Walk to canter incorrect lead

[Zeidant2]

Hello! I’m new here!! Been lurking for some time–noticed how resourceful this site really is!! So I’ve been riding since March and I’m 24, so pretty late rider. I ride about 3x a week. There’s a schooling show next weekend (w/t/c and cross rails) but it’s my first time. Of course, I am sick to my stomach one minute then super excited the next minute.

One major issue I’m freaking out about is walk to canter transition. I don’t always pick up the correct lead. My trainer and I have been mostly working on upward transitions and there are days where I nail it every time, but just the last ride–I picked up the incorrect lead several times. Super discourage. Had a huge melt down when I got home–how can i go to a show if I cannot confidently pick up the correct lead?! I can do it off a corner but struggle on a straight line.

What I do at a walk–collect the walk ensuring he is aware somethings about to happen…I “try” to sit upright while applying my inside leg to the girth and my outside behind the girth. I initiate the canter When his inside front leg is coming off the ground to initiate the outside hind leg. I find he doesn’t pick up the canter right away–he’ll either run or trot into it. What am i not doing right? I have read that some people use a little inside rein to turn nose a little more inside? Does that help?

Trot to canter is just fine–but that walk to canter–not so much

Thanks in advance!!

Tammy

[copper1]

Tammy, first of all, relax! Shows are fun and look at it more as an evaluation on how far you have come with your riding than a competition. Focus more on positive and being as correct as you can. Trust me that most other riders in your class are dealing with the same issues so you are not alone. A step or two of trot would be ok if you feel you are more guaranteed of the correct lead. Ride with the thought that you will get the correct lead!

[Zeidant2]

I know! I’m super excited to go to my first show and I know it’s a learning experience and I’ll be okay–I can’t wait…and then…I suddenly panic! My trainer told me it’s like a glorified lesson just in fancier clothes. I am so excited to just be there and experience my first show–but nerves and fear are definitely there! Doesn’t help that I am an overthinker and very critical of myself.

[NancyM]

Copper1 has given you great advice already! And your coach’s advice is right on too. Relax. It’s just a horse show.

A little trick for you to consider that may help… watch a few classes go before your own. “Normally”, horse shows call the gait commands in a certain order, “normally”, that order is walk, trot, walk, canter, reverse. Notice how long this judge is giving before asking for the canter depart onto your bad lead. THAT is how much time you have to prepare in your class. With time to spare, calmly decide to make a roomy circle at that point, started at the walk, judged to put you coming back onto the fence just about when the “canter” command is going to be given. This will help you get your lead, by getting a bend into your horse, and his quarters shifted to the inside. Make it look like you are simply adjusting your position on the rail to give yourself more room so that you can show your horse to his best advantage. And yes, a few steps of trot in the transition isn’t a big deal, if that helps you.

Good luck, and have fun.

[merrygoround]

A trick that might help you miss the walk/trot steps.

When you collect him. hold with your hips, inside leg on outside leg back. Do not give with your hips until you give the lift off signal with them. Do not forget to relax and follow through though. Practice this constantly at home until you make it yours.

[BLBSTBLS]

Bending his nose slightly in and bending his body around your inside leg will help to pick up the correct lead. The reason it is easier to pick up walking into a corner is because the arena fence is helping to “create” that bend for you. Also ask your trainer to help teach you Haunches in, this is wear you push just the horses haunches to the inside of the arena, this will help you pick up the lead just about 100% of the time if done correctly. Once you have the horses haunches to the inside track it is easier for the horse to step up with that inside hind leg.

When you are walking on the straight side of the arena, and you are preparing for your canter transition, make sure you do not have your weight on the inside stirrup. Shift your weight to your outside seat bone and outside stirrup. That will also make it easier for the horse to want to pick up the correct lead.

Not sure which division you will be showing in, but at the local schooling show here, the judges normally in the lower w/t/c divisions like under 2’3", the judges tend to ask for the canter transition from the trot. The 2’6" and higher divisions usually get asked for the walk to canter transition. This of course depends on the judge.

AND: Good luck and have fun. Oh yea and don’t forget to breathe!!!

[OldLadyYoungOTTB]

Walk-canter is tough for us too. I’m not sure if my horse is quirky or if this works for other horses, but I have to bring my inside rein up on his neck to help him pick up the right lead. I also have to sit back, and I can’t lean forward like I want to do. It has gotten LOADS better over time. If you would’ve told me 3 months ago that we’d do walk-canter in one stride with no trots, I would not have believed you.

[no.stirrups]

The thing about leg aids is it isn’t enough to just have your legs in the right place, they have to achieve the right response. So your inside leg at the girth is supposed to be pushing the horse into your outside leg and rein. The outside rein supports and keeps the horse straight (not bulging at the shoulder) while the outside leg engages the hind end for the first step into canter.

To better feel this chain of events, try leg-yielding from the quarter line to the rail and asking for the canter immediately upon reaching the rail. One you get the hand of it, a single step of leg-yield will be enough to put him in the correct alignment for a canter transition, and not long after that, just a thought of leg-yield will be enough.

Using inside rein to tip his nose in can back-fire by blocking the leading legs from reaching forward or by making him crooked and weighting his outside shoulder, either of which will increase odds of a wrong lead.

[kupeski]

When schooling at home, an instructor taught me to halt, back up three steps and then ask for the canter, and drive them into it. This helps in balancing them and getting their legs under them for the canter depart

[Zeidant2]

I was on a thoroughbred whose nickname is “push buttons” for obvious reasons. She wanted me to feel how to felt to ask for a canter at the walk and get an immediate response…the slightest contact made him go into the canter (when I asked) but the Arabian I’ll be showing on is not as responsive. Will it help practicing halt to canter transitions?

One thing I don’t pay mind to, is focusing on sitting up. I tend to tip forward but never think “sit up” until I already lean forward. My trainer says “you look desperate for the canter” ha. Also, although I know to apply my inside leg to the girth, I don’t focus much on that inside leg like I do my outside. Should it be equal pressure? I find my inside leg just kind of barely pressing on the girth (if at all) and my outside leg applying much more significant pressure behind the girth. I also have never tried to use my seat! I’ll incorporate all of that.

When you say leg yielding, Do you mean to go down the quarter line and use my inside leg to guide him to the wall (applying leg on and off) until he gets to the wall, then using my outside leg?

[Rayme]

You may have some luck if you give yourself a bit of room off of the rail. Before picking up the canter use your inside leg to push your horse back to the rail about three or four steps. Then ask for the canter just before you get back to the rail and don’t release that inside leg too much. Remember to keep your horses’ nose tipped to the inside while pushing him over. This will help you create a bend even if you’re on the long side of the ring. With practice you won’t need as many steps sideways to get the bend. Have a great time!