Gelding that frog hops at canter

Question
I have a 12 year old, 17 hand, Tennessee Walking Horse gelding (Beau) that is absolutely amazing, despite one little habit, "frog hopping".  He is used primarily as a field trial scout horse during the winter field trialing season, and in the summer is used for trail riding, barrel racing, and even a child's horse.  He is very well behaved under saddle until another horse canters past or you ask him for a canter.  When this happens he starts hopping, and by hopping I mean he sometime will literally hop along on his hind legs like a frog, or lunge forward and grab the bit.  Once he gets into his canter, if that's what you want to call it, I prefer dead run, he is fine until you ask him to stop, when he again starts his hopping.  We have tried everything from going back to basic fundamentals in round pen, ground work, one rein stops, aggressive bits, snaffle bits, hacamores, tie downs, running martigales, draws reins, you name it, we've tried it, I think.  We've had the vet come out to ensure that their isn't something wrong with him. Everything comes up fine, therefore it leads me to believe it's  more of a behavioral issue that has now become a habit.  I don't know what else to do with him, he is too good of a horse to let go, but I'm at my end... Please Help!

Answer
Hello Keirstin,
First of all, thank you for writing in. Next time, try us first!
Aggressive bits, draw reins, tie-downs, etc., are not the answer. Anything forced or that causes the animal discomfort is wrong.  

Tennessee Waking Horses have been bred for many generations to obtain the running walk that they are famous for. If your horse was ever a show horse, they are often subjected to abusive and unnatural
techniques to obtain unnatural exaggeration of their gaits.

I have reschooled many gaited horses, and it takes time and an understanding what your horse needs.It is not behavioral. In spite of the "us against them" attitude of some trainers, horses most of the time will accommodate our wishes if they understand them.

On my website, www.MitziSummers.com, I have some articles on lungeing that may help you, and you can also write to me at Summersdressage@aol.com.Your horse's difficulties come just from a lack of understanding, ability strength and balance to canter correctly.Double lungeing will help him greatly and I can outline the step-by-step method of learning to do this.

Granted it is hard for you and your horse to learn this at the same time. Until I can write you a detailed explanation of this, (and send me your regular email also,work your horse on large, 20 meter circles and just practice transitions. Walk to trot to walk. This will teach him to rebalance and distribute his weight to his haunches. Approach it with the attitude on how can I HELP my horse, not that he is doing anything on purpose to frustrate you.

The other thing, of course, is to get someone to assess your riding.
I have been riding for 35 years and still have people I work with help me with my position and "feel" on a horse.

Thank you for caring.

Mitzi Summers