Connemara pony canter - Terribly straight legged!

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jenz87

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I was wondering whether anyone had experiences with a pony cantering with incredibly straight legs behind in canter. My pony has always done so, she has her back done reguarly and her pelvis is always out, and having this sorted has helped.

She is still so straight legged behind though and im beginning to despair!
There is little flexion behind in canter (quite reasonable in trot). In halt she is close behind and her toes point outwards, but when she canters, her legs seem to almost lock in a stiff wide position.

Does anyone have any ideas on schooling techniques to help this, or do you think she will always go like this? We really want to do more dressage, but her canter is letting her down :(

Thanks in advance:)
 
Has the person who does her back not given you exercises/work to do to develop strength behind. If her pelvis is an ongoing problem (and you need a more detailed explanation btw - if her pelvis was out of alignment (ie; dislocated), she wouldn't be able to walk!) it would suggest that there is an underlying problem which needs to be resolved. Could be as simple as you need to work on strengthening the supporting ligaments, but you need to find out.
 
Sorry, thats what i call it, i forgot my own gibberish doesnt make sense to everyone else!!

Her pelvis is tilted on one side quite regularly and the therapist "puts it back" thats what i call it, so please excuse my layman terms. I fully trust my back person after using her for several horses, she is not one to say there is a problem when there isnt. Also from seeing her, her movement in trot is greatly improved. (Previously, she trotted straight legged, it looked like she wasnt really picking them up) However the canter is still poor.

She has had a very rough past, and badly treated, so this is of little surprise, im not expecting miracles but i just wondered if anyone knew of such issues and any good exercises to help us :)

Edit- Ive just taken a quick video loose but its not the best http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0-t-WGc5BM&feature=youtu.be
Thank you :)
 
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How old is she? She looks to be quite long from the hock to the fetlock and moves exactly the same as my new forest pony. It frustrated me too so in the end paid £280 for xrays on hocks to find out he had arthritis so will never be able to flex hocks again properly but is sound at the moment ( :D ) worth getting vet just to have a look
 
She is 14, loves to go for a good gallop, and touch wood, sound as a bell! (eeek!).
She has had a VERY rocky past, in which RSPCA were involved, and i have now had her 3 years :)
 
Gosh, she canters like a little bunny rabbit! If it were up to me, I would get the vet out just to be on the safe side, to check there isn't an underlying problem. Other than that, I do not know. Sorry :o
 
I'm no vet but I'd most likely say arthritis, it's nothing to worry about though. Really would advise to get vet just to double check. She has similar conformation to my pony and his arthritis is from his conformation.
 
Thanks everyone, it probably is arthritis she has had a rough life.
Since we had her, her trot has greatly improved and looks normal as apposed to shuffling, but her bunny hop canter is much the same sadly!

Thanks :)
 
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