canter

Question
I am 15 and I just got a new 11year old 17 hand thoroughbred gelding about 2 weeks ago. He is a awesome horse but when a get him into a canter in the arena he turns into his turns really sharp i try to push him over with my leg and the reins and he'll go over then when the turn comes up he does it again He reminds me of being on a barrel horse.IS there a way to get him out of that.Also I had my cousin ride him in a roundpen with me in there.She wanted to trot him and she did around twice and walked him then tried it again she got him trotting then she accidently get him again and he started to canter she then screamed and it spooked him a bit and he went faster.I finally got him to stop and she jumped of right away.I took him into the arena and trotted over some poles and cantered him a bit but all of a sudden he just kind of took of and i couldn't get him to stop but he finally did and I trotted him over a few poles and around the arena again.I was wondering if he was trying to see if I would get off of him if he bolted to.Oh yeah and my cousin can't stop him not even at a walk.I can be cantering ask him to halt with my voice and he will stop but not with her she will be pooling back telling him to halt and just keeps on walking I have to ketch him to stop him with her.This was after the cantering experience to.She is 14 and has ridden a lot but he just doesn't like her or something.

Answer
Hi Breea,

Congrats on your new horse, he sounds like alot of fun. My first suggestion is to have a vet check him over, including his teeth, make sure there are no physical issues. Next check your tack, including your bit, is it the same as he's used to? Does your saddle fit well? After all those things, in all honesty I'd give him some more time to settle in, two weeks isn't long at all. Go back to doing some ground work with him, lunging him, long lines, even hand walking. Right now you two don't know each other or have any type of trusting relationship formed yet. With that said, I'd hold off letting anyone, but a professional trainer ride him. You need to spend some quality one on one time and while it was kind of you to let your cousin ride him, I'd focus on just the two of you for a while.

Happy Trails,

Jen