Cantering on a straight line...

[Sprat]

As the title says really, I could do with some ideas / exercises on cantering in a straight line :lol:

My gelding has been really struggling with bend, so with the help of my instructor, we have been working on lots of circles, serpentines, figure of 8's and good inside and outside flexion.

Now I think I may have done this to death over the last few weeks and we appear to have forgotten how to canter in a straight line!

I have an ODE tomorrow and was practicing my test, however when it came to a canter down the long side, we seemed to keep trying to fall in to ride a circle.

I am the first to admit that my inside leg is not strong enough to keep him out to the outside and I feel like I'm having to haul him with my reins which is not ideal as I certainly don't want to be hauling him in the gob (we are trying to learn to ride more from the seat)

So does anyone have any exercises that I can try while schooling tonight? I'm aware I won't fix the problem for my test tomorrow, and I don't have another lesson until next Saturday, so anything that I can try in the meantime would be great

FYI - Bend on a circle is now looking ace :lol:

 

[be positive]

If the horse is going correctly it should be able to stay going in a straight line whatever bend you are asking for so I suspect the bend you are getting it more of a false neck bend than him working through his whole length in a genuinely correct way otherwise you would not require so much inside leg to keep him to the outside, he certainly should not be falling in onto a circle.

To correct it I would work on an inside track in walk and trot ensuring he is properly in front of the leg, moving forward and remaining straight without using the fence to assist you, then do the same in canter work, he needs to be more on the outside rein, in front of the leg and not be so bent to the inside that he thinks he is being asked to turn so ends up falling in.
Doing a line of canter poles can help get them genuinely straight as they cannot keep going if they are not they will end up in a muddle, don't try this today if he is not used to polework as it may confuse matters but is something to try when you have more time, it can really help and will show if they are not going straight and falling out through their shoulders.