Canter Transitions!!

[Caritas]

Hi there, I would like to thank you all for taking the time to read this post and for all of your help and advice.
I have a 7 year old Dutch Warmblood Dressage horse as some of you may or may not know. He had a kissing spine op just over a year ago that seemed to be very successfull and has had no back problems since.
My horse works at medium level dressage, started changes and a little piaffe and passage and is going well apart from our first couple of canters, especially the transitions and trying to get him foward without holding himself. We warm up quite long and low in a lovely consistant outline, I sit very still and ask for a canter transition, my horse will then tense his back and slightly back off my leg. When I eventually get the canter when asked, he holds himself very tightly over his back which means we get like a rocking horse type feel to it where he is not really pushing from behind. I get up off his back and try to push him foward, I cant tap him with a stick at this point because he can be very sharp and being as tight as he is he will only buck hard. Eventually he will go foward with me oof his back and then i gradually sit lightly on him and start riding. He will then do exactly the same on the other rein until really warmed up. Once he is full warmed up he is fine and happy to do medium canter and collect back. This has always been a bit of a problem on and off since before he had his op and since. He has seen my vet and a recommended back person who cannot find any physical problem, any advice greatly appreciated. Please dont anyone recommend i lunge before riding him as he is plane silly on the lunge and will hurt himself. I do slightly dope him to lunge but obviously cant if i am riding after. I would also like to add that he is a very tense horse, quite nervous and worries about getting things right. Many thanks

 

[Tempi]

it sounds like you've already sorted the problem yourself! give him a really good warmup and for the first few canter transitions keep him long and low and stand up slightly in your stirrups so you arent putting pressure on his back. Get him cantering cantering forwards around the arena and do lots of transitions on 20m circles in a forward seat until you can feel him relax. Do it on both reins and then carry on like you have been.

my friends mare had kissing spine op and she gets tense in canter transitions until she is properly warmed up aswell.

Id love to see some piccies of your horse

 

[Sal_E]

I wouldn't worry about it - just accept that this is 'him'! If he remained like this throughout the whole session then you'd have to go through all the checks again, you know, back, teeth, training etc BUT as he does work correctly once warmed up, don't worry. Personally, I wouldn't even TRY & get him working 'correctly' initially, you'll just create tension - I'd just let him canter working on relaxation, in a light seat myself. Don't worry about it - even warming up at a show, just do what works best for the both of you.