cantering on the lunge

karenjj

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19 May 2008
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Hi all,
My boy was brought back into work 2 years ago after a 4 year break and this is the first time he has worked properly, he is now nearly 10. He can canter fine in a straight line but really struggles in the field I school in, he sometimes just trots faster and faster so I have to slow him down and ask again and he just gets frustrated! I've recently had his saddle checked and he had a tendon problem earlier in the year that the physio sorted out for me. I was going to try to get him cantering on the lunge as I thought that might help him? (I lunge him with 2 reins as he seems to go better this way) I'm sure he'll just keep going faster and faster in trot! How do you all ask your horses to canter on the lunge?
 
If he struggles in the school he will almost certainly struggle more on the lunge-it is even harder to canter a small circle than in the school-I would canter him in a field if you can to get some fitness and supplness back before asking for him to balance on a circle.
 
sorry just re-read your post and see he is already ridden in a field- in that case dont bother with cirlces of any kind until you establish a canter on a straight line- eventually start a cirlce but huge then gradually make that circle less and less until you are cantering a 20 metre circle. Patience is the key-it will come with time!
 
Ok thanks, the farmers have now started clearing their fields and we're allowed to ride on them so hopefully I can work on a huge circle and see how he gets on!
 
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