Help needed for cantering on the lunge

[kittykatcat]

My very unbalanced (in canter) 5yo finds it extremely difficult to canter on the lunge, and i am finding it extremely diffucult/frustrating to ask him! Does anyone have any hints or tips? Its becoming near impossible – trots and walks around lovely (had him in fairly loose side reins last night) but when you put pressure on him to canter, head comes up, starts trotting really really fast, like absurdly fast, and starts really pulling outwards on the line. He may break into a few strides, but never really manages a whole circle and its always really panicky. Then takes him a minute or two to calm down in trot and trot round nicely. I put poles out last night to try and help him concentrate, but they didn’t, he just fell over them when he started panicking!

 

[millitiger]

If he is very unbalanced in canter i don't think it is really that fair to ask him to canter on the lunge.

when you lunge you tend to be on a 20m circle and if he is that unbalanced he needs a bigger circle to start with so i would keep the cantering to when you ride and do it out hacking or in a larger area.

 

[Rooji]

Does he also have issues cantering circles when ridden?
My rising 5 yr old has difficulty with cicle work at canter - he just is not balanced enough and either is very rushed or falls out of the circle. He is 17hh and still growing into himself (ISH) and finds it hard. Your horse probably needs either larger circles or just more time before he can balance himself - I dont think side reins would help - you dont want him just leaning on them.
Maybe just ask for a couple of strides at first and then increase it as he improves and take your time - he will get there!

 

[kittykatcat]

Sorry probably havent explained it well enough...he canters absolutely fine on the straight..no probs. Simarlarly he can canter absolutely fine large around the school and in 20 m circles, he is a bit unbalanced, but ok. It's just the lunging that is completely hopeless.

 

[Winklepoker]

I feel your frustration!! I had exactly the same problem until I used my (home made) pessoa! She was so wary of it on her hindquarters that Canter was the pace she chose until she realised it wasnt going to swallow her whole!!! I just used loads of praise and kept on saying 'Canter' and from then she did it when I asked with a little encouragement from the voice and waggle of the whip!!
Alternatively give up before you lose the will to live

x

 

[Orangehorse]

Cantering on the lunge is very hard work, so only ask for a few strides - quality not quantity - and very gradually work up.

I used an EquiAmi with great success, it made a big difference to my horse, but make sure yours will accept something round his quarters quietly first.

 

[kittykatcat]

I have tried him in the pessoa. However, i dont feel that it works very well for him. He couldn't care less with something round his hind quarters, and just goes round poking his nose in the air, doesnt work long and low AT ALL! Side reins and draw reins over the back and through the legs seem the only thing that encourages him to work in some sort of outline, although i do prefer the way a pessoa works (i.e. encouraging them to work from behind, rather than just dragging their head into their chest!).