Exercises for disunited canter

NW1

NW1

Well-Known Member
Joined
12 October 2009
Messages
232
Visit site
As abover really - he's young & learning, honest & tries hard but needs a litle help on right rein with getting legs in right order.

His back legs go down the wrong way round, so the outside two go down together.

its not every time but it happens as much as it doesnt.

(perfect canter on left rein & balanced well through all other gaits, nice & forward, responsive good transisions etc)

He's a lovely boy & i just want to help him learn! usually they only do this leg thing occasionaly &/or work out of it when balanced but he hasn't *bless* & just need some help please!


p.s -my riding is okay - have backed & broken horses & taught horses up to medium etc.

Thanks in advance!
 
What's he like without a rider on? On the lunge/loose/long lines?

I'd want to get his back etc checked first.
 
Lunge him, a lot! In fact Id only canter him on the lunge for now and when its established without you on board maybe try it when you ride, short sides only. Helped with my boy when he was younger, he was very unbalanced bless him.
 
He is the same on the lunge - sometimes does it ... sometimes doesnt, i have no way of influencing him, it almost just seems like what ever order his legs go down in is what will stay

I have tried various bends, different parts of menage, striking off on different strides, sitting on opposite diagonal etc

back, teeth & saddle all been checked.....
 
Work on the lunge and do a lot of canter, if he strikes off wrong/disunited bring him back straight away then canter again straight away, you need to teach him the right way as he probably doesn't understand. You need to correct him every single time. If he's still struggling I'd have him looked at physically again.
 
If the aids to canter are well established, from the point of view that he always goes forwards into canter, I'd now start correction work for canter leads. Every time he strikes off wrong, going disunited or wrong lead, return to trot ASAP, like one stride if possible. Then immediately ask again for a correct canter, even if the trot isn't that balanced. It gets the message across that you want canter, just not *that* canter. It may be awful and unbalanced, but let him keep going for a circuit it two, to reinforce the message that this is what you want. You can work on balance later, once you've established the correct sequence of legs.

Don't do this on a horse that's not yet established to the forwards aids otherwise constantly coming back to trot confuses them about whether you want canter or not.
 
Thanks sugar&spice, when I take that approach that creates a lot of tension & fretting & that generates incorrect leads & stress towards canter transitions- any suggestions for that? Like most young horse the longer in one pace the more relaxed.

LouS - I think the frustrating thing is that it's perfect half the time & again with the more transitions the more un relaxed he becomes therefore the morel likely change of getting it wrong.

I do really appreciate your comments though

I suppose I was just hoping for a particular exercise which would garuntee legs in the right order
 
I am very quiet with him lunging & riding as he is a sensitive little soul, I have to be!
 
If it is a constant thing I would be getting a vet to check legs, my mare was awful in canter, constantly chopping and changing. Turned out she had a small issue with her hock, we found this out after nerve blocks and xrays.

In the mean time I'd keep a light seat, almost 2 point off the back to ease pressure. Also, like someone else has suggested, if he strikes off wrong bring him back to trot quickly and ask again. If the transitions are an issue then I used to find a pole (sometimes raised) would be very beneficial.
Is it just in the arena? What is he like out hacking in open fields? My mare was fine in open fields, it was just in an arena where she was funny :cool:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top