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Post by maisie on Dec 13, 2005 0:12:13 GMT 1
:-[Can anyone give me advice please? I own an ex-trotter who I am attempting to school. We are doing plenty of transitions at trot but when I attempt canter I lose it. We hack out and he will canter for a good few strides in a straight line. this then breaks into trot again even though I keep my leg on. I think its me as at times we get some really comfy canters but it just falls away.
Any advice is more than welcome folks!
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Post by wendyihts on Dec 13, 2005 0:52:22 GMT 1
Hmm, my mother-in-law had a pure bred Trotter and tried to get her schooling "normally" ie including canter in the school and Enté just could not manage it that easily. Conformationally, she was typical trotter - long across the top, long legs and just bred to trot! Ironically, she came off the race course because she often broke trot to go into canter. Fine on the straight, but so difficult for her in the school. I do remember that they used to practise leg yielding up from the centre line to the outside corner and then ask for the canter as they hit the corner. Apparently, the idea is to get the inside hind stepping underneath the horse's body and then ask for the canter as the inside leg steps under as you hit the circle at the top of the school.
That said, if he can sometimes manage a comfy canter, it may just be that he needs to build up his physique and confidence. Can he do trot canter transitions on the lunge?
FWIW, I have a part-bred trotter now and she also finds canter difficult. She, too, has a long back and is built more for superb extended trot than a lovely round canter. So, don't beat yourself up.
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BuckSkinBabe
Elementary Poster
Resident Tack Store Employee, ask me anything, I just might have the answer.
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Post by BuckSkinBabe on Dec 13, 2005 3:49:18 GMT 1
Not much advice from me here, but I do own a Missouri Foxtrotter QH cross who does happen to pace. He perfers he trot too. He always wants to trot. Other than that I have nothing, but keep working on your horse for if it is simlar to mine you will see the most amazing transitions. When I ask my horse to canter from a trot he will usually take a couple canter strides before I will even realize that he has changed gaits. He is THAT smooth!
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Post by Yann on Dec 13, 2005 21:00:05 GMT 1
I had a thread about my horse and a similar problem a while back, I don't know if there's any option that to just keep trying, and do lots of cantering (on both legs if you can) out on hacks. I know it's not just me as she's just the same with her pals in the field, they'll all be cantering and there she is power trotting along with them. What is frustrating is that we often get bits of absolutely lovely canter work, but bits are usually all they are  It always amazes me when I get to ride horses that canter at the drop of a hat  |
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pip
Grand Prix Poster
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Post by pip on Dec 14, 2005 0:37:25 GMT 1
The leg yield exercise is good, also try walk to canter. It gives you more time to think about the aids. You want them up together and attentive, and going forward, so you could try some walk, trot, halt, trot, walk, halt, trot transitions and when he is really listening to you ask for walk to canter on a circle, also use "CANter" as a voice aid. Does he canter on the lunge?
Don't overdo it, the muscles have to build up, think quality not quantity.
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thelwell
Olympic Poster
WELSH PONYS RULE
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Post by thelwell on Dec 14, 2005 1:12:01 GMT 1
i will keep tabs peeled on this thred as i just brought a 5 year old that is a standerd bred trotter but has been semi broken for pacing but drives brill
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minky
Novice Poster
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Post by minky on Dec 14, 2005 9:45:04 GMT 1
I used to fitten pacers and now own a standardbred trotter , he has the most wonderfull canter....but I used to spend a lot of time practicing canter transitions then building it up.
Lateral work is really good as you tend to find trotters struggle to bend,especially if they have raced,so lots of leg yielding,shoulder in etc
The other big thing is to contain the trot,building up the impulsion so they literally ping into canter.I found this was best to practice out on a hack headng towards home so they are really looking to travel as they are more likely to maintain the canter.
Also try not to work too hard at it as this could be affecting matters.
If they fall away into to trot,re-balance,collect and only then ask for canter again....it will take a bit of time but it does come!
Good luck
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Post by muckshifter on Dec 21, 2005 22:10:31 GMT 1
Good luck, Maisie. My 20-year-old cob is half-pacer and always had problems with canter on circles although she would canter in a straight line. When ridden in company, she would just slip into a very fast trot whilst the other horse cantered to keep up with her.
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Post by marywelsh on Dec 23, 2005 22:59:51 GMT 1
i also find with trotters (pacers) no matter how much training they have had if they have raced, once they get excited they fall back into the trot, i actually like the trot, i don,t really do alot of schooling so really can,t offer any advice
we have another pacer on our yard and the owners have spent alot of money and time schooling their horse not to pace but also once excited you can see her falling into the trot
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It always amazes me when I get to ride horses that canter at the drop of a hat 
