Horse jogs a couple of steps before canter!?

Question

How can I get my horse from taking a couple of steps at the jog before getting into the canter. I stop him as soon as he starts it and try again but it never fails. I do stop him immediatley too! I have even tried getting him to back up afterwards and nothing seems to be working. I have tried going in at an angle, pulling his head towards the rail and everything else people have advised me to do. He does it everytime when he is on his left lead (not his best) and only sometimes when he is on the right lead. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

What's so wrong about jogging a couple of steps? Take your time getting into the canter. His jogging helps him figure out where his feet are and get onto the right lead. Also, you haven't mentioned what you are transitioning from... a halt or a walk? Make sure you're giving him enough outside rein, and give a gentle tug on the inside rein. It may help to transition into the canter coming into a corner, too.

He may just need help on his balance, and that can be done with some longe work.

Answer 2

First and foremost, keep your body straight, riding a balanced seat, as well as keeping your horses body straight and square. Don't try any of the contortions that you have been told to do, it does nothing for the horse but draw attention from the judge that your horse doesn't do his transitions well. Do some work prior to your next show on refreshing your aids, especially your leg aids...make sure that your horse is positive what you want when you attempt to push his hind end over...let's say that you are getting ready to take your left lead on the rail.  Keep your horse straight and square,  maintain the same support on both sides, don't lean down, look straight through his ears to where you are going.  Take your right leg, you can move it a little behind the girth and push his hind end over to the left, keeping the rest of his body straight...at that PRECISE moment, (lift him) pick up on his face and then release him into the left lead, no trot, no dribbling in or out of the canter.  He needs to be somewhat more collected, mentally and physically so that he is alert and listening to what you want and wanting to do it.  It is just as each to put your horse into a beautiful canter, whether it be from a stand still, a walk, a trot, etc...actually, it easiest from a stand still.  Gather him up with your reins, push in over and ask for your canter...all in about the time it took me to type this last sentence...timing is everything...because if you have pushed his hind end over to the left, the next stride he has to take is his left lead...so that is when you ask for it, immediately...work on this before the show, do some reverses off the rail, this will perk him up and get his mental and physical attention and make the whole thing easier for you and him...remember, be consistent and expect him to do it...good luck.

Answer 3

take your boy back to long lines and a surcingle, if you are proficient at long lining, you can better teach your horse to lift into his lope. While lining in a circle keeping your horse balanced and rounded tip his nose into the circle and with your lunge whip in your right hand (horses going to the left circle) pop your whip and make the kissing noise at the same time asking for the lope. If he does not lift off right away, stop, back and retry. I might take a few times but if you have good hands and are keeping your horse nice and balanced he should pop right off into the lope without any trotting. practice this method for a few days for 20 to 30 minutes a session........both directions. then go back to riding, copy the same procedure you did on the ground, especially the kissing noise and you should be fine. Good Luck