Blue cannot canter over pole - thoughts?

[Lill]

He can't do it.

He is MUCH worse on the left rein and sort of manages it on the right rein.

He either wants to trot over it, jump over it, or go hollow and charge over it or just falls over it.

He has not really done many canter poles and has only ever trotted over poles previously.

BUT he should be able to canter over ONE pole without any problems surely?

We are probably going to get him checked by various people e.g. back people and vets and who would be best to check his hind legs as am wondering if something there is not right?

Anyone got any ideas?

 

[Weezy]

I presume he can canter in a straight line? If so I think you need to be looking at what YOU are doing differently. I am presuming he is fine over trot poles and that his canter is established?

 

[Lill]

Well i don't think its me, my instructor was even having trouble getting him to do it?

He is fine over trot poles any amount you like.

He is ok ish... with about 5 canter poles but tends to have hollowed and be rushing by about the 2nd or 3rd.

 

[Flint12]

I would keep trying for a bit before you get people put. Practise makes pefect.

Took my boy a while to find his feet over ground poles

 

[Weezy]

OK, just a lot of people look down at the pole and almost dump the horse before it meaning they lose impulsion and balance and lose their feet - have seen it lots of times so thought I would ask

You talk about 5 poles, what is he like over a single one on the long side?

 

[Lill]

With one pole and a fairly long run to it he tends to try to hollow and charge/jump over it.

With one pole on a 20m ish circle, he tends to more often than not fall over it.

 

[Weezy]

Have you tried trotting to it and asking for canter OVER the pole? You can then start asking a little further away each time. What if you raise the pole to, say 1ft, what does he do then?

'Course if he is young it could just be complete exhuberance (sp) and he isn't understanding that he needs to stay calm and rhythmical

So long as the canter is nice and established then you will just have to keep at it - would be fab to see some video so as to advise further

 

[Lill]

He would jump it if it was raised at all.

Not tried asking for canter over the pole no...

He's 8yo now so not got the excuse of being a baby anymore!!

Am not too good with video! Can do photos but not really videos. Unfortunately don't even have any photos of pole work.

He just cannot seem to get both his back legs over it together... and when he canters sometimes it looks like his back legs are not going fast enough to keep up with the front ones?

 

[Weezy]

Does he jump OK?

Any photos of him in canter?

 

[Lill]

Most recent lesson pics from a few weeks ago - my instructor riding

Yes he jumps fine, no problem, will do .95m course fine and loose jumps up to 1.3m fine

 

[Lill]

Doesn't show up that well in photos.

His canter just looks odd. Compared to B's horse, its almost like there is no clear moment of suspension well thats what it looks like to me!