Canter outline

[Akirk]

Hi, I'm struggling to get my 5 year old to lower his head or go in an outline when cantering. He's fine in walk and trot but when I put any pressure on reins in canter he either breaks into trot or raises his head even higher!! Any help/advice??

 

[DabDab]

Hmmm, if you don't mind me asking, what is his breeding and what is his conformation like? If this is his natural way of holding himself in canter then it should just be a case of not asking for too much of an outline or for him to hold the canter for very long at the time being. Just lots of transitions to and from canter, building in transitions on a circle, and when coming out of a bit of trot lateral work. Aiming just at getting every transition as neat and quiet as possible, and forget exactly how he's holding himself for a bit.

However, if this isn't just his natural way of holding himself, then you could get a good instructor to see if there is anything you are inadvertently doing in canter that is stopping him using his back properly. And failing that it would probably be best to get a vet to check him over for any problems, particularly with his back or stifles.

Hope that's of some help

 

[kc100]

There could be a multitude of reasons for this so its hard to advise - so I'd ask your instructor to help as someone on the ground is best in this case.

It could be that his breeding gives him a high head carriage but without knowing what breed he is its hard for us to say. It could be he simply isnt fit enough or strong enough at his age to carry himself properly in an outline in canter. It could be that you are blocking with your hands when putting the pressure on the reins in canter, hence why he falls into trot; what happens when you really give him some leg whilst at the same time asking for more of an outline?

Can he go long and low in canter (i.e. a stretchy canter)? If he can I'd be inclined to do more stretching in canter, more hacking and fitness work....then in a couple of months time start picking him up in canter into more of an outline, but only for a short period before going back to stretchy low neck again.

But this really all should be done under supervision with a trainer/instructor, as we dont know you or the horse there could be a whole host of other reasons so eyes on the ground will be the best thing to help you in this instance.