Trigger was cantering for me!

[Petra]

Not sure how many of you are following my updates on Trigger.
This post is actually pointless - I'm just excited so I need to share.
Despite being sick with flu I couldn't resist the beautiful weather so I saddled up Trigger and decided to ride. He was doing so great trotting around. So I figured I'll try to push him to canter. So far he doesn't have the slow speed canter he was actually galloping at a decent speed through the yard. I didn't try to slow him; he would only change back to trot. Also for now he is much more willing to go towards the stalls than the other way round. To spare myself fighting I asked him to canter towards the stalls only and than we walked or trotted back to front yard. Than we raced back again. Did this several times until he figured out what I want and it really didn't take any effort to get him to canter, or gallop actually.
I think his main problem before was being so out of shape. At the beginning he was this difficult to get trotting and now he has no problem at all. I'm sure with some more work he will be just as easy to get to canter.

I have a question on a collection though. Can I start teaching him collection with halter only or do I need him wearing a bit first. He is not used to the bit at all. But he got really soft in the halter. I don't have to pull on his face at all he is very responsive to the slightest tug. Actually I have to be really careful not to accidentally apply any kind of pressure on the rein. I mentioned I'm sick, so few times, as I was trying to clean my nose, I accidentally applied slight pressure on the rein, and he’d always changed direction even though it was barely noticeable.
Sorry, no pictures today.

[ImaBronsonBear]

That's great! So glad he's behaving so well for you.:)

IMO, don't even think about collection right now. Just get him to do a nice, solid w/t/c/any where, any time. He should go where pointed at the speed asked until you ask him to do differently. He should also do tolerably good circles, hack out on the trail without a problem, and stop easily. Once you get that, start thinking about collection.;) Right now you just need him obeying you and comfortable carrying your weight around.

[FatSpottedAppy]

Congrats to you! Ditto to what Bronson said.

I'm glad he did reasonably good for you.

[zoel_222]

Awesome news! I agree with Broson about the collection. Don't even worry about it until he is absolutely comfortable carrying you and him and a w/t/c.

[Petra]

Thanks for the advice! That helps a lot.

I wasn't sure if I need him to learn collection before he learns the canter or after. At the trot and walk he really is doing great now. He can easily change from trot to walk and back to trot. He can also change from slow jog to any speed of trot I want him to go. I'm pretty happy with him. The video of him I posted few days ago - he really wasn't doing very well because the strong wind was bothering him a lot. He can stop well and he can walk backwards. He is not great at backing yet. Sometimes he only does couple of steps and sometimes he simply walks until I stop him. We still have to work on that.
He just never cantered before. This is first time I got him to canter for me. So I will work on that until he will be just as good cantering as trotting.
Thanks again! :)

[JackieB]

Great job, Petra. You don't have to worry about collection yet. Buster never did anything in regard to being collected until he had been ridden for over 10 years, but it came along well enough once we got started on it.

I wouldn't canter/gallop toward the barn too much. Trigger needs to learn to respect you enough to canter any direction you want him to go (including away), and you also don't want a horse that takes off tearing for the barn as soon as you turn that direction. You can control him, but if you let someone else ride Trigger, perhaps not.

Many riders don't canter/trot at all once they get within sight of the barn and are headed back toward it for this very reason. Even a really well-trained horse will still occasionally test its rider by trying to speed up when turned back toward home. It's just one of those things that it's important to stay diligent about so that it doesn't turn into a problem.

Great job! You're a natural horsewoman for sure.

[TheBadLands]

I agree, let him get used to cantering with weight. And worry about collection a little later. Take it slow. I hear bitless bridles work well if you would prefer going that route.

[Gypsy Rose]

Sounds like you're doing a great job!

[Jump The Moon]

Congrats on having a great ride with him! :D
I agree with WB, I'd get your good standard anywhere/time walk, trot and canter before you touch on collection... I always believed it's important to have your basics well and truly there, like a foundation to build upon as you do more detailed training.. I was told the better the basics the easier the next training should be :D

[Petra]

JackieB: Thank you for the advice, I appreciate it. I understand what you are saying. And yes, Trigger is always much happier to go back home. :)
I was actually working with him on this. I allowed him to trot towards the house, but didn't allow him to go in. I made him pass the gate and continue down the street, just to teach him that going the direction towards the house doesn't mean going home. We kept running up and down the street- in the beginning he was trying to pull towards the gate every time we came close. We didn't go back home until he was OK to run past the gate without slowing down or pulling his direction.

Yesterday we were running around the yard, kind of like it was in the video. I taught him to trot this same way, in the beginning it was really hard to get him to trot. Could do it in a round pen, but it was different story once in the yard.
Unfortunately I'm not an experienced rider and I really prefer him cantering in a straight line for now. He goes fast and it wouldn’t take much for me to go flying off of him. :)
I also know I shouldn't start fights I cannot win. I prefer to ask him for stuff I know I can get him to do. So far we didn't have a situation where I would loose control.

He is excellent in changing from trot to walk or stopping for me any time I ask. However I don't know what he is like when he goes this fast. He may stop, but it may be sharper than I want and I could continue without the horse. :D I know he has to stop at the gate and he naturally slows down before he stops. It's just safer for me this way. My plan is to teach him first how change to trot or walk from canter and how to safely stop. Once I know he is safe I can start cantering him around the yard.
Yesterday, after we were done I took him to the round pen and worked him there for 20 more minutes even though he was getting tired. I figured this way he will associate going through the gate with harder work. After that I made him stand tied for couple of hours.

I do not ever let him run towards the stalls or towards the house when we are actually done and going home.

TheBadLands: Thanks! I personally prefer bitless. I think I’ll look for a bitless bridle for him than. For now we do everything in halter only. I don't ever plan of showing any of my horses; we just have fun together and this way I don't need to worry about tearing up his mouth. I have nothing against bits especially if they are fitted right. If I have a choice in putting one in my horse’s mouth...I prefer not.


Thanks everyone on the collection advice! I’m in no hurry. I honestly couldn't care less if my horse is collected or not. I would be OK with him running around as he is. He responds to me very well. I just want to do the right thing. :)
The advice I got from everyone helpes a lot, as always! ;)

[elevenelevenxo]

Sounds great! You sound very happy. :)

I'll go ahead and chime in and say don't worry about collection too much right now. If he's moving forward happily, that's fantastic. I would work more with verbal aids (whoa, walk on, trot, etc.) and worry about collection once you've got a really nice foundation established.

When you do start working on collection with him, get a quality pair of side reins and hook them up loosely from the bridle. You can use a surcingle or just a saddle/girth for this. You won't want to hook them up too tight to begin with because the feeling of restriction might cause him to go over. He'll be able to figure out on his own contact and he'll learn when he gives to the pressure and goes round, it's more comfortable, and will start to carry himself in a better frame every time. Just be sure to start out with short sessions that end with a bit of work without the side reins and slowly increase as he becomes more used to them. But again, you won't have to worry about that for a while. :)

[Petra]

Thanks for the input. After the advice I got I really am not going to worry about collection for now.
I have stupid questions because I'm all new at this; I have been around horses only since November 08. There is still so many things I have no clue about and I'm trying to learn as we go. I was worried that he will get used to running certain way and will not be able to learn the collection later on. I also wasn't sure if I need to teach him to canter first or the collection first. I'm glad everyone here puts up with me. I feel pretty dumb at times. :D
I do appreciate your advice on how to start once he is ready. However I am pretty sure I will have to ask you for the explanation you just gave me when we will get to that point. I am positive that I will forget what you explained just now. :) It sounds like a good advice though. When he will be ready for it I'll make sure to ask you again.

[elevenelevenxo]

Hehe, no worries.

And please don't feel dumb! Have you read some of my questions? :) The important thing is you ask when you need help and don't just "assume" you know how to do it all....that's where you run into trouble!

[Petra]

Lol Thanks! :)