how do i get my horse to canter in the arena? she is a cob and 15.2 im 13 year old girl.shes called ruby thats me and her in my picture at my old farm.it might be becasue her stides are big and she doesnt have anough room.she 's absoloutley fine out side tho. pleasee helpp:) ps ive tried lots of things like keeping my leg on giving her a litlle tap with the whip. she does canter for aboout 2 strides <3
Well, I would first ask for the canter the same way you'd do it outside of an arena. I'm sure you've done this - but since she's not responding well, encourage her with your seat. Let her know that you want her to canter. I would keep my inside heel on the girth and the outside behind it, as it is asked for in most horses (typically the English riders in my area, but some of the western riders do it the same way.) If she's not responding, cluck or kiss to her - but be sure to choose only one of those. When I'm asking my mare to trot, I cluck - when I'm asking my mare to lope, I kiss, same goes for when I'm lounging. It creates a better response in the horse; I can kiss to my mare and she'll lope right off from a stand-still.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com Now, while you're verbally encouraging her as well as with your seat, you should give her taps on her side with your outside leg, asking her to pick up speed. Increase more pressure with your leg if she doesn't respond. Also , my horses like when I give them a bit of slack on the rein for more more room to work with.
If you're using a crop or whip, now is a good time to use it. A whip or crop used properly isn't harmful to the horse, and is used in the same way a rider uses his or her hands and legs - - a whip in the wrong hand is a device of pain to the horse. Use it on her as you would your legs, encouraging her forward and not in excess - in other words a light tap should push her out, but crazily batting her will just scare her. (I use my reins on the neck while training - I don't carry a crop - but it's all for the same purpose, you know.; 3)
Hopefully, this should get her loping - she might be hesitant, but reward her generously once you've gotten several strides out of her. My trainer always tells me that horsemanship is give and take, teach and learn - let her walk, pet her and talk to her, let her know she's done good. For a little while, do something else to get her mind off of it, and then try to get her loping in another place in the arena. This is so she doesn ' t anticipate loping in only one area of the arena - much like you get off your horse in different areas to keep him or her from anticipating your dismount.
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Keep trying and keep pushing her forward. Don't get frustrated with her - she's learning to work with you just like you're learning to work with her. Patience is a very valuable virtue, and keeping calm with your horse will pay off greatly in the big picture.
Repeat the process, always rewarding her when she's done well. When you're done with your arena exercise, make sure you're ending on a good note - if she's just loped, pet her down and walk her out. Your horse shouldn 't view this as strenuous work, and with encouragement, she'll begin doing more and more of what you want her to.
This is how I trained my mare to work in an arena - she runs barrels, but I can keep her from going crazy when I go into an arena by teaching her to listen to my cues, and as a result I can also jump her safely. The basics of arena work and horsemanship are the most important in a horse's learning, so be sure to teach her with care and much love and rewarding.
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I hope this helps! Remember, your mare will learn with time, and you'll be working an arena like pros.: 3
Those mindless little taps will just make her more dense and unresponsive!
If you'regoing to use that whip make a mark on her that will be there tomorrow and wake her up!! Get a pair of spurs and do the same thing, having a lead bellied horse is no fun and you can never teach them to move off the slightest leg pressure if you nev er let them know that they should move when you give the lightest cue.
Well get her hyped, give her some fast trotting first, keep the back of your heels dug in gently against her . Make trotting noises with your mouth to help her ears as well as her feet. No whip that's not playing nice, never used one and i never would. Don't get her too tired before getting her into a canter, when your ready as well as she is then give her a few kicks (well tap of your heel) gently and move your butt with her in the saddle. If she starts slowing down squeeze your heels so she knows you want to keep going, keep your back straight and perform with her, and no matter what keep clicking (trotting noises) with your mouth and make sure she hears it.
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i hope that helps, be sure to do this on cool days not hot ones and feed her some carrots/apples for a treat:)
enjoy your riding!
(Oh and make sure her bit {the metal/leather part that goes into her mouth] is over her tounge not under it, it can cause pain when you pull back to stop her and it can also annoy her so she doesnt liston when you try cantering)
