told me to do and still nothing.

One of my main issues as well is that Boomer either goes over or under the bit; rarely on. He'll try pulling down on the bit so much that my arms almost get ripped out of there sockets (Bad analogy, I know.) Or he'll fling his head up super high and hollow out his back. I have to keep fidgeting with my reins to keep it at a respectful contact length, which makes this whole process even more difficult.

I don't know what to do. Am I just really unbalancing him? He's and older guy, and used to be a lesson horse for most of his life. I don't think he is totally to blame.. The majority of the problem must be from me... Please help; I'm beginning to feel discouraged because it's been going on for so long, and I feel as though I haven't progressed one bit!

[KarinUS]

I am struggeling with something similar right now. For over a year we weren't allowed to canter, so whenever my horse offered canter I had to hold him back.
At the same time we were working on impulsion at the trot.
Now that we are supposed to be cantering I try to shift gears but often he only gives me a bigger faster trot.
What seems to help a lot though is if I use my voice. I know eventually he needs to listen to aids but after confusing him so much I think it's only fair I make it as easy for him to understand as possible.
I get the best results if I work him a little bit at the lunge line first. Walk, trot, canter, trot, walk, etc. by voice commands.
When I get on after a short lunge session I usually have an easy time getting him into canter and not in a super fast trot.

I know this is a little bit cheating but I need to relearn the whole canter thing so I can't afford to already lose my balance by being bounced around in sonic trot before I even get into canter...

[kelsey]

Have you tried using your inside seat bone when asking for canter? Also, don't hold the reins too tightly, the canter is similar to walk in that there is more movement of the horse's head and neck than in the trot. He needs the freedom to initiate and maintain the canter.

[Scarlett 001]

I have been struggling with this and am finally getting a decent trot to canter transition. For me the main problem was ensuring I was giving the horse the ability to stretch out her neck for that first canter stride and releasing the reins more than I had been doing. I had been holding on to tight and not letting her do her thing. She wanted to canter but I was holding back too much and I was not letting her get herself going.

When the horse starts a racing trot my instructor makes me slow her down right away and begin again - I guess he does not want bad habits to be developed.

[kelsey]

Another thing - it is easier for the horse to do the transition from trot to caner if his hind end is engaged, as the first canter stride comes from the inside hind. Make sure that you are doing a lot of bending work at the trot first and using your seat and legs (rather than your hands) to control him. Don't even attempt the canter until you have a nice, engaged but forward trot.

If you are having problems letting the reins get longer (in case you are using them to balance yourself) put a bucking strap across the front of your saddle. (They are one of my very favorite things!)

[G.Gracious]

I also have a problem with trot-canter transitions! It may be because Gracie is only 4, but she thinks she needs half a mile to get into canter!! She'll go into this really fast trot for at least 15 metres and then she'll break into a canter. Her canter's lovely once she gets it, but i wasowndering, is this just because she's still young or is it something that i could fix easily? Thanks :)

[my chunky chap]

I used to have the same problem with Seamus. We would eventually get a nice trot going and and i would then ask for canter in a coner, which of course he didn't do, he just seemed to get faster. We would just keep on going round the school, after going round three times he would eventually get the message that i wanted him to canter and that is what he would do. I got him better at the canter transition just by riding him more and practising, he actually found it easier to canter on the straight so i did that and worked from there to getting him going in the corner.

[epcd3000]

Originally posted by my chunky chap
I used to have the same problem with Seamus. We would eventually get a nice trot going and and i would then ask for canter in a coner, which of course he didn't do, he just seemed to get faster. We would just keep on going round the school, after going round three times he would eventually get the message that i wanted him to canter and that is what he would do. I got him better at the canter transition just by riding him more and practising, he actually found it easier to canter on the straight so i did that and worked from there to getting him going in the corner.

That same thing happened to me almost exactly! I would have to go around several times before he could get into a canter! I think it's more of me not being able to balance him though, than Boomer not 'getting the message'. He's a retired lesson horse and really does know the ropes well.

[sheena]

Originally posted by G.Gracious
I also have a problem with trot-canter transitions! It may be because Gracie is only 4, but she thinks she needs half a mile to get into canter!! She'll go into this really fast trot for at least 15 metres and then she'll break into a canter. Her canter's lovely once she gets it, but i wasowndering, is this just because she's still young or is it something that i could fix easily? Thanks :)

That is indeed because she is a young horse. She hasn't yet learnt how to balance herself suffiecntly to 'pop' into the canter. Running into canter is very common in babies, there's no 'quick fix' as it's a long term problem that as she improves her balance and co-ordination will improve.

Have you tried cantering her out on a hack? She may find the transition to canter from trot easier on a straight line as she will not need to balance herself around the corners in a school.

[G.Gracious]

Yes, i thought it was just because she's still young. She's fine out on a hack! She'll go into canter as soon as i ask. I'll just keep working with her, i'm sure she'll be fine :) Thanks!!

[Scarlett 001]

Originally posted by epcd3000
Here's what I do:
As I go into the corner, I slow Boomer down as much as I can in a trot (Which is still quite fast) And start sitting trot.. As I'm doing that, I hold back on the reins, bring my outside leg back and

Wait, I missed this exact quote the first time I read your thread (although my first reply covered this rein thing). By holding back on the reins, do you mean you release the reins? The wording sounds as if you might be holding tighter but I doubt this, so it might just be me and the way I am reading your sentence ... :confused:

[TamaraC]

Don't forget to half halt on your outside rein! This will stop your horse from moving off your leg (as mine always does instead of cantering!!!) and stop that mad trot because they won't be able to go forward in it. You're not alone..I have issues with that transition too.
make sure you have all the cues:
half halt outside rein
weight on outside hip
outside leg behind the girth
inside leg on the girth
pressure with both legs

good luck.

[Harry Hobbes]

epcd3000,

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Best regards,
Harry

[kyanya]

Make sure you do allow with the reins. I shortern my reins a little when I am getting ready for a canter, so I can control the pace and this also gets the horse thinking about what he will be asked to do. Make sure you have the same contact with the mouth as at the other gaits, one which allows you to feel the horses mouth, but not enough to block the movement, as a transition is all about moving forward, and creating furhter movement, so the rein needs to allow for this by maintaining a balanced but non-restricting contact wiht the mouth

[Horsesarelife]

G.Gracious, I think this probbably is because she is young, when I first got Cappy on loan he had been left in a field for about a year and before that when he was broken in he was brokento drive so cantering wasnt on the agender. So when you asked for canter he didn't have the fogiest. He is now 2 years on and has improved grately, no he can even manage a jump. (We tought him how to jump):D