Walk canter transitions!

[toohorsemad]

Ok it has taken me about a month to get it into my horses head don't break from canter every chance you get! Now he is starting to listen to me... sort of :rolleyes: Anyways I want to do some walk canter transitions with him as I think it will sharpen him up a bit! Only problem is he is lazy and I am not 100% of how to make him do a walk canter transition. I have done them before but that was about 2 years ago and I was on a flighty pony :o so all I did was kick... I know thats terrible! :o But I was the only one to get a good transition in my group lol! So any ideas? Do you think I should lunge teach him it? I have only used to the lunge once (it was a how to lunge lesson :rolleyes: ) so maybe I would be better doing it under saddle!

[toohorsemad]

Anyone?

[Bay Mare]

To be honest you'd be better learning it from your instructor as they will know your horse and whether or not they're ready for the walk-canter just yet.

Some horses find walk-canter easier (as do some riders ie me!). The 'secret' is to get a good walk before you even attempt the transition, apply the aids and see what happens. It may take a few times before he gets what you're asking for so don't expect it to happen straight away. By a good walk I don't mean a fast walk, it has to have impulsion but should also be contained.

It can be a good exercise if the horse is ready for it as it helps to get their weight back, what you don't want is them falling into the canter and pulling themselves along on their forehand.

[toohorsemad]

Ok thanks! I might get her to show me how to do it! To get a good walk out of my boy is A LOT of effort! So I think I'll leave it for now I got more urgent things to work on!

[horsemad]

With my lazy girl, I find it helps if I can try to get her a bit 'wound up' before I try a walk canter transition. So I do lots of combinations of walk/trot/halt transitions - eg just 3 or 4 strides of trot, then halt, then 3 strides of walk, then halt etc. I also need to have a good contact on the reins to 'keep her together'. And another thing I do (although this may not work for all horses!) is talk to her in an 'excited' tone of voice, to get her attention and let her know something different is going to happen.

Sometimes after doing all this, we can get a nice walk to canter transition. :) I am aware though that I have to 'do' a lot to get her to do this transition well. Yet it looks so effortless for some horses and riders :o

[toohorsemad]

I know! I feel your pain!!! But yet get those riders on our horses and we'll see how effortless it is for them! I am schooling my horse a lot lately. He is really coming on though I am getting loads of praise its great!