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Horse Won't Canter!

2K views 2 replies 3 participants last post by  DancingArabian 
#1 ·
One of the ladies who rides at my barn has a Tennessee Walker who will not canter for her. I got on her last Sunday and could not get her to go either, she will just break into a rack.

I've never had this issue before and looked around online to find that Walkers are taught NOT to canter because it will ruin their trained gaits. But the woman who has her isn't really interested in doing the gaited stuff, and I think would like it if she would canter for her.

So! Has anyone else ever run into this problem, if so, how did you correct it? She won't go from a trot to a canter when you ask with the correct leg and rein cues, once or twice I got her to canter a few steps but then she would stop, and she also won't go from a stop to a canter (like Saddlebreds are trained to do).

I'm mostly asking so I can pass the information along to her, but I'm also curious in case I ever run into the issue again.

Edit: I also wanted to mention that the horse is not lame and can canter as she does when she is turned out on her own. I think this problem stems from the fact that she was taught not to canter and so she doesn't understand the cue for canter.
 
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#2 ·
I am working with this horse with the same thing. She is a arab mare that was not shown the right way to canter, or even the cue. Plus she cant keep the gait that well. So what you need to do is this. You need to have a round pen. Once you warm up have someone on the ground with a lunge whip. Have them ask the horse for the canter. Keeping asking. while the person on the ground gives the cue as well with the whip. Do not stop till you get what you want. Once the horse canters. Go two times around. Then stop reward. Repeat. Go both ways.
 
#3 ·
Personally, I would start by getting a solid canter verbal cue on the ground in a round pen, then do it with tack, then do it with a rider. Add the leg/seat aids with the verbal cue and eventually take the verbal away.

If she doesn't know how to canter under saddle she may be all kinds of in unbalanced and fast which can make for a disconcerting ride for some people.
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