Help?! Transitions

Harlequin28 · 03-03-2004, 01:30 PM

My mare is a 10 year old QH/TB cross. She sometimes canters very nicely and when I ask her for a trot transition, she automatically thinks: "Ok, I'm done my work" and drops to the walk. What should I do? frown

EqUeStRiAn · 03-03-2004, 03:03 PM

I would try when you bring her down. Keep a firm leg on her. dont just bring her down with hands. use your seat and sit back but still try to keep impulsion. Sry i couldnt help much. its hard when you dont no the horse personally :S

babs · 03-03-2004, 03:06 PM

yeah you have to think 'fowards' into trott. Half halt before you ask, then when you ask make sure they trott fowards and don't let them collapse into it.

ridegrrl · 03-05-2004, 10:20 AM

Here's something to try:
Use as little rein cue as possible in your transition from canter to trot. Like was said above, keep your legs on her, and if you need to, use verbal cues (i.e. clucking) to keep her trotting. If she breaks down to walk without you asking for it, bump her firmly with your leg and make her canter again. Canter several strides, then ask for the transition to trot again. Keep her trotting for a ways before coming down to walk, too.

Harlequin28 · 03-05-2004, 05:30 PM

thanks everyone for your help... ill try it

hOrSeCrAzEeE120 · 03-06-2004, 01:25 PM

when you ask her to trot.. put a littleb it of leg pressure on her to keep her going!

Jumpers · 03-07-2004, 08:00 AM

A common fault I see is the rider pulling back on the reins for a downward transition. First I want to clarify something about transitions. All transitions are ridden upward and forward - no matter if it's from walk to canter or canter to halt. Riders have a "shut down" mentality when it comes to doward transitions. They want to stop the motion, the momentum, and the impulsion. This gives lazy horses the prime opportunity to drop to the walk or halt.

RIDE the horse into the transition. Don't stop riding because you want to go slower! Ride the horse forward to your hand. Never pull the hand backward toward the horse. Create a barrier with your fingers by closing them tight on the reins and riding the horse into that barrier. Your seat and leg should maintain impulsion, but in a more contained manner. You want the same impulsion, just in a different gait.

Don't release your seat or leg in the downward transition. Instead, decrease the intensity of the seat and leg. When the horse transitions to the trot, maintain forward momentum. Encourage him forward into a working trot with energy and purpose. Don't let him dog behind your leg.

Practicing tons of transitions is the only way to perfect them. At the same time, muscles are built from the continual contracting and releasing the transitions cause. Transitions within the gait are an excellent way to practice! Move from a collected walk to a working walk, and back again. Working trot to Medium trot, etc.

03-03-2004, 01:30 PM	#1
Harlequin28 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 19	Help?! Transitions My mare is a 10 year old QH/TB cross. She sometimes canters very nicely and when I ask her for a trot transition, she automatically thinks: "Ok, I'm done my work" and drops to the walk. What should I do? frown

03-03-2004, 03:03 PM	#2
EqUeStRiAn Senior Member+ Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: CALGARY, CANADA Posts: 3,866 Images: 130	I would try when you bring her down. Keep a firm leg on her. dont just bring her down with hands. use your seat and sit back but still try to keep impulsion. Sry i couldnt help much. its hard when you dont no the horse personally :S __________________ M YB E S T D A Y *~6 y/o Saddlebred Mare~* AkA: *"Daisy" http://community.webshots.com/user/MyBestDay*

03-05-2004, 10:20 AM	#4
ridegrrl Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 595 Images: 46	Here's something to try: Use as little rein cue as possible in your transition from canter to trot. Like was said above, keep your legs on her, and if you need to, use verbal cues (i.e. clucking) to keep her trotting. If she breaks down to walk without you asking for it, bump her firmly with your leg and make her canter again. Canter several strides, then ask for the transition to trot again. Keep her trotting for a ways before coming down to walk, too. __________________ RIDE hard or go home

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03-03-2004, 03:06 PM	#3
babs Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 960	yeah you have to think 'fowards' into trott. Half halt before you ask, then when you ask make sure they trott fowards and don't let them collapse into it.

03-05-2004, 05:30 PM	#5
Harlequin28 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 19	thanks everyone for your help... ill try it

03-06-2004, 01:25 PM	#6
hOrSeCrAzEeE120 Banned Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: PA Posts: 1,016	when you ask her to trot.. put a littleb it of leg pressure on her to keep her going!

03-07-2004, 08:00 AM	#7
Jumpers Banned Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 3,216	A common fault I see is the rider pulling back on the reins for a downward transition. First I want to clarify something about transitions. All transitions are ridden upward and forward - no matter if it's from walk to canter or canter to halt. Riders have a "shut down" mentality when it comes to doward transitions. They want to stop the motion, the momentum, and the impulsion. This gives lazy horses the prime opportunity to drop to the walk or halt. RIDE the horse into the transition. Don't stop riding because you want to go slower! Ride the horse forward to your hand. Never pull the hand backward toward the horse. Create a barrier with your fingers by closing them tight on the reins and riding the horse into that barrier. Your seat and leg should maintain impulsion, but in a more contained manner. You want the same impulsion, just in a different gait. Don't release your seat or leg in the downward transition. Instead, decrease the intensity of the seat and leg. When the horse transitions to the trot, maintain forward momentum. Encourage him forward into a working trot with energy and purpose. Don't let him dog behind your leg. Practicing tons of transitions is the only way to perfect them. At the same time, muscles are built from the continual contracting and releasing the transitions cause. Transitions within the gait are an excellent way to practice! Move from a collected walk to a working walk, and back again. Working trot to Medium trot, etc.