QUESTION: “When a test dictates a movement at a certain letter, for instance Canter at “C” or Free Walk “HXF”, what do you use to determine whether the movement is prompt, late or early? Should the change occur when the rider’s leg is at the letter, is it when the horse’s nose is at the letter, or is it some other determining factor?”
Answer submitted by Kerry Petty:
In most instances when I have a student who says my horse loves to canter- 'he just breaks into it all the time,' I find that the horse is unbalanced. For instance if you are trotting and you ask the horse for more energy but the horse isn't balanced from behind then he can't lengthen or go with more energy so he will guess that you want him to canter. Or if you ask the horse to go forward but are holding the reins too tightly at the trot, the horse can use the strike off of the canter to use his head and neck to break free of the tight reins.
The other answer might be that he is used to a routine where you warm up and then take a break and then the next is you work on the canter. Horses are smart and start to 'help' you by anticipating what you want. Many students sit the trot only before they canter so the horse learns the 'sitting trot' is the canter aid.
If this is the case then being quite careful to really vary your riding time so you keep your horse guessing and thus listening to you. Ask for the canter earlier or later in your session or walk the horse and trot a bit and get off. Put the horse away. Next time you ride do the same thing. The perhaps spilt your riding into 2 parts but actually ride your warm up - get off and hand walk him or bring him into the aisle, loosen his girth, feed him a few treats. Then after a break go back in the ring and walk and trot and then put him away. Some days do just a bit or walk and trot and do canter in the warm up. The varied schedule will help both you and him to not get bored especially in the winter.
Answer submitted by Margaret Spencer:
If your horse dislikes the trot in warm up as well as during the lesson, then I would suspect that there is a lameness, probably with both front legs with one being worse. This may be hard to determine even with a vet exam. I have seen two horses that preferred canter even when loose in their paddock and both had front end lameness but did not shoe lameness with a limp or head bob.
I am sorry but the best of riders cannot correct this problem if lameness is involved and I would suggest that you start with veterinary attention.