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Post by ashleigh19 on Mar 3, 2012 19:58:23 GMT
Hi, I bought my horse last September from doncaster ways. She is a 6yr old part bred french trotter and therefore pace's. I dont know her past but I know she hasnt had the best of starts but shes a lovely honest horse. I have managed to get so far with her in terms of schooling but now I am struggling slightly. I wanted to see if anyone could give me any advice or a sucess story in retraining the pacer. Thanks
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Post by nia2311 on Mar 3, 2012 22:24:55 GMT
I don't have a great deal of experience, but have ridden an ex-trotter and he never was retrained - never got the hang of not just trotting faster and faster. He was a lovely ride, bought by a lady I know who runs a riding school in the Lakes. She has now sold him because they couldn't get him to work in the manner required for riding school work, he just wouldn't canter. Sorry its not particularly positive. He was a lot older than the lady you have bought, so maybe it will be easier to retrain her as she's younger? The movement is bred into them, so it will be hard to undo the habit of a lifetime and genes.....
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Post by ashleigh19 on Mar 4, 2012 16:16:21 GMT
Its a shame as they are lovely horses. She does trot normally, shes got a big trot, and does it in an outline often but looses it. But she is still young. She will canter when she wants to but not when I ask. Shes perfect on the lunge but struggles with someone on her back...I think as she is built a little downhill. I have ordered a harbridge to help build her front muscle? Thanks for reply by the way. do you Know how to post pictures on here?
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Post by ashleigh19 on Mar 4, 2012 17:30:54 GMT
 This Is Kia A few months ago. |
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Post by lisadundee on Mar 4, 2012 18:19:50 GMT
Sorry cant help with the pacer problem but she looks lovely x
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Post by ashleigh19 on Mar 4, 2012 21:12:35 GMT
I dont know why its posted that many pics. you can tell im new haha. Thanks by the way  |
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Post by kilnstown on Mar 4, 2012 23:37:44 GMT
Patience and lots of praise, try and make sure she has lots of opportunity to canter out on hacks, make it as easy as possible for her, this is something she can get better at, but not something you can train out of her, pacing is what she was bred for. She's very beautiful.
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Post by ashleigh19 on Mar 5, 2012 8:33:52 GMT
Yeh I think praise is really important. Shes trusts me so I know we can do it together. She loves to jump will definately canter then through excitement but as she is still unbalanced I try to stay clear of that but I do do trotting poles when I ride or lunge her. Its funny she seems quite balanced in the canter on the lunge. She used to become disunited behind in canter on the lunge but doesnt seem to anymore, so obviously I am getting somewere. I have lost my confidence asking her for canter in the school as she just rushes off in a massive trot, maybe she doesnt know what im asking her but I do use my voice as well to back up my leg. Its really fustrating as I know she can do it, but she's a mare as well which doesnt help. It would be good to find someone professional who does this for fun to give me lessons but that seems unlikely. What do you think of the harbridge idea? thanks |
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Post by kilnstown on Mar 5, 2012 9:23:07 GMT
I'll be honest I have never had to use one, I dont have an indoor school, if I school its always outdoors in a big open field, but I am very lucky that I have fabulous hacking where I live, steep hills, forestry tracks, terrain where they really have to learn to use themselves correctly, then when you do go into the school they have already learned to balance and hold themselves correctly, I understand that if you have lost a little confidence hacking out maybe a challenge, but take a bit of pressure off yourselves and try some fun rides with a friend. Lessons from an instructor would help to focus you, but try not to rush things, she has been bred to do this.
The trotter that I had to reschool, was about 8 when I got him, we built up very slowly, with lots of walking and a slow steady trotting up hill, until he was a lot fitter, then at a certain point on our hack, very long steep climb, I would ask for canter, we would get a very speedy trot (pacing), I kept asking for an increase in speed, until he missed out the canter and started to gallop, after about 100 yards of gallop I would ease him back until we were doing a nice steady canter, I did this at the same point on our hack every day, so he anticipated the gallop, eventually with work, I could go straight from trot to canter, without the pacing, when this was established I began to ask for canter at other points on our hack, using voice and leg commands, he did eventually become very good, and went on to be sold to a novice rider, he did however still pace when excited, but this is what they are bred for.
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Post by nochance on Mar 5, 2012 11:47:12 GMT
pm'd you x
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Post by chevron on Mar 5, 2012 12:40:25 GMT
No idea how to retrain, but I did learn to ride at a riding school on an ex-pacer so it can be done. If he went into pacing instead of canter, you had to slow it down, get it steady and ask again. Would hacking out with another horse to copy the canter (or gallop then slow it down, good idea) help perhaps? Or getting an instructor to give you both a lesson on the lunge, if she canters ok there without a rider?
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Post by wilmira on Mar 5, 2012 12:45:40 GMT
Hi, have rode many pacers inc. racers and ex racers and they can be schooled to canter almost as easily as a regular horse, have done many a good dressage test on a pacer too, the key to cantering is a good balanced trot first then the canter will come more easily,
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sally1
Junior Member
Posts: 187
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Post by sally1 on Mar 5, 2012 14:27:12 GMT
Keep the trot slow before you ask for the canter. You can try asking for canter going over a pole on the ground in a corner of the school. You could also try walk to canter transitions.
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Post by junetimp on Mar 6, 2012 23:25:30 GMT
Just wanted to say – Good Luck.
She is a beautiful horse and looks so kind. She will be a brilliant Best Friend and I am sure you will have hours of happiness together. Be patient and it will come once she knows that is what you want. xx
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Post by ashleigh19 on Mar 7, 2012 23:13:15 GMT
Thanks for your comments everyone. There are some things i have not tried (sally1) asking in the corner over a pole sounds good!! Ans at the begining when i first started canter work. she would walk to canter quite easily but ive not tried it for ages so i will next time i ride.
wilmira, here trot is not that bad when shes fit ie summer she carries herself quite well in the trot what would you suggest to improve the trot further ready for the canter?
kilnstown, i do hack her out but she gets a bit silly on fields. I dont want her to associate a field with running off as I like to use my hacks as a relaxing day off. I do have a canter/gallop but only when shes in the right mood were shes listening to me. but i must say i did trot up a hill the other day as i felt brave haha and she did break into canter so i definately know were you coming from with that.
I'm looking for someone to give me lessons does anyone recommend any one in particular who would come to my area. I'm just off the m58 between liverpool and wigan? thanks
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Post by fluteybeauty on Mar 7, 2012 23:19:02 GMT
are you on facebook you would love mazzi shes a gorgeous expacer and a real alrounder now hacks does a bit jumping schools well loves the beach and is usually ridden now by youngish teens. shell always be a pacer but she seems to have settled quite well into other roles to x
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Post by ashleigh19 on Mar 11, 2012 10:58:20 GMT
yeh im on facebook |
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Post by ashleigh19 on Mar 11, 2012 10:59:32 GMT
What should I search for on there?
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