Won't trot wants to canter. Help!

Question

My pony when i try to make him trot he runs and then canters. How do i get him to trot normally?

Answer 1

ah...he is doing what is called prancing.i used to ride a pony who did this and basically he is in pain in more ways than one and is not willing to go forward nor slow down.i know you said he trys to canter from the trot but that doesnt mean he wants to go forward he is just trying to escape the pain.have the vet come out and check for anything INCLUDING the way his tack fits and that means saddle bridle and bit.if there is nothing wrong or what was wrong is fixed and he continues to do this DO NOT use spurs or a crop to tell him no because this would just be punnishing him for what ur doing wrong.to fix this will take a tremendous feel on your part so first and foremost you must relax your whole body and especially seat so u are able to feel what he is about to do before he does it.on the pony i rode who used to do this i would start out at a VERY forward walk on a long rein for the first 3 minutes and then pick up a trot in two point  and when he cantered id just give a very breif squeeze of rein and let him settle a bit then when he did i'd post and keep my seat relaxed and when i could feel him about to canter id squeeze the rein and ask him to go on the bit with leg also helping and getting him in a frame really helped.

best of luck-remember patients lol

AA =]]

Answer 2

My first inclination is that something about trotting makes him uncomfortable.  It may be the saddle fit, your riding style, or an injury you're not aware of.  Your first step needs to be having him evaluated by a professional to see if he is in any pain.



If he really is breaking into a canter then running because he wants to, chances are he's taking the opportunity to push the limits of what you'll allow him to do.  When you ask him to trot, make sure to keep light pressure on the reins so he knows he's being asked to speed up but not go as fast as he can.

Answer 3

maybe because the way you ride hurts his back, if his head is held to high the spine becomes sway, so instead troting he tries so run away into the canter.

or maybe he just has alot of energy?

Answer 4

Its impossible for any of us to know if the pony is in pain since none of us is actually in a position to examine the animal.

Is anyone else available to ride him? Let someone else ride him and see how they do having him trot.

My first inclination is that actually its the way you ride. You may be asking him too loudly and your timing may be off. That is, you put pressure (squeezing or kicking) to make him go from a walk to a trot. When he starts going faster, are you taking the pressure off soon enough? You may be communicating to the pony that you want him to keep going faster by continuing to apply pressure when you should let off. Or he may be very responsive. I have some horses that I really have to get after to get them moving, and others that are super responsive. The ones that are super responsive would go right into a canter if I rode them the same way I rode the other horses. I had to learn to give them super light cues. My half-Arabian, for example, I just barely tap him in a walk to have him start trotting. Maybe your pony is like him. Try giving him very light cues.

To slow him down try bumping your reins. I have a quarter horse who often takes off faster than I want him to in my mind. And I have to say its probably because I am not giving him the proper cues. To slow him down, I bump back once with the reins. Then give him a second to think about what I asked. I don't pull back on the reins, just bump and release. If he doesn't do what I ask then bump again, but he usually gets it pretty quickly and slows down to a trot.

The idea its tack or something like that doesn't sound plausible to me. The tack would still be bothering him when he is cantering. A communication problem between you and your pony is the likely first answer. Please try letting someone else ride him and see how they do with trotting.

If you can't solve it then try having a vet check him out.

David

http://gentlenaturalhorseman.blogspot.co...

Answer 5

What kind of bit do you use? Do you need to make it stronger? Your horse could be in pain. I would call the vet and have him examine your horse. Do you accidenly hit him with the crop or kick him?  

Answer 6

just keep slowing him down. when he starts to canter half halt him until he trots. keep your leg on when hes trotting so he doesnt go down to the walk, but like play with the reins (like just little tugs alternating right then left, its sorta hard to explain) just so he knows that your there and he'll listen better. it just gives you a hold on his mouth and he'll be less likely to just take off cantering. the main thing is when he starts cantering, bring him back to a trot and dont let him walk instead. good luck!

Answer 7

Okay well in me experiences this is form lack of respect, and control.  There is two approaches i have tried that have worked on multiple horses. You should try them in order.

1. Teah him the one rein stop. To do this start at the standstill. When he is stoped, rest the reins on his neck. Lets say you want to flex him to the left. Slide your left hand down the reins, and pull them towards your hip. When you see slack in the rein then release the pressure and tell him good boy. At first he may try to walk of turn, just keep the pressure the same and only release when he is stopped and gives to pressure. The do the same on the other side. And then when he does that perfectly the do it at the trot and canter.  Do this hundreds and hundres of times on both sides. That way when he wants to canter let him, and then do the one rein stop untill he stops, and give to the pressure. This way he learns not to go faster than you want.

A harsher bit is not the anwser. Going to a harsher bit is trying to fix the problem with more pressure, and that is unneccisary. the milder the better, there is no reason a hrose cannot work in a snaffle, it just need more time and training.

if you decide to try this then email me at [e-mail] for some more details and training info.

Hope this helps, and goodluck solving the problem.

Answer 8

Give and take on the reins until he keeps his trot slow  

Answer 9

Make it harder for him to canter than to trot, if it is his idea to be slower it will stick. I had a horse that did not want to lope slowly so I let him gallop, and gallop, and gallop until he started to slow down then I pushed him to gallop some more. After a couple rides like this he realized a slow lope was far easier than a fun gallop.  

Answer 10

QUESTION: Hi Sylvia, I hope you can help me. My 3-year-old quarter horse gelding gives me problems at the trot. He will trot several steps sometimes with his ears back and then will stop. We have been doing Parelli's 7 games and he can do all. Now the opposition seems to be transferred to the saddle. I have been told by a "traditional trainer" that he should have a tie down and spurs. I don't want to do that. There does not seem to be a natural horse trainer in my area. Can you help me with this problem here?

http://www.naturalhorsetraining.com/defa...

Try this site!

REPLY:  Thanks for writing. Regarding your problem there with your 3-year-old quarter horse -- my two cents worth on it: Tie downs and spurs recommended by that other trainer...that's insane. And totally unneeded, so your gut instincts are right there, listen to them. First..your horse is still pretty young and therefore technically still green/immature, I'm sure. And this goes without saying: make sure he's got a well-fitting saddle & super well-fitting pad, because if he's in any discomfort/pain there, he's going to register that most at the higher gaits. Read this section on my site re saddle fitting, and more, etc., and then come back to this page: