exercises for very gangly 3yo

I have experience of only one horse with a 'delayed canter' of many horses I have broken, and when he did finally canter, he was totally unconcerned.

If a horse isn't offering to canter, or is very unsure when it does, I really struggle to see any harm in waiting. As long as the rider doesn't make a big deal about it, why should the horse? Surely if it being a different sensation causes problems, then there would be the same problems introducing jumping, yet it's very common to delay jumping horses until they have been cantering at least six months and it doesn't seem to cause problems?

I'm not in any way suggesting delaying is good, or that horses which need it are common (ime they aren't at all common), only that I struggle to see the harm if the other alternative would be to force the horse to canter when it does not feel able.
 
Just wondering about canter... this is a geniune question... what are the reasons for seperating it out as a gait?

I was under the impression WTC is pretty much basic backing stuff. Not perfect obviously, at this age it's about obedience to the asking for change of gait. My understanding of backing was that the horse was able to change gait, turn, stop on command and you leave it at that until it was strong enough.
 
Canter is often the flash point for trouble with horse this is I think because it's the gait that enages the horses body the most naturally it lifts the back because abdominals are enaged much more even in the young on the forehand horse than trot and and walk .
That can produce explosive behavior bucking being the worse case scenario .
Now I would always use a thin memory foam pad under the saddle so the back is always pushing up into a really soft layer , we did have them when I was backing a lot so we used thin sheepskins .
I approach it like this when lunging lots of horses will break in canter now and again for a few strides I never stop them I will say canter canter until they finally back to stop unless they rudely bolt off I never stop them because I think it makes it harder to get them canter later because they get the idea it's not allowed .
When riding I take the same approach if they break into it I say canter and then quietly let the trot come back .
I like to train them to a voice command and then train them to the leg .
Hacking slighly uphill is a good place to start and develop the canter .
 
tallyho! said:
Just wondering about canter... this is a geniune question... what are the reasons for seperating it out as a gait?

I was under the impression WTC is pretty much basic backing stuff. Not perfect obviously, at this age it's about obedience to the asking for change of gait. My understanding of backing was that the horse was able to change gait, turn, stop on command and you leave it at that until it was strong enough.
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It's the only pace of the three main ones that is completely asymmetric and where there is a moment when the horse has no feet in contact with the floor. One sided weakness, which most young horses have to some extent, is therefore seriously destabilising in canter with a rider on board as well.

Young horses also tend to rush when they get unbalanced, and if they are already in a faster pace, this can scare them (and the rider!).
 
Goldenstar said:
I approach it like this when lunging lots of horses will break in canter now and again for a few strides I never stop them I will say canter canter until they finally back to stop unless they rudely bolt off I never stop them because I think it makes it harder to get them canter later because they get the idea it's not allowed .
When riding I take the same approach if they break into it I say canter and then quietly let the trot come back .
I like to train them to a voice command and then train them to the leg .
Hacking slighly uphill is a good place to start and develop the canter .
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Ok, good, that's what I do. I never try and stop a canter if it's offered.
 
ycbm said:
It's the only pace of the three main ones that is completely asymmetric and where there is a moment when the horse has no feet in contact with the floor. One sided weakness, which most young horses have to some extent, is therefore seriously destabilising in canter with a rider on board as well.

Young horses also tend to rush when they get unbalanced, and if they are already in a faster pace, this can scare them (and the rider!).
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Do you think there's a reason for this?

I'm just wondering as I have often observed horses who are have been stabled tend to be less stable in canter (no pun intended). Those who have just been brought in from the rough after three years of more or less a feral existence have less trouble staying in balance. Just my observations and that of some producers I know that's all.

I just wondered if there was a reason as youngsters generally do a lot of cantering, spinning and charging about of their own volition and I would have expected there to be no issues unless they were seriously unfit when starting them under saddle.
 
Although the topic has digressed a bit from my OP - for what it's worth my 3yo had his first canter today - just 5 strides or so on each rein and although looked a little camel-like he seemed to hold his balance in transitions up and down and also wasn't remotely excited or bothered by the whole thing. Also pleased to see he was quite nicely collected and not flailing wildly!

Tallyho - interesting thought in your last post. My 3yo lived in a herd of youngsters all of his life before he came to me a few months ago - although gangly he knows where his feet are out in the field and is sensible (when they have a mad moment!) as are my 2 previously feral cobs - whereas the TBs I've had who have been stable kept most of their life had more of a tendency to lose control of their legs messing about in the field and fall over...
 
tobiano1984 said:
Although the topic has digressed a bit from my OP - for what it's worth my 3yo had his first canter today - just 5 strides or so on each rein and although looked a little camel-like he seemed to hold his balance in transitions up and down and also wasn't remotely excited or bothered by the whole thing. Also pleased to see he was quite nicely collected and not flailing wildly!

Tallyho - interesting thought in your last post. My 3yo lived in a herd of youngsters all of his life before he came to me a few months ago - although gangly he knows where his feet are out in the field and is sensible (when they have a mad moment!) as are my 2 previously feral cobs - whereas the TBs I've had who have been stable kept most of their life had more of a tendency to lose control of their legs messing about in the field and fall over...
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Yay! Great feeling isn't it! Good boy!

re: feral vs stabled youngsters, I have no idea, I'm just putting it out there...

Sorry for going off on a tangent! :D
 
tallyho! said:
Yay! Great feeling isn't it! Good boy!

re: feral vs stabled youngsters, I have no idea, I'm just putting it out there...

Sorry for going off on a tangent! :D
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Yes - he's making progress so quickly it's very rewarding!

Not at all haha it's an interesting thought! Currently studying for my MSc in vet. physiotherapy so might have given me an idea for a study!! :-)
 
My three year old (four next month) was started at Christmas, and it has taken her most of the year to get her head around canter with a rider. She was cantered by the trainer when she was started, but I felt she was really struggling with it, to the point that it was becoming an issue for her. So we left it alone (unless she offered) over the winter and picked it up again about four weeks ago. Different horse, she just needed that extra time to grow and strengthen.

She has always lived out, but interestingly when I bought her at 18 months old, she had no canter. Her hooves were way too long, and even though the paddock she was in was quite big, it was very cluttered. So when she arrived at mine, initially she would just trot faster - to my horror. However I have a big paddock, and once here feet were sorted, she learned to canter.

Riding wise over this year we have hacked lots, gone out as much as possible to lessons, riding club rallies and competitions where they wouldn't mind me just riding her around and spectating.
 
Ah bless her NZJenny... she landed on her feet with you! I'm sure she always had a canter, it's just that it was hard work with long toes so it was probably easier to trot as a long yearling.

I can't wait to do RC next year ( mine will be five by then)!
 
Trr
tallyho! said:
Just wondering about canter... this is a geniune question... what are the reasons for seperating it out as a gait?

I was under the impression WTC is pretty much basic backing stuff. Not perfect obviously, at this age it's about obedience to the asking for change of gait. My understanding of backing was that the horse was able to change gait, turn, stop on command and you leave it at that until it was strong enough.
Click to expand...

Canter being a three time gait requires a degree of fitness and balance and suppleness to be performed in a confined space.

I never canter a young horse on the lunge, especially one so young. They can strike into themselves, slip and fall as a lunge circle is far too tight. They will also favour their stronger leg and will canter even more unbalanced and on the wrong lead.

Generally all early schooling is done in trot, because it is a two time movement, equal and not reliant on the favoured side of the horse.

Introduce canter on a ride out, in a straight line, or if offered, allow the canter for a few strides before coming back to trot.
 
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