Connie struggling with canter

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Linsbaz

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Hello,

I have a beautiful Connie gelding who is 5yo next month. I got him as a 3.5yo who had literally been backed, toddled around the yard, bit of lunging and then was turned away for 6 months. He then went as a 4yo to be professionally broken where he was happily schooling and hacking. Since then I’ve done very little, taking everything slowly, lunging, hacking, poles and ground work. When he went to be broken, the lady breaking only had him for 4 weeks and didn’t manage to master the canter in that time, he just kept breaking back to trot in the hind legs. Since then I’ve tried to build up some strength and balance slowly but I’m still struggling to get the canter going, and wondered if anyone has any tips or is it just a case of continuing with strength work, poles , raised poles and transitions? Whilst I want to take it easy and slow, I do want to start getting him out and about to some group lessons, introduce a bit of jumping etc at some point.
 
He sounds like he needs more time… I would also suggest cantering only on hacks when he offers rather than in an arena until they are more balanced. At group lessons go and have fun in trot if need be. Take in the experience. I have taken my Connie to some jumping lessons age 5 and she really improved her canter not until age 6. First jumping will potentially be a lot of trot over poles and tiny jumps from trot and he will learn to balance and develop strength from that.
 
thank you for the encouragement, I’ve been feeling a bit disheartened but I’ll try and find some safer hacking routes with some little canter spots to see if the open space helps. I’ll keep going 💪🏻
 
As above, definitely canter whilst out hacking to prove to yourself there is no problem but balance, strength and continuity of canter in the school will come only if you practice and it does takes time to build up. I would honestly say it’s taken our 3 year old 18 months .. but we aren’t a competition home and are taking our time.
 
It could be different in your case, but I had one exactly the same and his problem was hind suspensories. Bought as a 2year old, backed him myself as a rising 4yo so full history known.
 
It could be a simple schooling/lack of experience issue, but if you find he also struggles to start or maintain canter out hacking, it may also be a muscle myopathy issue. It was one of the most frustrating symptoms of PSSM1 for my cob gelding. He did manage to master canter eventually out hacking, but still struggles in the school (we only have sand, though, so it's like wading through treacle), so I simply don't school in the arena, now.
 
Wizpopagain said:
It could be different in your case, but I had one exactly the same and his problem was hind suspensories. Bought as a 2year old, backed him myself as a rising 4yo so full history known.
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Almost the same story as mine bought at 18mo. He grew to 17hh so initially thought it was just his size and he was not balanced enough to canter in a 40x20 arena.

I was advised by my trainer to get him out cantering on a hack but his behaviour deteriorated and he wasn't safe on the road.
 
Is he an overheight connie. If he is then I would strongly suspect a physical issue.
I've yet to meet an overheight one that doesn't have, or end up with physical issues.
 
Not read all the replies - balance has to come before strength otherwise the strength we build can be the wrong kind. Working on balance and function in the walk makes massive difference to the canter, have a look at the Slow Walk Work group on FB. It's free and from a great trainer, has a great focus and approach, start with the featured posts in turn.

Canter in straight lines, we do much too much canter with babies in arenas IMO. So many of my saddle fit customers have a "challenging" time cantering in the arena; working through that much tension is never beneficial, winning the fight means fighting, tension, and that means incorrect form or function and is the start of horses developing compensations, which can and usually do turn into a more serious issue way down the line. And if cantering in straight lines isn't good then keep going back to the walk, if you keep not making progress then it's time for at least a bodyworker if not a performance workup.
 
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w1bbler - simply not true about over height connie's. I have produced and known many. Most of whom have been very sound horses, well into their senior years. Including my own pony who is now 21 years old.
Definitely get him cantering out and about in straight lines before you ever consider cantering in the school. Strength is key, Also please remember that connie's are late maturers,often growing well into their 7th year.
 
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Take him out with another sensible horse, just let him bowl along into canter and get off his back to make it easier for him. Did this with my mare who i have recently broken in. She canters easily out hacking but still struggles in my arena which is 20x60, so i will give her more time. Up gentle hills is the absolute best if you have them. I used the beach. If you don't have access to good hacking maybe hire somewhere ie a cross country course where there is lots of room to ride around.
 
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