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Horse Behavior and Training

having a hard time teaching my horses how to canter!!!

Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed

I have had this mare for alomat 2 year now. we have came along ways when i first got her she would not even walk with u. we are just doing thing slow and on her time we had to start for the very very start. we have been working on her canter for 6 months now are so and im still having a hard time. getting her in to the canter and to keep cantering when asked to. she has no problem doing it when she want to in the field when i let them play in the area or in the round pin. but wheni ask her to do it, it a hole new story.. and when i do get it for her it really hard to keep her moving. I use a lot of leg power with her and i keep a loose rain not play with her face at all i dont want to stop he and any way.. but im running out of idea SO IF ANYONE HAS ANY IDEA PLEASE LET ME KNOW THANK U!!!!!

Dennis
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed

What bit are you using? If you can't collect your horse you cannot communicate your intentions. Keeping a leg on the horse is great, but don't keep the same pressure when your horse does what you are asking. Pressure and contact are two different things. Watch Walter won't go forward. It may give you some help. Good luck and keep going!

Rudi - Pratteln, Switzerland
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed

The "kissing" noise could help as a cue (used only for canter). You can train it in the roundpen and then use it in the saddle.

bbarner4628
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed

I can collect her. She listen good to me. We can do left telephone at a walk or trot. It just something about the canter. It like she has trouble finding out were she should put her feet..

Dennis
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed

You might wan to have your farrier or vet look at the mares feet. It is sounding like maybe the is a problem with the impact produced at a canter. One other thing that might be worth looking at is having another rider or trainer get on her and see if she refuses to canter with them. Horses can be very peculiar about certain actions For example your mare my be refusing to canter because she can. If her health is good then have someone else ride her. Also watch Walter won't go forward and the use of a giddy-up rope
Best of luck

Horse addict (From the good old USA)
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed

Some horses are trained to respond to the verbal cue, "canter".

Kicki -- Sweden
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed

I'm with Dennis about being careful with the leg power.
Try asking more with your seat than your legs. Ride as if she was cantering already.

Is she in balance? Are you? She will have a difficult time striking up a canter if you are shifting her balance too much - or if she has a problem keeping her own balance for whatever reason.
You can try starting the canter by going over a small fence or pole.
Does she understand the aids? Has she been properly taught that your leg aid means canter?
Can you get her to canter on the loungeline? If so, you can start there and let someone lounge you; sync your aids with the canter command from the person holding the line until your horse connects the two.
.
PS/ What do you mean with "We can do left telephone"? I have no idea what that means.

bbarner4628
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed

Sorry about the left telephone!! My phone was being stupid. It was should of said leg yells. She is very good with my set leg and body aids I can just about ride he with my set only I don't ever play with her face. We didwhen I'm done with her training I want to be able to ride her 100% with my body. I think she has balance problem at the canter. It think that a lot of are problem I always make she she is balance at the trot before I ask her to canter. But when we canter she feel like she is just throwing he self around but then I try to get her balance and she brake back to a trot. I was just trying to let her figure it out her self do what natural for her but she can't figure it out. Thank u guys for all ur help!!

Kicki -- Sweden
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed

Thanks for the clarification. Your phone is stupid in a funny way! *LOL*
Hmm....
If she acts that way, then maybe you should have a physio/chiropractor/vet check her back or hips, and also double check the saddle?
Unless I can see her perform, I am out of ideas.
.
Maybe if you try bounces? Putting 3-4 poles on the ground at one leap apart and canter her over them. They don't have to be raised much - just make sure they match her stride and are evenly positioned. Start with just two and build up to four and then raise them to about a foot. It builds balance, muscle, rythm and gives roundness to the canter

bbarner4628
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed

I'm having them chiropractic on Monday. I'm hoping that will help so so much make sure her body is all in place.
And I have been think about the ground poles. It will help her figure out how to place her feet. But I have to wait for the weather to get nice so I can do it at home. Thank u so much for the idea. And the chiropractic I hope help a lot ...

julie m.
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed

Also, I would suggest you make a video of your ride. You may be able to spot something that way that you haven't from the saddle--a hesitation in her gait before she slows that may indicate pain, an off-balance move from you that you don't know you're making that throws her off--anything like that. And make sure her saddle isn't getting in the way of her shoulder movement. If it hurts, she may shut down on you. Good luck!

bbarner4628
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed

thank for the video idea!! I need to do that i want to see the way she move and make sure it not me that missing her up!!! and we just had to get a new saddle she out grow her old one.. and with the new saddle there is alot of improvement... so that is a big start!!! thank u

bbarner4628
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed

will i got her chiropractic yesterday.. her lift hip was out her right shoulder and some rids on both side. so I really think that will help with the problem i was having with her.. i cant wait to ride and see how she dose!! ones again thank u all for ur help!!!

robyn
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Just a thought...dont try and prevent her from breaking down from canter to trot. Correct the mistake after it happens. Tryin to prevent the mistake will only lead to her saying "ok i am cantering and that doesnt make you happy trot doesnt make you happy... what do you want" Love on her when she is cantering, make it as comfortable for her as you can for a while til it sinks in.

bbarner4628
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed

i love on her for ever good thing she dose i never get mad at her for anything!! she had a very hard mean life before i got her. and we have came so far it is amazing and this is about the only thing we are still working on!! im so proud of her and how far we have came she is my baby girl!! and in my mind she can do nothing wrong!!! none of my 2 horses can ever when they act it it just cute and fun and game in there mind. and it never anything big they do bad just little thing. i love them so much and i love them even more when there doing everthng right!!!