Canter help

[Lozzle2410]

Hi all
First post here, so hoping it's in the right place.
I was hoping to see what other peoples thoughts are with my boy
He is a 10 year old cob x, two years a go he did his hind ddft, he has been sound for 1.5 years years now, but I gave him just over a year off to chill in the field.
He also has mild arthritis of the hind pastern.
Anyways I have been very slowly been bringing him back in to work the last few months, I have done lots of walking with him and am just introducing trotting back in to the routine... I have been trotting only a few strides down the outside of the school and walking round the corners... But it seems that every corner we get to he tries to go in to canter... He never used to do this and wondering if anyone had any ideas why...
I have just had his saddle checked and that was all fine.. And last had the vet out a couple of months ago, who stated he was as sound as he can get.
If you need any more info please ask
I look forward to hearing your thoughts
Lozzle

 

[be positive]

Horses will often try and pop into canter if they are struggling in some way in the trot, loss of balance or being unable to take their weight evenly can cause it.
Have you trotted much out hacking? if you can get him out hacking regularly it would be much more beneficial than trying to do the rehab in an arena, a field where you can stay straight for longer would be better if you cannot hack for some reason, so you can gradually increase the time trotting and get him fitter, the constant stop start and turn scenario you are doing is likely to be the cause of the hopping into canter and probably nothing to really worry about if he is fine in a straight line, once he is fit enough to canter out in a field or on hacks then he should be more able to cope with schoolwork and keep trotting round the corners.

I rehabbed a horse last summer from a tendon injury, he walked out for 2 months then started trotting for 6 weeks before he then cantered, all was done out and about, none in the school and he went back to racing, take your time it will be worthwhile as your horse is still young.

 

[Lozzle2410]

Hi
Thanks so much for your reply, that was what I was thinking, but wanted to hear it from someone else lol
Unfortunatly I don't have many people to ride out with at the moment, so using a school is really my only option..maybe one or twice a week max to get out on a hack, as my boy won't go out on his own....
I will keep preserving.
Thanks again for the reply

 

[old hand]

May be worth getting the vet tocheck him for bone spavin, they often prefer cantering while they are forming. Can chop and change behind or have a preferred leg in canter too. may just prefer cantering though as its not such hard work.