[SkeeterGirl]

I'm slowly teaching my horse how to canter, since i got him when he was not fully trained at the canter. i want to show in a canter class by the end of april, so i need some help with him! (this is hunt seat btw)
>>I'm having trouble collecting him, i squeeze to move him into the bridle, and see saw my hands to make him put his head down. i realize it takes more time for a horse to feel better about putting his head down at the canter, but it's been quite a while....help?!
>>somedays he goes WAY to fast and when i try to slow him down(pull back, squeeze a little, pull back, squeeze less, and so on) but he's lazy and he just stops, this is a problem also because he will stop on his front legs(working on that) but it's hard for me to stay on lol! i put him back into it right away, but it dusn't seem to work, and he'll get lazy and not pick it up right away.

Any tips are appreciated! THANX!

[Stephanie W.]

saw my hands to make him put his head down

Never see-saw! It makes them even harder to get their head down. What you can to do is use alot of inside leg to "push" him into your outside hand. It will all come together over time. One thing i learnt about starting young horses is always keep your leg on. Even if he is going way faster then you want him to keep your leg on! You do this so when you ask him to slow down he does not break and also if you have no leg on he's just running through your hand and as my instructor says "out the front door." Its best to start training canter on a circle so that he cn not go to fast and he starts to learn how to bend.

[SkeeterGirl]

ok thx! i'll try that next time i ride!

[Shotgun93]

Steph is right - don't see saw. What she said about collection is what I would have said. When I am teaching a horse to collect, I tighten the reins with a steady pressure and press down on the reins, actually placing my hands on the withers and pushing for the first few times.
How is the collection at the trot? If you don't have collection at the trot, then you for sure won't have it at the canter.
For the speed issues, when your horse speeds up, let him, and make him keep the canter, don't let him stop until he comes back to a nice calm canter. He's gotten the idea that if he speeds up, you slow him down and he gets to stop. So, don't let him. It won't take long for him to realize that if he just stays at the pace that you want that he will get to stop a lot faster and won't work as hard.

[Super_Trooper]

I sponge my reins and drive my horse VERY forward without getting "fast" for collection. Do it first at the walk, then trot WAY before even trying canter.

[SkeeterGirl]

Shotgun: the collection and the walk, trot and jog are great! he's perfect at those, i've tried a few things and i even changed the bit he was working in(to a less harsh one too actually) and he's felt great! thanx guys!

[SassyAngel]

Here are some helpful exercises to get collection at the canter (I've trained quite a few HUS horses): first work on just lateral flexion while at the lope. After you've gotten lateral flexion at the lope, try vertical flexion while in the lope. Then, try square corners at the lope. Then, make sure you can lope even circles without his ribcage and shoulder poppin' out and without his shoulder droppin' in. Then, kick his hip in while lopin' in a circle, then try it while in a straight line (hint: kickin' the hip in is what slows a horse down, but be careful to make sure you horse knows all the previous steps mentioned above). Counter Canter!! Tons of counter canter builds muscles and helps the horse to drive deeper. Also, make sure he's ready for this! Another technique is to spin the horse or pivot the horse in the direction you wish to lope off. For instance, if you're goin' to lope to the right, do a right turn around and ask the horse to lope off right away, don't let him walk forward, it has to be instant... this is something else that will kick the inside leg deeper. Make sure the horse is always soft. All these techniques help to build the horse's muscle in order for him to maintain a slower more collected lope... hope you have much success!

[trotplease]

You need to keep in mind the fact that it takes considerable muscular development to even start collection! The horse first needs to find his balance at canter with a rider, so he can start to develop his topline and use his hind end which will eventually lead you down the path to collection.

Remember too, that although you may be on a timeline and have goals in mind, your horse has no awareness of this. Your progress (especially in the show arena) should be based on your horse's development, not your desires.

[SkeeterGirl]

Thanx everyone for the help. Skeeter is starting to get the hang of it now. I had to change the bit from a pretty harsh one to a snaffle the other day, and well he loves it and he performs really well in it! so with a new bit, he's been feeling great at the canter. We've just been working on the same thing, slowly building up his confidence, and we've started to do circles, he's really starting to listen to my leg commands at the canter as well. he even puts his head down and in the right position with a squeeze from my legs. thanx for all your suggestions!

[indiekisses985]

If you do have to woah then keep a leg. That might infer to just slow down a bit. Bare in mind that he's new at this and anything new can take a really long time. Also, to get his head lower, wiggle your fingers. I never thought it worked but then I tried it on pal and his head was low and relaxed.