Hind legs going faster than front in canter!

Hobnails

New User
Joined
17 June 2018
Messages
7
Visit site
I have a Clydesdale ID X that I am struggling to get to canter smoothly in the school when ridden. He is fine out hacking or on the lunge, but as soon as I start working him properly in canter he will do several strides then become unbalanced and feels like I am riding a camel. Watching footage it is apparent that his back legs canter faster than the front, until he becomes disunited for one to two strides then corrects himself. I assume that he has weakness. Has anyone had a similar problem and are there any suggestions as to
a) why and b) how to cure.

AI’ll posts gratefully received.
 
He is on his forehand, common with draft horses, they are bred to pull into a collar. You need to do lots and lots of exercises, at walk and then trot, to encourage him to step under and take more weight on his hind end - transitions, circles, serpentines etc (but not so small he gets unbalanced, start large and gradually get smaller) and a good one is a spiral, off a circle, spiral in then out again.
 
Thanks JillA, I havad someone else suggest that, they proscribed lots of shoulder in incorporating walk trot walk transitions, which he is actually quite capable at. On the basis that it took 18months to achieve a consistent left canter transition I shall persevere and not be disheartened.
 
And walk to canter transitions are also helpful, just don't maintain the canter once the balance has gone. To begin with he will only manage a few strides, then as he gets stronger it will be more and more
 
Top