Horse swerves in canter - best tips for staying on!

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bluewhippet

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My Arab gelding is 9 but very green - not done much for the last 4 years. We can now hack out without too much spooking and walk and trot in the school are good.

Canter is our problem: in the school, because he is still fairly stiff on one side and unbalanced, cantering in circles is a bit like hard work, often preceded by bucks and throwing his head around. I just go for short bursts and concentrate on getting him less stiff through transitions and walk and trot. And when he bucks I send him on which seems to work.

Out on a hack - in a nice green field, he is great - I will let him go and he is actually very controllable and we just have fun. But on bridlepaths - uneven ground - he is constantly swerving and dropping his shoulder and I do - usually stay on.

Is this just par for the course with a flighty arab - he is very sensible in a lot of ways and I love him to bits - or is there something I can do in terms of schooling either him or me to make my position more secure?
 
Thanks. Has anyone tried one of these?

I have tried a strap on the d rings - but I don't find it that helpful because if he lowers his head and comes to a sudden standstill (also prone to do this!) then still have to do a frantic rebalance.

Maybe it is just a question of getting back to where I was before the long holidays. I have either been away or had the children at home, and so difficult to do anything with him. In July I was feeling much more relaxed and happy because we had schooled and hacked together constantly for a couple of months.
 
Devonshire dumpling said:
Noooooooooooooo idea if its any good, says it keeps you tighter in the saddle for young spooky horses..... http://www.rideaway.co.uk/rs-tor-training-and-safety-aid/default.aspx
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Personally I ride with a neckstrap, suitable for any occasion where i may need to cling on! And cheap too. And my horse is progressing too well, will be doing Novice soon and then not allowed neckstrap - eek!

In all seriousness, rider confidence is a big issue. If you are riding around the arena, or on bridlepath, and thinking your horse is going to spook and you're backing off, 9 times out of 10 he will! Try to adopt a strong confident position in canter (put your stirrups up a hole if nec and grab the neckstrap), don't allow your upper body position to be too forward and be positive. Perhaps you can practice in the arena riding the canter forward and bringing it back. He needs to be working with you, not thinking of more exciting gameplan!
 
Has anyone watched the video to the link I posted, his riding is terrrrible! I have a strap on the saddle, but to be honest it;s not a natural reaction of mine to grab, it usually happens to quick, if you think you are going to fall off you rarely do, its the fast unexpected ones where u r suddenly sitting on the floor xx
 
That poor horse looks embarassed:mad:

Re the spooky Arab,they are as you know a very bright breed. I would work in 2 point position and do lots of transitions within canter and in and out of canter.
Aim to be thinking faster than him and to keep him in front of your leg.
 
I agree anticipation of spooks and swerves often makes them happen. I'm also a big fan of Sally Swift's Centered Riding in which she talks about how most people keep their center of gravity too high which makes them top-heavy on their horse. Because of that, when your horse does spook, he can go out from under you. If you have a deep, centered seat however, your center of gravity is right in the saddle so you go with him.

It's the same principles used in martial arts and reflects the importance of your core muscles. Good exercises for developing a strong core are Pilates and Yoga as well as crunches. And practice lowering your center can help you find and keep it where it should be (between your belly button and pubic bone - if you put a hand there while standing or in the saddle, you can mentally drop your center. At first you lose it almost immediately but it becomes habit).

I have friends with Arabs and they refer to their amazing ability to travel long distances in a split second spook as "teleporting." It has always seemed to fit.
 
Devonshire dumpling said:
I wonder if it was clever marketing???? put a bouncy bouncy novice on and prove he doesn't fall off?
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I think you are right, that was exactly what I thought when I watched it. Much better to see that it clearly saves a novice rider since I would imagine that is precisely who they are aiming for.

If it saves a few nasty falls and the horses mouth, no bad thing.
 
bluewhippet said:
My Arab gelding is 9 but very green - not done much for the last 4 years. We can now hack out without too much spooking and walk and trot in the school are good.

Canter is our problem: in the school, because he is still fairly stiff on one side and unbalanced, cantering in circles is a bit like hard work, often preceded by bucks and throwing his head around. I just go for short bursts and concentrate on getting him less stiff through transitions and walk and trot. And when he bucks I send him on which seems to work.

Out on a hack - in a nice green field, he is great - I will let him go and he is actually very controllable and we just have fun. But on bridlepaths - uneven ground - he is constantly swerving and dropping his shoulder and I do - usually stay on.

Is this just par for the course with a flighty arab - he is very sensible in a lot of ways and I love him to bits - or is there something I can do in terms of schooling either him or me to make my position more secure?
Click to expand...

I suggest you get a qualified physio out to him first. Sounds like he may be in pain. If he is throwing his head around and is bucking and unbalanced it sounds like he has physical issues to me. If he is okay on the flat in a straight line, but unbalanced and uncomfortable in the school does that not in itself point out that there might be a problem?

Good luck with him, I like Arabs. x
 
I like the idea of the strap posted, as If anything happens, I always forget to grab neck strap etc. However, 45 quid!! Think I'll use the idea and try to make own :)
 
If you are not too bothered about jumping I really would invest in a stock saddle

These wonderful saddles mean that even when my ginger spooky thing jumps a mile sideways at warp factor 10, there is no chance of falling off!

I had an arab years ago, and I think if I'd known about stock saddles then, we would have had a lot more fun with less bruises (concussions etc)

661581.jpg
 
Thanks very much. I've had a physio out to him and he did have a sore back but now okay and his saddle is fine. His throwing his head and bucking happens when he is being pushed in a way he doesn't like.

I think teleporting is a great description
 
I think trying to get control in canter is probably a big issue! And practising canter transitions etc in a positive way might be very helpful.

Thanks
 
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