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Horse Behavior and Training

keeping my horse in canter

Hello!

my 4year old standard bred (which is a trotting breed ,so its understandable)is really hard to get into canter and even harder keeping him there !!!
any tips would be much appreciated

MaggieF, Melbourne - Australia
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed

Please remember he is only 4 years old and cantering with a rider is hard for all young horses to learn as they need to adjust their balance. Cantering in straight lines tends to be easier for them than circles. I would be asking her to do a lot of trot and canter transistions and initially keep the canter sessions short i.e. ask her to trot early so that you are in charge of the downward transition then slowly try to lengthen the time he is in canter. Standard breds are bred for trotting so some do find it hard to canter and are often disjointed when they do. You may also spend time getting him used to the commands from the ground while you are long lining him or lunging him. If he is responsive to the commands while you are on the ground he is more likely to respond to them when you are riding him.