Canter Transition

Horsebrat20 · 01-10-2004, 08:19 AM

How do i improve my canter transition? Do i just keep her on her toes and do walk trot canter, trot, canter, ect? Or should i try the approach where i ask for the canter, and if i don't get it within 2 strides to ask for the walk and then try again? Is there any other ways to improve it? ANy advice would be appreciated. Thanks wink

Blistering Winds · 01-10-2004, 08:23 AM

Like smooth out going from trot to canter? Or lead changes?

Time is a big factor. Transition from trot to canter, walk to canter, canter to walk, to trot, etc.

Just building them up muscle wise and them knowing mentally what you are asking and make sure you aren't confusing them...pulling back while asking for forward momentum.

Dawn · 01-10-2004, 08:26 AM

What exact kind of transitions are you wanting? Is this horse green or completely broke? How good of shape is she in?

Isabel · 01-10-2004, 08:46 AM

Your horse must first learn to respond to light aids. Then you should use many transitions, like the one you mentioned.
These transitions should be done in a circle, to teach the horse to be balanced in the same time.

spyro1 · 01-10-2004, 09:01 AM

I would try the approach you mentioned above on getting her to canter first from the walk. If this doesn't happen within a few strides, stop her, back her, adn ask again. When seh does canter, reward her greatly by patting her neck adn talking to her, but don't let her stop until you ask her to

Make sure that your cue is consistent and the same one given each time. I use outside leg, outside rein and the *kiss*. Sit deep in your seat and urge her forward. She needs to know your cues for each gait before you can expect clean transitions.

Horsebrat20 · 01-10-2004, 11:52 AM

She is in great shape. Well compared to what she was before anyway. SHe has very defined muscle and her neck is getting more powerful and she is framing up better. She's green 5 years old. When i ask her to canter, she trots wicked fast for 3 or 4 strides then goes into a nice slow canter. I'm just wondering how to get rid of those trots before she canters. I've tryed asking from a walk and pulling her down when i don't get the canter, but it doesn't work too well. After about 4 trys she doesn't even speed up to want to canter she just trots then walks. I didn't want to do that too long afraid that she might get confused what canter means. Thanks for the info.

<small>[ January 10, 2004, 11:52 AM: Message edited by: Horsebrat20 ]</small>

Dawn · 01-10-2004, 01:35 PM

Well, now that you've let her run into it, it's going to be harder to break. Start by asking her from a walk. Make sure that she's nice and light in the front and has her hindquarters well underneath her. Ask for the canter, if she trots, bring her to a halt.

space_cowboy · 01-10-2004, 02:12 PM

Do what dawn said but be firm and use a dressage whip to tap behind your leg so she knows you mean it. Are you sure she is really balanced? How big of an area do you have to canter?? A horse can be in good shape and not be balanced. My horse used to do that when I first started working him. But he doesn't anymore unless he thinks he can't pick up his lead right away.

space_cowboy · 01-10-2004, 02:14 PM

P.S. I also use cluck to trot kiss to canter when I am training. Some people are against this, but I always start my horses on a longe line and teach them cluck to trot and kiss to canter - that way later on when I am training them in the saddle I can use that to teach them leg aids. Just something you might try........

Horsebrat20 · 01-10-2004, 02:29 PM

Well Dawn, how do you teach a younger horse to canter? They don't know what you mean unless you let them run into it. I don't have a dressage whip, only a crop. My arena is about 50 by 100 feet. Last time i tryed to ask for the canter then stop if she trots, she got so she didn't even want to canter after a while she would just do a slow jog then i'de walk, then i'de ask again and she would do a slow jog for one stride then i'de ask her to walk. I didn't think it was teaching her much. I also use the kiss sound and outside leg. She knows her leads but i'm wondesring if maybe she has to think about it to get the right lead so it takes a couple strides at a trot? I don't know. I'm assuming she should be doing smooth transitions by now. When i first got her i would kiss to have her canter, adn she would jump forward like she was expecting to be smacked if she didn't go fast enough. SO i'm a little reluctant to smack her with the crop or whip to get her to canter. THanks

01-10-2004, 08:19 AM	#1
Horsebrat20 Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: RI Posts: 1,631 Images: 43	Canter Transition How do i improve my canter transition? Do i just keep her on her toes and do walk trot canter, trot, canter, ect? Or should i try the approach where i ask for the canter, and if i don't get it within 2 strides to ask for the walk and then try again? Is there any other ways to improve it? ANy advice would be appreciated. Thanks wink __________________ "The biggest enemy to the partnership of dressage is impatience and the human nature to dominate other creatures." Walter Zettl

01-10-2004, 08:23 AM	#2
Blistering Winds Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Augusta, Kansas Posts: 32,425 Images: 864 Blog Entries: 18	Like smooth out going from trot to canter? Or lead changes? Time is a big factor. Transition from trot to canter, walk to canter, canter to walk, to trot, etc. Just building them up muscle wise and them knowing mentally what you are asking and make sure you aren't confusing them...pulling back while asking for forward momentum. __________________ Can I have a midlife crisis now?

01-10-2004, 08:26 AM	#3
Dawn Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 37,203 Images: 1580	What exact kind of transitions are you wanting? Is this horse green or completely broke? How good of shape is she in? __________________ Sexy by Christmas Challenge-r!! Goal: 11 lbs LOST CURRENT: 4 lbs LOST Starting Weight 170 lbs. Goal Weight 155 lbs. Reached! 20 pound club 2009 Starting Weight 152 lbs. Goal Weight 140 lbs. Reached!

01-10-2004, 09:01 AM	#5
spyro1 Senior Member+ Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: The Swamp~Go Gators Posts: 6,932 Images: 65 Blog Entries: 21	I would try the approach you mentioned above on getting her to canter first from the walk. If this doesn't happen within a few strides, stop her, back her, adn ask again. When seh does canter, reward her greatly by patting her neck adn talking to her, but don't let her stop until you ask her toMake sure that your cue is consistent and the same one given each time. I use outside leg, outside rein and the kiss. Sit deep in your seat and urge her forward. She needs to know your cues for each gait before you can expect clean transitions. __________________ Do what you love, love what you do

01-10-2004, 11:52 AM	#6
Horsebrat20 Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: RI Posts: 1,631 Images: 43	She is in great shape. Well compared to what she was before anyway. SHe has very defined muscle and her neck is getting more powerful and she is framing up better. She's green 5 years old. When i ask her to canter, she trots wicked fast for 3 or 4 strides then goes into a nice slow canter. I'm just wondering how to get rid of those trots before she canters. I've tryed asking from a walk and pulling her down when i don't get the canter, but it doesn't work too well. After about 4 trys she doesn't even speed up to want to canter she just trots then walks. I didn't want to do that too long afraid that she might get confused what canter means. Thanks for the info. <small>[ January 10, 2004, 11:52 AM: Message edited by: Horsebrat20 ]</small> __________________ "The biggest enemy to the partnership of dressage is impatience and the human nature to dominate other creatures." Walter Zettl

01-10-2004, 08:46 AM	#4
Isabel Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 9	Your horse must first learn to respond to light aids. Then you should use many transitions, like the one you mentioned. These transitions should be done in a circle, to teach the horse to be balanced in the same time.

01-10-2004, 01:35 PM	#7
Dawn Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 37,203 Images: 1580	Well, now that you've let her run into it, it's going to be harder to break. Start by asking her from a walk. Make sure that she's nice and light in the front and has her hindquarters well underneath her. Ask for the canter, if she trots, bring her to a halt. __________________ Sexy by Christmas Challenge-r!! Goal: 11 lbs LOST CURRENT: 4 lbs LOST Starting Weight 170 lbs. Goal Weight 155 lbs. Reached! 20 pound club 2009 Starting Weight 152 lbs. Goal Weight 140 lbs. Reached!

01-10-2004, 02:12 PM	#8
space_cowboy Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: St. Louis Posts: 897	Do what dawn said but be firm and use a dressage whip to tap behind your leg so she knows you mean it. Are you sure she is really balanced? How big of an area do you have to canter?? A horse can be in good shape and not be balanced. My horse used to do that when I first started working him. But he doesn't anymore unless he thinks he can't pick up his lead right away.

01-10-2004, 02:14 PM	#9
space_cowboy Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: St. Louis Posts: 897	P.S. I also use cluck to trot kiss to canter when I am training. Some people are against this, but I always start my horses on a longe line and teach them cluck to trot and kiss to canter - that way later on when I am training them in the saddle I can use that to teach them leg aids. Just something you might try........

01-10-2004, 02:29 PM	#10
Horsebrat20 Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: RI Posts: 1,631 Images: 43	Well Dawn, how do you teach a younger horse to canter? They don't know what you mean unless you let them run into it. I don't have a dressage whip, only a crop. My arena is about 50 by 100 feet. Last time i tryed to ask for the canter then stop if she trots, she got so she didn't even want to canter after a while she would just do a slow jog then i'de walk, then i'de ask again and she would do a slow jog for one stride then i'de ask her to walk. I didn't think it was teaching her much. I also use the kiss sound and outside leg. She knows her leads but i'm wondesring if maybe she has to think about it to get the right lead so it takes a couple strides at a trot? I don't know. I'm assuming she should be doing smooth transitions by now. When i first got her i would kiss to have her canter, adn she would jump forward like she was expecting to be smacked if she didn't go fast enough. SO i'm a little reluctant to smack her with the crop or whip to get her to canter. THanks __________________ "The biggest enemy to the partnership of dressage is impatience and the human nature to dominate other creatures." Walter Zettl

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