SKIPPING RATHER THAN TROTTING

[frankyboy]

6 YEAR OLD PONY WILL NOT TROT JUST WANTS TO SKIP ALL THE TIME .

WHAT IS CAUSING THIS AND HOW CAN IT BE STOPPED

[Milliesmum]

Have you had his back checked out?

[frankyboy]

yes had back,teeth,and physio and now at wits end .

not much more I can try

[robrocks]

I had one did that, it was a saddle issue as he never did it bareback-try riding bareback and see.

[ccragg]

Do you mean skipping into canter? This is usually because its less effort to canter than it is to work properly in trot. I have lessons with a well known producer and she taught me that if my pony wanted to skip into canter instead of pulling it straight back I had to push forward into a very forward canter and then to fetch it back down into trot when I was ready. Keep repeating this process until the pony gives in and work well in trot, but make sure you are not giving the canter signal whilst in trot cos this will confuse the pony;-)

[frankyboy]

thanks will try all the points suggested ,much appreciated

[sjm]

you could have to much contact, ours will do it if you havent enough leg and too heavy in the hands, effectly going bridle lame

[milliecocospencer]

my pony used to do that he was just being cheeky. whenever he used to do that I would pull him back into a walk and ask for trot again and I kept doing it in till he got the idea he doesn't do it anymore.x

[lulah]

He sounds like he could be evading contact. mine does it sometime when jumping - he gets excited or anticipating and doesn't want to listen to me.
Maybe try riding with as little contact to encourage him to take larger powerfull steps in trot and over time introduce mote contact and lateral moves.
Trotting poles should encourage more rythm.

Good luck

[connemaras123]

I don't know if its the same as mine, but mine has been driven and seems to do skipping with his front and back legs, it's very bizarre to sit through! We have another that used to be driven at it does the same thing, it must be easier for them rather than using all four legs and especially the back. I just have been riding him in a forward trot and pushing him though it with a little tap on the neck each time he skips and pull back to walk, then carry on again and so on. Haven't done any canter for a week to ensure there is no confusion of what I am asking at the moment. Good luck, it's a pain in the bum and very frustrating, I'm sure it'll come right for u!