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| embarrassing... trot to canter transitions; too uncoordinated or too wimpy? | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: May 14 2007, 05:44 PM (687 Views) | |
| spicy | May 14 2007, 05:44 PM Post #1 |
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Schooling
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ok, so I cant seem to do a posting trot to canter transition without looking like a wreck. I have to sit a couple trots usually. I cant seem to get it done smoothly right from the posting trot. if I try from the posting trot, I get just a haunches in or leg yield. I suspect he's being lazy and tuning me out, and probably even laughing at me. any tips for me? I feel like it's my coordination almost. like if I ask him in the down side of the post, then I do a sitting trot a couple beats before the canter, but in the up side of the post, I get the haunches in or leg yield. already got spurs, and he knows his job. so dont laugh too much at my confession ok? it's bad enough my horse is. |
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| snaffle | May 14 2007, 07:35 PM Post #2 |
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Is the meadow on fire?
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I think it's ok to do a few sitting trot steps before the canter depart. You don't want to trot half way around the ring, but a few steps are ok. How's your depart from a sitting trot? If you've mastered that, then think about your depart from the posting trot as the same thing, only your sitting trot is only a couple of strides. |
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| spicy | May 14 2007, 09:08 PM Post #3 |
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Schooling
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well, my sitting trot to canter is really good. my 2 pt to canter is ok too. but my posting trot to canter can be uncoordinated. of course tonight I could get it every time but he was fresh so I didnt really get the same struggle, he was more responsive. |
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| 2hsmommy | May 15 2007, 03:41 AM Post #4 |
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It'll be an adventure! We're going on an adventure!
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I always sit when I ask for a canter. Honestly though, I can't remember the last time I asked for the canter at a trot. Usually do it from a walk. Maybe to keep him straight, more inside leg at the girth, then outside leg back and ask for it? |
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| OpticalIllusion | May 15 2007, 04:06 AM Post #5 |
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You're BANNED!
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I generally sit one trot stride and canter. The thing is the horse has to canter immediately so your not doing a sitting trot for more then one beat. I believe if your posting, horse should continue to trot. |
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| DairyQueen2049 | May 15 2007, 04:14 AM Post #6 |
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DRAGON BREATH. DRAGGIN' BUTT
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I make it easy on the horse. When I longe, before every gait change I say 'aaaaaannnnnnd waaaaaallllkk' or 'aaaaaaaaannnnnnnddd canTER!' each gait is a different tone (for the word walk I sound like a deep baritone, for TEEEEEEE-rot! I sound like the Queen of England, for canTER! I sound like flirty chickie) but aaaaaannnnnnddd is always the same and is a cue that I am going to ask for something else. So then i get in the saddle and use these same voice commands for those transisitions. Aaaaaaannnnnd is a verbal half halt, and a wake up call that something is going to change. To go from posting trot to canter that outside hind leg has to push off with the in side hind to follow. You post with outside leg (rise and fall with the leg on the wall) so you are up when the outside foreleg is up, and then you SIT and CUE. SO: I RISE and say aaaaaannnnnd, then I SIT and CUE with my leg for canter. The leg along the wall in ON THE GROUND and able to push off into the correct canter lead. If I cue in the UP position of my post I am not asking correctly. Same as a downward cue to walk. Rise with your post and say aaaaaaannnnnd, SIT and cue for walk. Clear as mud????? Oh! and in a show I humm under my breath for those transitiions - that intake and release of breath becomes the cue.
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| spicy | May 15 2007, 07:55 AM Post #7 |
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Schooling
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DQ that makes total sense. if I ask in the up side, I feel out of synch - like I'm dancing off beat. even when I got it successfully at the up side when he was fresh, it felt weird. but when I was asking in the down and he was lazy, I wasnt getting the response right away so I sat a couple beats. trainer wanted it immed at the first beat. So I guess I just need to keep working at getting him to listen. at least thats not a new problem, just a different test. I'm glad everyone else seems to have learned canter departs from either sitting or walk, so at least I didnt miss something real basic there. |
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| OnyxThePony | May 15 2007, 09:53 AM Post #8 |
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You're BANNED!
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Two glaring things- one, I have no idea why anyone would want to ask for a canter from a posting trot, without sitting at least one stride. Two, you need to understand where his outside hind leg is when you ask for the canter... and why. Once you intuit those two things, you will understand why on earth you can't do it as you've been trying!! |
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| Anyplace Farm | May 16 2007, 11:54 AM Post #9 |
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Shunnnnn the unbeliever. Shunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
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From an equitation standpoint, you aren't supposed to post into the canter anyway. Sit the trot, maintain contact and close your leg. Maintaining contact with the horse's mouth will keep him in an organized enough frame that will allow you to maintain your position better. People tend to think that because they are moving up from the trot to the canter that they should float the reins and go. This might not be you but if it is, that's a very difficult thing to sit to because the horse's back hollows out typically. Now, the problem you run into is if your trainer doesn't know this and thinks you are supposed to do it from the posting. If so, go pick up a copy of George Morris's Equitation book, find the page that explains transitions (or get Anne Kursinski's) and say, "I was reading this -- should we try this?" |
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| OnyxThePony | May 16 2007, 02:21 PM Post #10 |
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You're BANNED!
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Oh yeah.. and I'm not being a bee-yotch, I'm trying to get you (or anyone) to think about 'why' this is. It's a one-liner to explain, but it takes some processing in your own head to really think it out then act on it, to really "get" it
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| DairyQueen2049 | May 17 2007, 07:55 AM Post #11 |
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DRAGON BREATH. DRAGGIN' BUTT
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Ahhh - but there are the 'think it through' riders who what to know where each hoofie is when, and there are the feel-it riders who can't tell you wich foot is where, but they know to add a squeeze now to get an extended trot or NOW to ask for canter. Those of us with some added experience want to know which foots is where, because we begin to get the mechanics of it. And we want it all 'splained. We want backstage at the play to see the lighting tricks and how scenery gets changed and costume changes.... Others want to feel it working or not - they care not whats going on behind the curtians as long as the play goes on smoothy out front. Neither way is wrong - we just come at it from different angles. And both ways are fun. |
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| grayfox | May 19 2007, 07:55 AM Post #12 |
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Shunnnnn the unbeliever. Shunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
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I think Anyplace Farm gave a great explanation. It will feel like the horse isn't responding to your leg if you float the reins. The trot just gets longer and the horse more on the forehand. While still posting go over the steps in your head and then sit a stride while keeping contact and ask for the canter. Good luck and just keep practicing.
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| Nanelle | Jun 5 2007, 11:22 AM Post #13 |
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I Visited Candy Mountain and All I Got Was This Lousy Incision
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I agree on the awckward transition from posting the trot to canter... personally I tend to go forward and it gets even trickier... My beautiful 15 year old is very obliging so he will do what he is asked for, even if he considers it's not the appropriate way... but definitely if you sit the trot or do it from a walk, it gets soooo much easier for both of you. Also agree on the reins, we tend to think that because canter is "faster" we should give more rein, and it's not true... now... all this theory... I still do everything I shouldn't... all the time... But the fun is something you can't take away from me, and it's simply fun to be on my horse... |
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| snaffle | Jun 5 2007, 03:03 PM Post #14 |
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Is the meadow on fire?
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Spicy, it's been a couple of weeks. How are things going with your transitions? I totally agree with not floating the reins. With Miller, if I float the reins, I just get this really strung out goofy trot. One other thought, make sure you keep your abs nice and tight when you ask for the transition. That will help you to sit upright and not lean forward. |
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I have to sit a couple trots usually. I cant seem to get it done smoothly right from the posting trot.





12:06 PM Jul 11