Advice on getting into a Canter?

Some horses do not like to go bareback. Especially if you are bouncing up and down hard on their spine.

I've only ever ridden him bareback, and he does perfectly fine except for not going into a canter. He has a smooth trot, so my bouncing on him is minimal.

@B2H, I will definitely get back to this thread after I've ridden today! C:

Hum, maybe just trying to get out of work. I am interested also to see how he does. Good luck!

Yay! Thanks...I'm really hoping something someone here mentioned will work!

AND, IF anything CLOSE TO what I suggested helps, then we'll know at some point he received training similar to that which my trainer's dressage/H/J's receive.

If not, then the next plan could be to ask some of the folks who start racehorses (AND there are lots of them here on HF)!!

With him being an OTTB, I probably should have suggested starting there (DOH!) and asking them how, during early training, they initially cue the racehorse to pick up the canter. I know they don't start them out as youngsters galloping, so the canter would, I'd IMAGINE, be an important gait in their training to run on a track.

I also would bet picking up the correct lead is very important when taking turns on a track early in their conditioning?

(These are ALL SIMPLY COMPLETE GUESSES, AS I AM UTTERLY--sadly--IGNORANT AS TO RACEHORSE TRAINING! Please don't flame me for getting this way wrong guys...I am just completely uneducated re: this area.) ;0)
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As BSMS said, some horses will buck when you spank their rump. I sometimes have to encourage my lazy Appy gelding to speed up and he responds when I spank him behind my leg.

This is good for the horse who BALKS, meaning they ignore the cue. I always start with the lightest cue, and get firmer. Clinton Anderson tells you to SQUEEZE,CLUCK, SPANK.
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If I have a horse I am having trouble getting to canter I take them out into a big field (if it is safe to do so). Some horses have trouble or are reluctant to canter in a smaller area like an arena so getting them out in the open lets them have a bit more freedom. Then bring it back in the arena and work on your cues etc. Sometimes you just have to give them the freedom and the space to figure it out on their own.

Sorry it's been so long for me to get back to this thread! I did try to get him into a canter, though, but he still just went into a very fast, extended trot. I haven't ridden him recently as of late, because the ground has been quite icy with the snow. But I'm going to try to work with him as soon as the ice and snow clears up a little more, though I'm also preparing for our mare to foal!

One more update! I finally got him into a canter! I brought him up into an extended trot and rounded him around a tree today, applying pressure with my inside leg as I turned, and he entered a canter. Thanks for the advice, everyone!

So happy for you! I imagine that was a great feeling...best of luck with your continued work at the canter...I too, struggle, & have certainly not reached that point where it comes to me easily as does say, the posting trot...I try to remember how there was a time when maintaining a nice, even pace @ the posting trot was tough, & that gives me hope! :0)
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I was grinning so much whenever I got him into a canter. I'm doing much better at now at keeping my movements in rhythm with his when going through a canter, and I think I'm set with keeping up with him while riding him at a trot/extended trot. I'm hoping to get a horse trailer soon so I can take him to the arena area we have in town for riding, because I've just been riding him in the grassy fields around my house. The arena will give me more space to ride. C: