Teaching an older horse how to canter

[chickflick1066]

How would you go about starting canter from scratch with an older horse? What would you do and how?

Thanks :)

[Wally]

Sit on his back, let everyone else canter off in front - sit and apply the correct command!....hope for the best! :0 ;)

That's how I teach our lot, then refine it.

[eml]

I bought a driving pony last year as he could no longer work on hard surface due to sidebones ( only 7 very sad story) There was no canter at all but we abandoned all conventional methods in favour of letting him play gymkhana games so he fell into canter. He now understands aids and can canter properly but I think it is vital with an older horse that they actually realise that canter is fun.

[Wally]

....what eml siad! :D :D :D

Some Icelandics think pace is the be all and end all.

[chickflick1066]

Thanks...my madam doesn't know where to start - but neither do i:o

[KateWooten]

chickflick - tell us more about the problem ... is it that the horse has not been cantered under saddle ? He doesn't know the cue ? Or does he not canter at all -out in the paddock - is it a gaiting problem - he goes into a fast running walk and doesnt' see the need to canter ?

What happens when you work him without a rider - lunging, circling or round-penning ?

[Pink's lady]

Wally's method is oftet the easist and most fun way for a horse lot learn to canter. It's how brodie was taught, and he is a pacer, so finds it VERY difficult. But he even canters on command in the school now :D

Stumpy (assuming that's who you're talking about ;)) will find canter difficult because she's built quite down hill. so will end up running herself into the ground and having to break back to re-balance. Getting her fit and balanced in trot will really help with it.

After than practise is the key. Does she canter on the lunge, or loose schooled? If so, lots of canter pracitise, even if you have to chase her into to it. Once she finds it easier, you can start to refine.

Or what about hacking? You'll need a friend to go off in front, and just let her follow, whilst 'asking' at the right time. Make it as easy as possible for her (i. eno gripping, bouncing, pulling on her mouth) and make it fun - racing is great fun.

Teaching canter ridden in the school if she's being lazy anyways is very difficult. A good way is after a jump - it doesn't have to be big (;)) but if she lands in canter, keep pushing it.

You need to find a way that works for her, then just keep practising, making the length of time she canters of longer and longer, and applying the aids at the right moment.

[chickflick1066]

chickflick - tell us more about the problem ... is it that the horse has not been cantered under saddle ? He doesn't know the cue ? Or does he not canter at all -out in the paddock - is it a gaiting problem - he goes into a fast running walk and doesnt' see the need to canter ?

What happens when you work him without a rider - lunging, circling or round-penning ?

I've seen her galloping/cantering in the field so she's fine there. I don't really know how to give 'the cue' so there could be a degree of confusion there. I've tried cantering loose schooling and lunging at it just doesn't happen?

Stumpy (assuming that's who you're talking about ) will find canter difficult because she's built quite down hill. so will end up running herself into the ground and having to break back to re-balance. Getting her fit and balanced in trot will really help with it.
You're right about the downhill build/and constant on the forehandness and yes, she does just run her self wild in a rediculously fast trot that it all goes a bit pear shaped.

Or what about hacking? You'll need a friend to go off in front, and just let her follow, whilst 'asking' at the right time. Make it as easy as possible for her (i. eno gripping, bouncing, pulling on her mouth) and make it fun - racing is great fun.
Out hacking she's really good (when we get past the napping!), she'll canter for as long or short as we want. No problems there etc, and she'll happily gallop in races in the fields in summer - but i guess hacking in straightish lines is much easier then circling in a 18 x 33m dingy school.

I'll try everything you've all suggested - many thanks :)

[Happychik]

Chickflick i can sympathise with you.

I have a 9 year old i have just re-brocken and he is finding cater extramly difficult.

he canters in the field without too much trouble but in the school he just trots faster and faster then panicks and stops dead. That is both on the lunge and under saddle.

I am slightly hesitant to use the method of following another horse as it all sounds a bit scarey!!

i got three strides of canter (on the wrong leg!!) the other night on the lunge but it involved me chasing him like an idiot round the school with the whip.

I am begining to wonder if he has a back issue and may get the back man out to check him over.

let us know how you get on

xx

[hApPiNeSs]

i think i posted a while back on here about having exactly the same problem as you.

i dont think this is the conventional method, but out on a hack, i got my mum (who happy adores) to run ahead, whilst i kept happy still. obviously happy got quite worked up and wanted to catch up with her 'mummy', so as soon as i slackened the reins we were off down the track - on the forehand, wavering around, tripping - but still cantering ;) :D unlike Stumpy though, Happy is lazy and hardly ever canters out in the field, so i guess she just gets out of practice. :(

Dont try to canter in the school yet - she will find it too hard

When Happy got too trippy, or I felt she was literally heading headfirst into the ground, I just pulled up. Stopped for a while and let her catch her breath and start the process again.

I also found that Happy found it easier to go straight to canter from halt/walk - if i trot and then try to move up a gear she just can't.