How to help son improve canter on new pony?

[Principality]

Hi All,

I was wondering if any of you more experienced ladies had any good ideas or excercises to help my DS imporve his canter on new share pony?

Previously when he has cantered RS school ponies his seat has been really good (ahem proud pfb alert!). He has sat up tall and kept his bum in the saddle, whilst still going with the movement, and for his experience looked good and seemed to be doing well. RS ponies are approx 14h-14.2h and v round and rocking horse like.

New share pony is an angel and I have known her for a few years. She is 12.2d a healthy weight, not round or stocky, and her stride is obviously much shorter and bouncier than he was previoulsy used to. It took him a little while the first time he rode to adjust to the trot but he hasn't really got the hang of cantering her yet in the school.

She is very bouncey and he is a bit all over the place. He is not nervous and very keen, but I think he is now tensing up when he asks for the transistion in anticipation of the bounce so she is also running into it now too.

I have told him to sit up, half halt with outside rein and ask clearly with his outside leg, but if anyone has any tips I would be very grateful. Once he gets into canter I am trying to tell him to sit deeper, relax and try and go with the movement rather than bounce against it, but I am not dong a very good job of explaining!

Is it just a case of practising, or anything I can do to assist? I have only done a few breif canters with them as I am sure all the bouncing isn't comfy for her!

I think he is probably on the verge of being too tall for her, so unfortunately I don't think the share will last more than a few months but she is an absolute star of a pony who knows her job and has a heart of gold and totally trustworthy. He is 8 and about 4'10- about 4' of which is skinny leg!!

Thanks

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

I wouldn't push it. Let him get really comfortable with trot, and getting to know his new pony, and just let him do it by himself.
If you push him, you could well scare him.

[coffeeandcream]

I always used to get nervous making the canter transition, found it really useful to calmly breathe out as I asked for canter, and not block the forward movement with my hands, so I didn't jab my horse in the mouth making it jerky or unclear.

HTH

[Principality]

Thanks, I will see if that helps.

I had planned on asking his favourite RI from the RS if she would possibly come and give him some lessons at the yard but she wasn't available last week and I was cross because we had the instructor we try and avoid as he isn't very good, instead

I don't think he is nervous- on Monday I told him to walk an accurate 20m circle whilst I quickly checked on his younger brother who was playing with the other children, just round the corner and I came back and he was cantering... I had a heart in mouth moment, despite the fact that they both looked under control... "um... DS... did you mean to be cantering just then, I'd asked you to walk an acurate and well planned circle?".... "Oh yes, I was just pracising so you see I can do it.." But I very much get what you are saying. 4/5 months ago he was a nervous wreck, just starting riding again after a confidence crisis at a different riding school. The RI and the two scholl ponies he usually rode were fantastic and have done absolutely amazing things for his confidence. :)

[Booboostoo]

Can you pop him on the lunge? Maybe give him a neckstrap to hold onto for added security and you do the work of asking the pony for canter from a 3, 2, 1 countdown. Ideally when he is safe to do so he should practice a bit of work without stirrups on the lunge and that will help a lot with his seat. Some ponies are just bouncier than others though.

[Treblesallround]

It could be that bigger ponies are smoother due to the longer stride, but it could also be about the pony's way of going. GD's first pony was bouncy unless he'd been worked in properly as he wasn't working through his back properly when we got him. As we got him rounder, softer and more relaxed in his neck and poll his stride improved and he was less bouncy. We also improved his canter by asking for collected canter and then extending it, and improved the balance in his canter stride by doing counter canter work. Could you ride the pony to assess whether you can improve things, or whether it's just about the shorter stride?

I also worked GD on the lunge without stirrups a lot to deepen her seat and would second that advice

[frostyfingers]

I second getting him to ride without stirrups, at all paces - it helps you really sit deep and grip well. We did a huge amount when I was in Pony Club - jumping, hacking and schooling work and it really makes you think about your seat and position. Bareback can also be good too, as you can feel how your pony is working - obviously that needs to be introduced carefully and when he's feeling confident.

[Eve]

to help push his seat into saddle in canter push 1 arm into the air

[JRsandCoffee]

Hi
Pottering around without stirrups/ bareback will help generally with confidence. Just watch if she is very bouncy that he doesn't bounce right off...... Neck strap also a great idea.

If he's confident and you have anyone else around to play with you could try doing games with him - the amazing competetive effect of having to get back fastest does wonders for the speed of children's transitions and the er, beauty aspects can be take care of later. I used to do a lot of bend up in trot and canter straight back as fast as possible - because they get a really good trot on bending up and are so hell bent that the trot is really strong so a fairly high number get the canter straight off on the turn and then just kick on like mad for the line. Even works with a solo child to be honest just not quite as brilliantly as they aren't feeling competetive!!

Other suggestion might be if the pony is well schooled and/or lunges well do walk to canter. This cuts out the bumpy bit in the middle. If she doesn't already do it you could try teaching it to her on the lunge and then sticking DS on to do a few. It can seem more difficult than it actually is, ponies canter from a standstill all the time in the field and how many times have we all seen someone flap about in the collecting ring, walk into the jumping ring and without thinking canter off to the first fence?

Good luck :-)

[dappleton]

I second the idea of lunge lessons, it will allow him to concentrate on his seat without worrying about everything else. This obviously assumes that his pony goes well on the lunge though, if she's unbalanced it may make the situation worse.

[Principality]

Thanks everyone.

He had a great ride this morning.

I didn't have a lunge line to hand so I tried the idea of games/ races against me on foot and he had a great time. We then did a little canter work again and he was loads better. It is still a bit untidy but he is having a blast so at the moment I don't think it matters.

He had a go over a tiny cross pole at the end too and thought it was great. And again I think that helped- he was concentrating on that and just seemed flow a lot better into the transition.

And it helps that the pony is an absolute sweetie who was really trying her heart out for him this morning. I wanted to pick her up for a hug I was so pleased with her!