canter woes

[BackintheSaddle]

Had another horrid lesson trying to get Cal into the canter on the left rein. There must not have been much going on today, becuase EVERYONE in the barn turned out to watch my struggle. It turns out that the secret is being so mad that I don't have enough brain space left to think about being safe or feeling comfortable. If he hadn't picked up and maintained the canter on my last try, I think I would have strangled him with the reins. Once he picked it up nicely, I did a zillion trot/canter/trot/canter transistions so that we were going back to trot when I said, not whenever he felt like it. Still, even in these transitions, I really felt like I was bullying him into the canter (lots of stick). I've never ridden such a lazy horse, and I'm not used to being so aggressive. Oh well, at least we finally got it. He has a lovely round canter when I get him going, and I feel very secure once we have it. Its only during the trot canter transition that I feel out of balance. I'm embarassed to say that the best transition we had, I had both reins in my outside hand so that I smack him more effectively with the crop. SO not my style. I keep telling myself that this is building character, but I'm not sure I'm actually learning anything except how to spank a horse. Grrrrrr

[jumpinintherai]

I've had this same problem with Lolly, then someone came in and watched us canter [once we picked it up] and it turns out SHE feels unbalanced at the canter which makes her unwilling to pick it up. Try lunging at the canter to the left as often as you can and especially before rides. If he is feeling unbalanced this should help.

[wanabe]

Don't be discouraged! It's not only building character, it's building horsemanship. I've come to realize that it doesn't take much to ride a willing, well-trained horse but being a *real* rider is all about being able to make the lazy, or not-well-trained, or frightened horse do what you want it to do. :)

[BackintheSaddle]

I have just learned that in his former life, Cal was a vaulting horse. He is used to doing large canter circles, but only on the lunge! This may be why it takes SO much energy to get him going - he's always had someone on the ground driving him while in canter. Perhaps as he gets more time being a riding horse (a relatively new career for him, really) he will be more responsive in canter. I am now determined to learn to ride his canter transitions well. I can already tell that riding him has really helped my seat, because I'm an active participant, not just a passive passenger. We will continue to learn about each other, and I think eventaully we'll make quite a nice pair. He's such a cuddle-bum, I can't stay frustrated with him for long.

[momofsix]

Sounds like my weekend.
I had a lesson on Friday with Sauvy and she wouldn't pick up her left lead canter again. Sauvy canters lovely on the reight reign, but has gotten into the habit of always leading right, probably due to her pin in her back leg she got into that habit years ago. My trainer had me try different things but not going over a pole, which is how I usually get her to do it.
She finally picked it up correctly, but then kicked out and really rattled me. Then my trainer said "Again" and I was shaking :eek: but finally managed to get it right once. Glad I am not the only one!

[BackintheSaddle]

Good job sticking with it. Cal can be SO frustrating, but the one positive is that I know that once he DOES pick up the canter, it is so smooth that I'll be able to sort myself out if I've gotten out of balance. It doesn't matter at all if I have stirrups since he is very wide. Much like riding a sofa. He really is a good boy at heart, just a lazy beastie.

[Naturally]

Just make sure your leg is not in the way of the horses ribs when you are asking for the change. He needs to bend uninhibited by the rider and many riders unwittingly get in the way and think the horse is causing all the problems.

Instead of cropping your horse, try leaning back, to smack him on the rump, with your inside hand. It will help to put you in the right position to allow him to make the transition and removes the drama over overcropping, for you and your horse.

Hope that helps.