cantering RMH

Who canters their Rocky Mountain Horses and what cue do you use? Are you starting from a gait or walk?

My girls canter, and I guess I usually get to it from their gait. I'm usually riding 3 and 4 year olds, so as far as specific cues, I can't really say much there, they just know to go faster if I give them more leg. If mine were older and trained instead of just green broke, they'd gait in several different gears before going off into a canter, that's what we're working towards. And when I get there, I'd like them to respond to "squeeze, kiss, and canter" like a lot of other horses I've ridden.

Are you having trouble getting your horse to canter? What sort of training does he/she have?

I don't personally own RMHs but I do own WHs. I have found that with many of the horses (walkers) I buy, they get confused when I ask for a canter. Many times they're trained to gait and nothing more. When I ask for a canter they'll usually speed up, and speed up and speed up until they break into a pace.

I personally like to start from the ground up. I work up and down through the transitions. Once the horse begins to canter I let it go for a couple strides and then slow him down. Same thing undersaddle.

That's exactly what she is doing. I bought her from someone that trains RMH. I asked her if they cantered her and she said no they only gaited them. She seems to take only a few strides and I was wondering how to keep her in the canter.

When you say, "taking a few strides", I assume that means she's breaking into a canter? If so that's GREAT. When she moves into a canter, let it got for a couple of strides, then YOU slow her down. Make sure you praise her.

It just takes patience and repetition. Pretty soon she'll realize that cantering is okay, and what you're asking for. Sometimes verbal cues help as well.

Personally I think its good to let gaited horses do all 5 gaits. It helps keep them well rounded and works all muscles. I don't let mine just "do it" unless I ask for it.
I go to a canter from a stepping pace. I like to go back and forth just for practice. Although I do love to canter and even gallop once in awhile, nothing beats the 4 beat
I use the word "easy" when I want her to slip down a gear.

I don't see the fun in having just two gaits.. I mean.. if you can have all of them, why not!? Horses are smart, hey can learn the differenses.

Love my gaited horse canter!

I don't understand why a lot of people say that you shouldn't canter gaited horses.....it is fun to do a variety of gaits!

When I rode my Peruvian Paso mare and would ask her to speed up, I would have to rock my body in an canter motion to help her transition into it....she would go as fast as she possibly could and then finally break into a canter....I couldn't help but giggle during that wierdo transistion. I bet if I was video taping her little legs would have been really movin'!

For my rocky- she has a fantastic canter. Normally if I ask her to pick it up after a gait she goes right into it. She is not really in the best shape after having the foal last year and not much riding so this year walking and gaiting at first...She has a really fast and fun gait before going into the canter- maybe a rack- gotta love it!

I put a trainer on her Sunday and she cantered away and stayed in the canter. HUH! I have some work to do on myself

I've met a few gaited horse folks who never allow their horses to do anything but their innate gait. I guess if they are showing they want the horse to think its a bad thing. As for me and my girls I say canter away
As far as getting her to that speed I just push my hands forward (loose rein) a bit of leg pressure and continue to kiss to her till she get to the right speed then give her a "good girl"