Training and Breaking

Question
I am currently training a 3 year old Welsh/Thoroughbred cross pony smaller than 13 hands and am having some trouble... First things first this pony is amazing.  I have trained him to lung and he is very responsive.  He is an amazing mover and needs to be showed because with the right rider combination he'll take all the ribbons (he's that nice). His regular walk has an extension the size of a pony twice his size.  He is a real sweet heart and almost always listens!  I have been on his back for a total of 5 sessions of around 20 mins and he is doing amazing.  The first two sessions were in a regulation size arena, then next two were in a small sand paddock outside, and the problem session was back in the large arena. He has grasped the concepts of turning and sqeezing to move forward. Our walk, trot is great, however our canter is not so hot.  The first session all we did was walk on a lead line (basically pony rides, i had a helper always).  The second time we trotted for a few minutes on a lung line.  The thrid time we were off the lung line trotting around the sand paddock. The fourth session in the sand paddock we cantered for the first time and he was perfect (for only his 4th time mind you).  We only did maybe 10 strides and then i asked him to come back and he did perfectly. We ended the session to leave on a good note.  However, the other day i asked him to canter and he started to bronc i sat him the first time, disciplined him (cropped him) and then we trotted and he behaved so i attempted the canter again and this time he bucked so quick i couldn't sit him and he threw me off.  I disciplined him again and got back on we trotted perfectly and so we tryed the canter again.  He did the same thing but this time i stayed on and when he was finished i gave him a good smack with the crop and told him to knock it off. we finished the session with trotting (since i had already been on him for a good 15 minutes) and then i got off and lunged him with all his tack on, just so he would pick up the canter after that he was perfect untacking and walking to the feild.  I'm not sure as to what to do. He isn't mean or aggressive and the saddle fits and the bit isn't harsh at all its just a snaffle.  I'm not sure if its just best to keep sitting the broncing and he will eventually realize that he won't get me off or if there is a better way to teach him?  Could his misbehaving be because there is so much space he figures he has the room to be stupid?  I just want to understand why he is being the way her is...I realize he is just learning also.  Should i just take it back a step on work on walk trotted untill he get more used to the weight? Please give me some ideas as to how to break this pony the right way... Thank you so much for your time.. hope you can help !

Answer
Hi Melanie!

Wow!  You got a double whammy ~ 3 yrs old and a TB cross pony!!  They can have BIG attitiudes!

From what you've told me you have been on the right track with his training.  You appear to be fair but firm when you ask for something.

My question is - How important is cantering to you right now?  Is it for a reason or do you feel he just should be doing it right now?

I mean, firstly, he's just a baby and yes, he's going to act out whenever he can.  He just cannot mentally grasp the importance of smooth upward transitions and then maintaining a rated canter.  And a TB cross pony at that... just full of energy and opinions!

So, if you feel you can leave the cantering for a while, just work on solid walk to trot transitions on the longe line and under saddle and getting him to feel secure in them.  

Then, when you want to add the canter, do it first on the longe line and really get him to react to just voice commands for the upward transitions to the canter.  Very smooth and fluid and he's very aware of you and waiting for the downward transition to the trot command.

When you are ready to ask for the canter under saddle, keep his head up and of course no spurs!  Also, feel free to use a western saddle to get a nice, deep seat to sit thru any unexpected bumps in the road!

If he is cantering nicely on the longe or under saddle ask him to gear down to the trot quickly so it's your idea and not his to get all full of himself and break out into a rodeo bronc.

This problem has nothing to do with your weight or size of the arena or anything other than he can so he will.

I predict you will have a lot of fights with this fiesty little guy and you just need to always be smarter than him and remember there are no short-cuts to bringing about a solid riding relationship with a horse.

Don't overfeed or under-exercise him and just keep after him with the crop when you feel it's necessary  :-)

I am very pleased to hear you say it's important to you to train him the right way!  Good for you ~ never forget that and tell all the horse people you meet how important that is.  Not only to the humans but, to the horses!

Good luck and remember to always wear an ASTM/SEI approved helmet!

Solange