Is it just the heat??

Question

I got this horse right be fore Summer started i rode him a while for like once a week fore 2 month and the previous owner (And he is a trainer at my barn) said that he warmed up to me nicely so we got him

but any before the heat he would us ally canter right when i asked now when i ask he trotrs around alot before he canters

is it just the heat? or is it something else

if it's not the heat any tips?

other than that problem he's a great ride and does what i ask so if any one could help

Answer 1

It would actually help if you would go back and read your question, make sense out of it,then ask for a suggestion.  I'm not trying to be tacky, but you are making no sense whatsoever.

Answer 2

When you ask for the canter be sure your horse is trotting nicely, calm, and listening to your aids. If your horse is not going nicely and responding well to your aids you will not get a good canter departure. Work on your walk trot transitions to get him responding well to your leg. The heat might be making him sluggish, but he needs to be alert for his ride time. Try changing up your routine and making things more interesting for him. The big thing, though, is getting your horse alert and listening to you before cantering. I also suggest lots of bending exercises to get your horse listening and in a better frame.

ADD: The problem most likely lies in your riding. At a recent clinic I went to, my clinician (Bill Fields) told me that when asking for the canter you should pretty much position your legs and BARELY squeeze at all. I was having problems with canter transitions and he said that giving a big cue for the canter can actually cause a horrible departure (lots of trot steps before finally giving it or head coming up upon asking.) So make sure you are not asking too much, just a subtle movement and very light squeeze. Before you ask have your horse nice and collected and alert to your aids. Do some figure eights, circles, bending exercises to get him responding well and listening and then start asking for the canter.

Answer 3

it could be a back problem;;

if you run ur hands down his back and put alot of pressure

and then if he slopes then he has a back problem and needs

to get checked outt;;

if so then u might need a chirapraterr.

Answer 4

First thing would be to check your saddle fit. It is definitely not the heat unless it is over 100 degrees farenheit, in which case I would say it is unsafe to ride anyhow. Are you taking consistent lessons with a certified instructor? They will be able to help you, since they can see things from the ground you may be unintentionally doing, like position and form problems that may need tweaking. Also, be sure you understand the correct timing to ask for a canter, and the correct way to ask a horse for the canter (not just sitting and squeezing and letting them run into it.) A horse who understands a clear ask for the canter should be able to go from halt to canter in one step. Also, you said his reluctance to canter was mainly when you warmed up? Make sure you are giving him plenty of time to warm up, (at least 5 minutes of walk, and 5 minutes of trot, the more the better!) and keep him on circles and bends to loosen up his body. He could be stiff in the beginnings of rides, (how old is he?) and may benefit from joint supplements like glucosamine.  

Answer 5

I think you just need to learn some skills at the walk and trot before you canter again.  If you don't do any lateral work with him, I suggest you look for books or videos that will teach you about how to do leg yields, two tracking, and shoulder in/out exercises....all called lateral work.  If you ride english, the two track is called the half pass...once you teach these, then you will work on collection, which should be explained in the book or video you buy.  The way you enter the canter has everything to do with how well it goes.  To answer your question, no, I don't think it's the heat....yes, he doesn't want to run like he would in cool weather, but the problem is really one of training him for it.

ADD....horselover is right.....if the horse is cued at the proper time, and with collection, an exaggerated cue is not only not necessary, but will interfere with the transition.