my 6yo QH Gelding loves people but when i get on to ride him he walk and trots just fine but he will not go into a canter. i have tried everything i can think of but nothing is working. What should i do
PLEASE HELP ME

hi. i've been riding at a stables for a year and a half. and one of the horses Dash won't canter. so if you have a crop use it. if you don't then kick him repetivly. but make sure you start kicking about 3 feet from the corner. then kick harder. once you are in the corner kick harder. MAKE SURE YOU GIVE HIM HIS HEAD!! if you don't give his head he won't canter. so if you take my advice i guarentee that he will canter for you. also get some spurs. it will increse your chances of cantering. still if he won't canter if you have a crop hit him behind your foot.

I would definatly propose getting a crop. It Even if you only use it until he gets into the hang of cantering. You may need to have a trainer work with lunging him to canter. If he knows how and is just being lazy than use a crop and if he still isn't responding on the shoulder give him (not to hard) but a little thunk on his butt. I wouldn't suggest spurs unless you have been riding for a while becuase if not used totaly correctly can be very painful to the horse.

Good Luck!!

Well, make sure the horse knows your the boss, because maybe he's just 'testing' or 'challenging' you. Make sure he doesn't get away with ANYTHING, cantering or not. Also, make sure he's moving forward and is listening to your leg in trot and walk. I also agree on lunging him.

maybe your horse is in pain?? did you have a vet look at him? also, never force your horse into submission (by beating him w/a crop or slamming him w/your leg). sounds like you need to continue working at the trot or maybe start by reinforcing ground work. you should never ask your horse to do something (like listening to your leg), that he cannot do on the ground.

i would try a crop or even small spurs. Or work with ur horse on the lung line or free lunging. He also might be in pain so have a trainer or vet look at him.

I would NEVER reccomend kicking a horse, because a lot of horses, especially lazy or sour ones will buck when kicked. It all has to come from sqeezing with your lower leg or heel. If you have to you can move your leg farther back some but just squeeze dont kick.

if your horse isnt experiencing any physical pain or condition, i would use a crop or spur. To get him to canter, sit down in the saddle first, then start sqeezing. If he doesnt respond, use hard outside leg. If he STILL doesnt respond, give him a tap behind your leg with the crop. Eventually he should get better at it

Horses tend to be lazy if they can get away with it. If you know the correct cues to canter and your horse knows the cues..then look for reasons such as saddle fit,sometimes we place the saddle to far forward,or girth could be to tight,and he feels like he can't take a deep breath without pain..Make sure your not pulling to hard on the reins sending him a message to slow down,If you have a round pen or small corral to ride in try giving him the cue in the same spot,notice when he speeds up to trot,you could always just squeeze him with both legs until he canters and then let him slow back down just to show him he won't be cantering all day.

If you have a crop then use it but if u don't, then onnce you get to a corner and you feel good enough, then sit the trot first and then kick him and say CANTER! Because most horses responed best to voice cammand like my trainers horse that i am riding she responds to both, voice command and your leg but she perfers your voice rather then your leg. I hope this helps at all.

Why don't you try without crops and spurs.Get him ito a trot and don't kick him repedetly only kick when in a corner and lean forward a bit.Some horses answer to that.

Do you work your horse on a lunge line or in a round pen? Does he lope/canter there? If so, then there are three explanations

1) he has pain from the saddle

or

2) he feel unsure of loping off with you in the saddle

or

3) he IS being lazy

Work him from the ground to determine whether or not he will lope. If he is a gaited breed, they DO NOT lope naturally. Have someone check the saddle fit. And have a more experienced rider try to get him to lope off...kiss to him, cluck your tongue, and squeeze him or kick him firmly to get him to move off. If an experienced rider cannot get him to lope off, I would suggest a veterinary exam.

Do not resort to spurs or crops until you have explored all physical avenues. You may just get tossed.

HI EVERYONE - I WAS WONDERING IF SOMEONE COULD HELP ME. I HAVE A 16 YEAR OLD THROUGHBRED GELDING WHO DEVELOPED A TUMOR ON HIS BACK WHERE THE SADDLE WOULD GO. THE TUMOR IS INOPERABLE AND I DON'T THINK THE HORSE IS ANY LONGER RIDEABLE BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION OF THE TUMOR. I WAS HOPING I COULD FIND A GOOD HOME FOR MY SWEET GUY AND WAS WONDERING IF ANYONE COULD BE OF HELP IN THIS MATTER. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU COULD DIRECT ME IN ANY DIRECTION. THANKS, NANCY

lots of good answers. One thing I will add. Are you nervous about cantering? If you are nervous your horse will try to take advantage of that. So make sure you are in the right frame of mind as well. I agree with tarjesbahzarr on the rest!!

With your horse being as young as he is, he may not be balanced enough to canter yet with a rider on his back. I would suggest lunging him to see how he moves on his own. If he is balanced and comfortable, then try the canter in the saddle. I would suggest asking for the canter OUT of a corner so he is going on the straight away. A horse who is unbalanced will not feel confident enough to take a turn at a quicker pace. Try working with him on the ground lunging him and give him one specific cue for the canter (I always use a kiss or the word canter.) this will make it a little easier once he associates that cue and the action of cantering. Always make sure that you are balanced and that your hands are quiet and not sending him mixed signals and once he does canter, praise him and don't overdo it or he might sour. hope this helps!