Canter to trot transitions

[Chantal]

I have problems going from canter to trot. All my other transitions are okay, and trotting and cantering are okay, but I always seem to bounce around a lot when going from canter to trot, and the horse always seem to end up with a few disorganised strides in between the two. I go straight into rising trot to try and minimise the bounce, sit taller in the saddle and squeeze the reins. So any advice about aids and bounce reduction in this transition would be much appreciated! Thanks.

[Piaffe]

Is your horse young and a little unbalanced? Have you practiced downward transitions in a straight line - i.e. out on a hack?

If your legs and back are too tense, you will bounce around as you slow to trot - keep practicing trot to walk - this will get you used to the 'sitting' as you are slowing. Try to relax your lower leg, also try downward transitions without stirrups - it really helps.

Not sure if this is what you're after!!

[Tina J]

If you can find somewhere with a really good schoolmaster, invest in a couple of half hour lunge lessons. When someone else is in control of pace, then you can concentrate just on you. A good instructor will help you learn to do the downward transition just with your seat (no reins or stirrups and you use your seat to tell the horse to make the transition). Its worth doing, even if you own your own horse, as any parnership can get in a habit of doing things badly and its worth the extra expense of a private lunge lesson to break out of the rut.

Good luck.

[floppy]

i dont have a probelm with canter to trot transitions until i ride my share horse. The problem with her is she is young, and still abit unbalanced and hilarious. She is getting better but beofre she always use to go into a really fast choppy trot which meant that when you asked her to slow down you had to raisse your seat otherwise you would just bounce all over the place. But this is getting smoother! and she does go from canter into a much slower trot now....thank god...

[Chantal]

Thanks for the replies everyone! I don't have my own horse, and I haven't tried this out on a hack yet - I'm having weekly private lessons on school horses. I have tried this on the lunge without reins and always do okay, so perhaps doing it on my own with reins is one too many things to think about for me! Having read your replies and examined my technique with these in mind, I think I tense my legs when going from trot to canter, so I know what to work on! Thanks!

[qwerty]

I used to have the same problem on most horses (especially Shiron). After cantering, most horses go into a very fast trot which causes all the bouncing. Slow them down a little with half halts and use rising trot to steady yourself. If (like Shiron) the half halts don't slow them down try slowing your body trot (when you rise) down.

Hope it helps!

[myEllie]

It helps to get you balanced, if you sit a few strides before beginning to post.

[floppy]

nto all horses are difficult to do canter trot tranistions..and the ones that are that end up in a choppy trot you have to practice your transitions more for both youa nd your horse that you learn to sit to its trot and the hrose learns to slow down.

it is right that you should sit to the trot a bit before beginning to post..but i can tell you from my experience with the 'little lady' i ride it was easier said than done...but she is learning...and now its another part we have just about overcome with her training.

[qwerty]

Sittitg to a choppy trot throws me off balance! I sit before and after a "normal" trot!