Horse panicking in canter - any tips?

K

kittykatcat

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 August 2007
Messages
486
Visit site
Hi all,

Last year i bought (rescued) an Irish TB, v, v poor condition, complete broken soul :( He's now a lot lot better, worms gone, lice gone, feet sorted out and weight on and has a real cheeky character now.

I have started riding him (he was broken in Ireland) and he has come on a lot, especially in walk and trot (won our first W&T test the other day eee!) but in canter, although he can now pop in to canter without running and appears to be able to hold himself in canter more, he really panicks and takes off, literally at time gallopping (especially down the long side towards the gate :s)

At the moment i am putting him on a 20m circle and asking for canter, doing a few strides, coming back to trot and repeating this. However, when we go large he panicks and takes off and when you bring him back to trot he's jogging and unsettled.

I've had teeth/back/saddle all checked previously so shouldnt be anything in that department.

Any ideas of how to get his attention, stop him peeing off and becoming all panicky!?

:) x
 
Hi. can you make you circles gradually bigger and bigger? Does he canter a full circle? It may be best to wait until you can get a full circle and he's happy before moving onto bigger circles.

How is he out hacking? Does he canter out there? I taught Tilly to canter out hacking and then we had no problems in the school.
 
Hi, Is he an exracer? Personally I would work on the canter on the lunge. He needs to be able to canter and be balanced before you are on board. Mine is currently balanced and in fairly consistent outline in walk and trot (only been working in school for a few weeks) but there is no way he could carry me in canter in an outline on a bend. I lunge him every day before I get on, 5 mins walk, trot, canter without side reins to warm up (over a pole to get right strike off if nec) , then 10-15 mins with side reins walk halt walk, walk, trot transitions before I get on and do 10 - 15 mins on board halt, walk and trot. This week have started introducing few beats of sitting trot which he is accepting well and should help with transitions.
I have cantered on hacks with a reliable companion who is able to stay in control!
All the best! You've obviously got walk and trot nailed, be patient with the canter and it will come
 
Don't try under saddle - he will find it hard enough to balance himself without having a rider on board as well. The one I have just started to work with is now balanced and confident in an outline in walk and trot under saddle (only been riding him for about 10 days) I have just introduced him to a pessoa in walk in straight lines, and I will be introducing him to lunge work this week as well. i will then start to introduce canter on the lunge and on long reins. i won't canter under saddle until he is calmly cantering in an outline and balance on the lunge.

My last ex racer took a while to settle confidently in canter anfter a few weeks in teh school, but it needs consistent work without too much pressure.

Also be 100% sure he has no ongoing problems in his back. most racehorses have back damage from the saddles that are used, and if you are out of balance with him he may well panic in canter. Remember he will not have really ever done anything in a circle, never used his back properly and you possibly weigh far more than a jockey ( no I am not saying you are fat- just most flat jockeys have to make 8 stone. I know I couldn;t do it. I can make 9.8 but no less. His only experience in the past would be having the jockey thrown up and then moving in a straight line.
 
Do racehorses do much cantering? I only ask as I wonder if, to him, canter has only ever really been an intermediate measure before he's asked to gallop - maybe he thinks he is supposed to take off?:o:confused:

I think the advice about teaching him on the lunge and keeping it in circles for now sounds good:)
 
Welcome to my world! Only kidding, but your not the first and im sure you wont be the last!

I've also got an Irish TB but he was definitely raced (in fact until he was 10 so he was pretty well stuck in his ways!)

I'd pretty much go with everyone's advice on the lunging, not to much side rein though as otherwise you end up holding him into it and its better for him to be a bit loose and work it out that way (you dont want him to panic at the side reins restricting him either).

It maybe a silly question but does he bolt (bit in teeth and even sawing your reins makes no difference) or does he just shoot forward? If he just shoots forward can you push him through it? Mine gets so wound up about the canter that if i can get him in it and keep pushing him he's actually quite lazy and doesn't actually want to canter, although i appreciate every horse is different.

Also the hacking thing is good to try. The other thing I do is make sure they know what slow down is so you can slow him from it (although it might not work if its a blind panic). I can go from a pretty fast canter hacking out to a pretty quick standstill just because he knows my aids (pity he doesnt re-act so quick in the school!) In all my schooling if i want to slow down a transition i hold both reins but give a couple of gentle tugs on my right rein, once they understand you dont have to tug so much but if there is any chance he might listen to you then its worth ago!

Good luck and keep us updated with your progress.
 
Racers do canter work and trot work, i know a few people in racing and from what they say at one yard they do canter work somedays and galloping otherdays i think some even have a day of every week :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top