(non-pole) Exercises for developing canter

[SmartAlex]

One caveat on the “as many canter strides as he can do right” theory. I implemented that years ago. I ended up training my horse that cantering involved 5 or 6 strides. Only. Which was hard to overcome. We still struggle with it a bit. My solution has been the pole work. I set them at 5 stride intervals. We canter over a poll, he takes his required 5 canter strides, then “Oh look another pole” which he will hop and then we canter on.

Solution 2 is to anticipate him breaking, and legging him on for a couple of energetic gallop strides just to take away the idea that when we get too tired to canter right doesn’t necessarily mean we’re taking a break.

Don’t forget you’re always training them to do something. Be careful what you ask for…

[ellevt]

[QUOTE=pryme_thyme;7890999]
I am a big believer in that you build the canter in the transition.
Lots of trot-canter-trot transitions. No devices. He likely isn’t strong enough to hold the canter, so ask for the trot transition before he has a chance to break.

Pole work is great for working over the back because they have to look down at the poles. Set the trot poles, walk through them, halt in the middle of them and patt him. He sounds anxious.
Trot towards the roles and ask for walk a couple strides before and walk through.

Repeat several times each ride until poles are easy and he calmly trots through.

Be patient - he will get it. Lots of praise with even little sucesses.

Good luck.[/QUOTE]

The crazy thing is, he walks and trots poles just fine. Trot poles have helped him a ton. He just canters them like a spaz. Even on the longe or freely in the round pen.

Believe me, “Cavalletti” by Reiner Klimke is pretty much my bible. You don’t have to sell me on poles. But right now, they’re just not helping him achieve a smooth, rhythmic canter.