by Ruth » Wed Nov 16, 2005 5:59 pm
#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Congrats Rio! It's great when it finally clicks and you get real forward. Took me a long time to get it with Boomer.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#I'd agree with leaving the canter until spring if the footing is iffy, there's lots to work on in walk and trot. I'm not sure whether I agree with not cantering a young horse or not. I didn't canter Boomer for until he had been under saddle for 7 or 8 months and it became a real issue with him when we did start cantering. I often wondered if it would have been less of a big deal if we had done a little canter all along. So with the 4 yo I have done canter with her much sooner and I'm not sure that was any better of an idea! She hasn't developed the same degree of issues with it that he did, but it does get her wound up. I don't school her in canter yet, I just ask for a transition and if we can make it once around the ring I'm happy, if she breaks I let her, I don't force it. She did develop some difficulties with picking up the left lead that I think were related to lack of strength, though, and she does find canter quite exciting as a result of trying to fix the left lead, not that I worked on it every time or anything, just once a week I would say OK, you are going to pick up the left lead. I never punished her or pulled her up too quickly for picking up the wrong lead. So with her by introducing the canter earlier it was a "thing" more than a full-blown "issue", and the left lead is working again, so all's well that ends well. I really don't know what the answer is there. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Anyway your horse is not a youngster and already knows how to canter, so it shouldn't be a problem to leave it.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#