Retraining standardbred to canter.

Question
Hi Leigh, I have owned a standardbred for 1.5 years now.  He was trained as a pacer but never raced.  He was broken to harness.. too slow then sold to 2 other people who rode him a total of 4 times before I bought him.  I had him educated by my riding instructor for 6 months before she went overseas and i have continued his training in walk/trot for the last 6 months.  He now has a beautiful collected trot but has shown a tendency (although not often to pace in the walk (only when tense). My trainer had him cantering but he would loose rhythm in the rear and fall into a pace. Can you please give me some advise on how to teach him to canter in the correct frame.  My current issues are; 1) getting him to canter upon request (he often just runs out or gives me a sensational lengthened/extended trot).  2) When he does canter he often does so in a crooked frame or canters sideways and 3) he often paces when doing a canter/trot transition.  Please help me as i have been to 3 other trainers who have all placed him in the too hard basket (I personally think they lack the expertise to train him).  I am able to canter him in the open and he has a beautiful canter when he gives it but it is very difficult to get him to canter in an arena.  I have taken him to a number of dressage competitions where he has done well in the walk/trot tests and he won champion standardbred at the Gold Coast (Australia) Ag Show.  This horse has huge potential and i would dearly love some advise as to the above.  Thank you for your time.  Dee.

Answer
Hi Dee,

This is a very common problem and much of the difficulty lies in the fact that many instructors just don't know how to retrain standardbreds - it's quite a specialised field.  Many people disregard them because they are a bit more work in the beginning.  This is why most people give up on them, because they get frustrated and professional help is hard to find.

I have answered this question many times over the last year or so (you're not alone!!).  If you go back through my question archives you'll find it.  The exercises are the same for your issues as the others.

Good luck!