How can I help the canter from the ground?

[Friesianfoal1999]

Hi there,
Wanted to know if anyone had some tips. Very short back story on my mare, had kissing spine surgery JULY 2020. She has come on very well, it’s been up and down but we’ve taken it extra slow. She has been ridden for nearly 3/4 months now. Working with a professional dressage rider to build slow and correctly.
I had a huge surgery by my core so couldn’t ride and with a weaker core I’m taking it slowe so only walking and a bit of trot.

She had her first canter this week and we are only doing 4 or so strides, whatever she is comfortable with. But it takes a whole long side to get it as it’s been so long and it’s a real motorbike turn canter (understandably)
so I was wondering any tips of what I can do to help the canter. Canter poles? We longline and do lots of ground work. We don’t longline much on circles keep to the outside so if I have to jog that’s fine.
Where thinking a placing pole in the corner to help get the canter.
Any tips?

 

[Melody Grey]

If you’re unable to ride in canter presently (if I’ve interpreted that correctly?), I’d be inclined to get someone on her who can take her for short canters on straight lines on hacks first- the school is strenuous. Same as first cantering a youngster (as I do it anyway!)

But yes, a pole in the corner can certainly help if you’re school bound. If you’re using raised poles as part of your rehab that might too be an idea?

 

[Friesianfoal1999]

If you’re unable to ride in canter presently (if I’ve interpreted that correctly?), I’d be inclined to get someone on her who can take her for short canters on straight lines on hacks first- the school is strenuous. Same as first cantering a youngster (as I do it anyway!)

But yes, a pole in the corner can certainly help if you’re school bound. If you’re using raised poles as part of your rehab that might too be an idea?

Thank you for replying! So yeah that’s the plan to hack her and do some canters. We have some open free fields near us. I may ask the instructor if she wouldn’t mind but we are currently at her yard for schooling and it may take time for my tb to get used to the hacking area. And tension doesn’t help tje back etc. It’s a cycle.
So for now just working on the long side of the arena. I jog with her while longlining so can match her speed.

We are going to introduce some poles now so I think we may try. We were thinking a corner one to help get into the canter. What about then a couple of canter poles to help, they used to help balance her as she focused on where her legs went. I suppose I could do them on the ground to help her? Lots of jogging ??

 

[Friesianfoal1999]

If you’re unable to ride in canter presently (if I’ve interpreted that correctly?), I’d be inclined to get someone on her who can take her for short canters on straight lines on hacks first- the school is strenuous. Same as first cantering a youngster (as I do it anyway!)

But yes, a pole in the corner can certainly help if you’re school bound. If you’re using raised poles as part of your rehab that might too be an idea?

And yes you understood that correctly. No canter work for me riding but the instructor is

 

[milliepops]

am i right in reading that she's running into canter? the quality of the canter is often directly related to the quality of the transition - a good crisp transition means the horse doesn't lose its balance before getting to the first canter stride, so I would work on other transitions (walk/trot, halt/trot etc) to ensure the horse is on the aid and only try the canter then. is it possible that in taking the rehab so slowly and carefully you've allowed her to get a bit slow in her responses?

 

[Friesianfoal1999]

am i right in reading that she's running into canter? the quality of the canter is often directly related to the quality of the transition - a good crisp transition means the horse doesn't lose its balance before getting to the first canter stride, so I would work on other transitions (walk/trot, halt/trot etc) to ensure the horse is on the aid and only try the canter then. is it possible that in taking the rehab so slowly and carefully you've allowed her to get a bit slow in her responses?

It was her first canter in over a year and a half, it was as if she’d forgotten the transition itself. I am not too worried about that as it was her first. She’s ridden by a Grand Prix dressage rider so im Happy with that. I see what could happen but no not at all, if anything she is ten times sharper in her responses than she used to be

am i right in reading that she's running into canter? the quality of the canter is often directly related to the quality of the transition - a good crisp transition means the horse doesn't lose its balance before getting to the first canter stride, so I would work on other transitions (walk/trot, halt/trot etc) to ensure the horse is on the aid and only try the canter then. is it possible that in taking the rehab so slowly and carefully you've allowed her to get a bit slow in her responses?

Sorry clicked send too early. But no defo not. She’s so responsive now as her hind is stronger, mentally more engaged. I understand how to work on the rushing and balance ridden but wondering is there anything in hand I can do to help?

 

[Friesianfoal1999]

I should add her trot is amazing for her position. She is learning slowly and correctly as if she is being rebacked. Now starting to balance great and lifting her front end
and we took it slow because she was a very severe case and kissing spine wasn’t the only problem.
Appreciate everyone’s help I really do. But really interested in what I can do from the ground in hand or longlining to help with the canter. the instructor is GP so I trust her. can’t blame a horse for running out in the transition as it was her first, she wasn’t just unbalanced it was more what are you asking me to do I haven’t done this in years or since I’ve been pain free.

could I do some transitions in hand to help?

 

[milliepops]

sounds like your instructor is the best person to ask then? as they know all the back story and also what is happening in person. can't they make some suggestions?

 

[Friesianfoal1999]

sounds like your instructor is the best person to ask then? as they know all the back story and also what is happening in person. can't they make some suggestions?

Yeah she’s made some great suggestions for hacking etc but even Charlotte dujardin always says you can never stop learning so I thought I’d ask on here . I spend my extra time researching different exercises and equine biomechanics to better my learning.

ive learnt some great exercises that have been game changers online for her recovery.

 

[Friesianfoal1999]

Do you have any exercises for on the ground? Fine if not just curious what others have done.

sounds like your instructor is the best person to ask then? as they know all the back story and also what is happening in person. can't they make some suggestions?[/QUOT

 

[Shilasdair]

Here's some ideas;

• Canter up a hill out hacking (only a few strides)
• Take half seat to make it easier for her to round her back (and for the rider to stay in balance)
• One pole diagonally across the corner of the school, transition over it.
• Leg yield from centre line to corner in trot, then canter transition round the short side.
• Canter on the lunge.
• Some raised pole work in trot to help her engage hind legs.
• Some small trot jumps if she's allowed

 

[milliepops]

it's not that clear what you're after, if she just ran into her first canter but that's not been a problem since then possibly you're trying to solve a problem that isn't really there?

i wouldn't particularly want to do canter poles if the canter is weak and unbalanced because the horse might step on a pole, i don't usually use poles on the ground until there's a baseline of a decent pace to work with. from what you've said I would work on different shapes in the groundwork, adding in circles gradually because presumably you will want to add them in to the ridden work, and also often working on long straight lines can encourage horses to become more strung out if the canter is weak. and many transitions, within and between paces, that is always good to work on.

 

[Regandal]

As mentioned above, leg yield into canter is good for setting them up well, not sure that’s doable from the ground though, you are going to end up super fit!

 

[Friesianfoal1999]

Here's some ideas;

• Canter up a hill out hacking (only a few strides)
• Take half seat to make it easier for her to round her back (and for the rider to stay in balance)
• One pole diagonally across the corner of the school, transition over it.
• Leg yield from centre line to corner in trot, then canter transition round the short side.
• Canter on the lunge.
• Some raised pole work in trot to help her engage hind legs.
• Some small trot jumps if she's allowed

Oh thank you so much! This helps so much. Really appreciate this. She can’t jump yet but she does “jump” a raised pole on its own which we are going to try.

like the idea of one pole diagonally Ctoss the school. Will try that tomorrow.

 

[Friesianfoal1999]

As mentioned above, leg yield into canter is good for setting them up well, not sure that’s doable from the ground though, you are going to end up super fit!

Thank you! She is actually very good at leg yield on the ground as we’ve been doing this a while. We go jogging on the long lines across the countryside. Getting fit became a part of this ?. Might try leg yield into a corner pole. Thank you, another to add to the list x

 

[Friesianfoal1999]

it's not that clear what you're after, if she just ran into her first canter but that's not been a problem since then possibly you're trying to solve a problem that isn't really there?

i wouldn't particularly want to do canter poles if the canter is weak and unbalanced because the horse might step on a pole, i don't usually use poles on the ground until there's a baseline of a decent pace to work with. from what you've said I would work on different shapes in the groundwork, adding in circles gradually because presumably you will want to add them in to the ridden work, and also often working on long straight lines can encourage horses to become more strung out if the canter is weak. and many transitions, within and between paces, that is always good to work on.

I may be being unclear, she did run into her first canter but she’s only had one canter under saddle. Simply asking what can I do from the ground to help. Got some ideas though I will work on.
She has started circles in the ridden work and taking to it well. Poles seem to help her just relax and get each stride, almost like a breather and some guidance. I will do what you said between paces on the long lines x