canter...

[EventPony]

I've been working on getting maya to accept the bit. She has not been asked to collect and use those muscles in a long time, so were working on it..now i can get her to stay collected at the trot and walk about half way around the ring...but when i try it at teh canter, it totally stinks!! i try to "push her into the bridle", but if use too much leg(which isnt much for her) she really speeds up, and if i half halt, she breaks into the trot. I just cant find a happy in between. and when she starts to speed up, its soo hard to sit deep, and i ask her to slow down, and she breaks. its so frusterating. Could this just be because she hasnt done it in a while? and needs to build up to it? Do u have any tips? thanks!

[lamprellsarah]

by the sounds of it she is a little confused what you want and it is hard work for her.
it sounds like she is responsive and she is trying and not just being awkward!!! keep persisting try taking her out on a hack, schooling can be stressful so don't over do it.
cantering is the hardest thing for an unfit horse, it took me so long to get chancer fit enough to canter a corner!!! about 9 months!!
if this problem persist get her back and teeth checked in case she's in pain and this is why she is trying to avoid doing it!!

[lleeaannee]

I used to have a problem overdoing half halts on responsive horses. I was told the following by somebody.

Walk the horse actively.
At a point stop giving with the reins but continue to squeeze.
Just as you feel the horse is about to stop still give with the reins again.
The horse should become more collected.
You should have feel now for how much you need to squeeze the reins to get a response.
Try the same in trot - just as the horse feels like he's going to walk, give.
When you have the feel for this try in canter.

I tried this and it really works. You get a feel of how little you actually need to do!!

[Piaffe]

Have you tried lunging her using sidereins? Sometimes horses find it easier to work in an outline without a rider if they are not very fit! I know circle work is harder work for the horse, but without a rider it should make things easier and you can watch the way she goes much better from the ground.

Just an idea!

[lleeaannee]

Sidereins don't get the horse on the bit, just pull it into an outline. Side reins wouldn't help here because the horse would still be resisting and it would just mask the problem not fix it.

Better to start at the root of the problem?

[lamprellsarah]

i find side reins do help bring the horse onto the bit, as my mare is on the forehand i use sidereins to bring her up and off they aren't on tight but if i let her she would go along with her head on the floor!!!
after i have put them on her lunged her and take them off, and then i go off riding, i find she is lighter, nicer and will be more acceptive of the bit and move very nicely!!!
but they can mask problems i will agree with that!!!

[charlie]

side reins are used to keep a horse straight, let them come into an outline (as they should be suitably adjusted so as not to "pull their heads in) -they should be quite loose. I think sidereins are fine when used correctly, and could be of use in these circumstances.