Getting into the canter?

Question

The pony I lease is a generally lazy pony. However, getting her into canter is more work than it should be. Like, a lot more. I have taken a lap to even get her into it. She also has some problems with leads, though she is getting better, now it is mostly her left lead that she doesn't like to pick up. What I usually do is get her into a nice, foreward trot. Then once I get to a corner, I sit, move outside leg back a bit, then squeeze with my legs. However, this never works! Eventually I resort to kicking, which she ignores for a while and then finally breaks into a canter. I also carry a crop. This she is weird about. Sometimes she's great with and others she completely ignores it. I'm almost 100% sure it isn't medical or anything like that. I know it must be me, which is why I'm asking you guys!

Also-

She has front shoes

She is a 10 (I think) year old mare

She's in a tom thumb (she's going wonderfully in it and she needs the leverage factor)

She is a halflinger

Thanks!

Answer 1

It probably isn't you.  Some horses are lazy and are difficult to get into the canter.  Other than resorting to the crop (properly applied),  I don't know how much more you can do besides continuing to work on it.

Answer 2

when was the last time you changed her shoes? sometimes their shoes will bother them because they aren't put on the right way or either they r coming off.

Answer 3

Have you had anyone else get on her and try to get her to canter.  I have seen some ponies just ignore their riders when asking for a canter.  There was one at the farm I used to work at he would just ignore his girl.  She was not even small or weak she would be kicking him and he would just ignore her.  I would get on or some other adult or old teen and he would be a gem.  He just did not listen to her.  It took other people forcing him to canter then her getting back on and she had to be aggressive.  She used a crop and had to really smack him hard when he would not listen to her.  Because so many times she had given up he learned that if he ignored her long enough she was going to just get off.  Halflingers are sort of drafty ponies so I am sure you need a lot of leg on her.  I might invest in a pair of spurs.  I would just go with a short pair no longer then a 1/4 inch.

Answer 4

You should have a trainer help you, some horse's just do that because they're super lazy. Have a trainer school the horse you're leasing, or at least canter on her. Also, if it's really that bad, just be a little aggressive with her, because your horse is thinking she can get away with it. Ask your trainer about getting spurs, and try hitting the crop harder next time.

Answer 5

Ponys are notoriously lazy. Use your crop ALOT, is all i can say. My pony is lazy, too. When I bought him, it took me a month to re-teach him his leads. But after a while the pony will get used to your commands, and will get better.

Some horses have things about their leads. My pony doesn't like his left lead.

Make sure you are sitting straight in your saddle, and giving the right commands to your horse. Nudge, nudge doesn't work, kick. Kick doesn't work, crop. Crop deosn't work, crop again. Don't be afraid to use your voice. Yelling at your horse to canter has suprising results.

Instead of giving him rein, move your hands further forward on her neck.

Eventually your pony will get better at understanding your commands and respecting you.

Answer 6

Have you tried spurs?  That way you won't have to "kick" her, but  you can give a more precise signal.  Have you tried carrying the crop behind your outside heel to give an extra emphasis to your signal?  

How does she act at other gaits?  Will she pivot on her front legs?  I would have her move forward at the walk, ask her to halt on the rail, then use my outside leg to ask her to pivot, keeping her nose near the rail.  That would teach her to listen to your outside leg more.  Speaking of the walk, does she move forward nicely, or is she lazy?  

I used to ride Saddlebreds, and we would ask them to canter from a standstill. You have them move at an energetic walk, stop, nudge them off the rail with the outside leg, then squeeze with the outside leg.  

I think the key is to make sure she's paying attention before your ask for canter, and not daydreaming, looking at scenery, etc.  Maybe even doing serpentine, figure eights, etc would make her pay attention instead of going on "auto pilot"

Good luck!

Answer 7

dont give her the rein, or she'll just trot fast. try sticking her butt to the inside of the ring and shift your weight to the outside, then ask for it. as for the wrong lead, try circling first at the trot and as you are exiting the circle ask for the canter.  You may also want to try spurs. i hope i helped

Answer 8

i definitely dont think its medical, if her back was hurting her she would be difficult on both leads and would probably buck a lot once she was in canter. best thing to do is the same as what you have been doing, but sit really deep in your saddle and drive her forwards, also make sure she is bending to the left in order for her to pick up her left lead, and raise your left rein a little, giving it a squeeze as you do so. make sure your body is also bending to the left with hers, and if she ignores you give her a really short sharp flick on her flank to shock her a bit. however if she doesnt start cantering in the corner, dont keep pushing her, just wait until your next corner and try again. also if she just starts trotting faster and faster, dont keep pushing her, slow her down and start again, horses cant break into a canter if they are trotting too fast because they cant get their balance. also when she does eventually canter, praise her and dont keep her cantering for too long, otherwise she will think that everytime you ask her to canter, she will have to continue canter for a long time, which will make her even more reluctant to canter, and when you ask her to come back to a trot, give her plenty of praise.

also consider doing some stretch work with her, as the reason she is not picking up her left lead could be because she is stiff down that side, so some stretches every day before you get on may help her.