How can I keep her cantering

[Darcey22]

Hi there
My horse is 16 but before I got her 5 months ago she was t ridden really for 8 years so she has a very unbalanced in canter. She breaks the canter after about 4 strides. And then runs back into it. I hat exercises can I do to help her be more balm as and not break canter?

 

[Surbie]

This is the horse that is ridden every day and is school sour from your other thread? What do you do with her now in the school and what have you done so far to build her fitness?

If she hasn't really been ridden for 8 years she will likely need more time to build muscle and balance. She's an older horse too so fittening will take longer because of that too. Personally I would take it back to walk & trot, build the amounts of trot steadily before introducing canter again and include pole and hill work, as well as work in hand. I would also give her a day or two off a week.

Depending on what you've done so far in the 5 months I'd also be looking for a vet check.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Plenty of circles, pole work to build up her muscles. Like surbie said, remain in trot for the time being till she is a bit fitter

 

[Darcey22]

Yea same horse. I don’t know if I am just overthinking (I do that a lot) I took her to a dressage comp yesterday. Only intro so walk and trot and for the first time ever I had to PC kick her all the way round ( She came 4th out of 20 competitors so she didn’t do a bad test) She was so lazy. She used to buck in canter, first the transitions, then during, then coming out. Now she doesn’t buck, but I do struggle to keep her going without breaking to a running trot. She is going to get a mot with the vet in a couple of weeks time, but I have had her on aloe Vera juice for the last 6 weeks and changed her girth as we thought it might be ulcers. This has worked really well and she is no longer girthy or Bucky. Her saddle has been fitted 3 Times was in the last 6 months as she has obviously changed shape and she has had her teeth done and and regular chiropractor.
I know it’s probably my riding, but if I tickle her with a stick she bucks and I am not a fit confident rider so don’t carry one now.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I would definitely get the vet to watch her trot up and possibly on the lunge, if you suspect ulcers they can often be a secondary symptom to pain and by what you are describing could be discomfort somewhere possibly lameness.

Horses are generally not that lazy so when one becomes lazy there is normally a reason.

Well done at dressage

 

[Darcey22]

I would definitely get the vet to watch her trot up and possibly on the lunge, if you suspect ulcers they can often be a secondary symptom to pain and by what you are describing could be discomfort somewhere possibly lameness.

Horses are generally not that lazy so when one becomes lazy there is normally a reason.

Well done at dressage

Thanks all. Will see how she is today and mention to vet next xxx

 

[Sossigpoker]

Definitely vet. There's something wrong with the horse as she's so reluctant to move and the bucking in and out of canter is usually pain related.
I wouldn't ride and get a performance assessment booked with the vet sooner rather than later.

 

[Darcey22]

She doesn’t buck in canter anymore. She also doesn’t do it when my instructor rides her. The only time she was lazy was yesterday, so will have a look and see if she is the same today. Also worth mentioning is she loves jumping and is forward going as soon as you put a fence up. Xx

 

[Rowreach]

She doesn’t buck in canter anymore. She also doesn’t do it when my instructor rides her. The only time she was lazy was yesterday, so will have a look and see if she is the same today. Also worth mentioning is she loves jumping and is forward going as soon as you put a fence up. Xx

But you're saying she doesn't canter anymore.

Both your threads are waving red flags for this horse, and the more information you are giving (not going forward in your test, not cantering, girthy etc) shows there is something not right with your horse. Ulcers, if she has them, are the result of something else, pain or trauma or ill health. And arena riding often shows up other issues because the horse is constantly being asked to go on a turn, which for a horse in any sort of discomfort will only make it worse.

 

[Sossigpoker]

Please for the love of God just call your vet ! This horse needs help and a medical assessment.

 

[AmyMay]

What is she like hacking out?

 

[eggs]

It certainly sounds as though she can't hold her balance in canter with you for whatever reason. Without seeing a video it is hard to give any advice but a vet would be a good starting point.

I also find that often a horse that gets forward going when he/she sees jumps doesn't 'love' it but often is either scared or in pain.

A 16 year old horse that has hardly been ridden for 8 years needs a decent amount of fittening work before it is reasonable to ask them to work. I know from another of your threads that you say you don't have anywhere to hack but this horse is screaming out for a change to the current routine.

 

[Rowreach]

What is she like hacking out?

Doesn’t take her hacking according to the other thread.

 

[canteron]

Please for the love of God just call your vet ! This horse needs help and a medical assessment.

 

[quiteniceforacob]

So if I’m right, previous owners stopped riding her at 8? Why? Have you seen previous vet records?

In any event, I echo the “call the vets!”

 

[Darcey22]

Please for the love of God just call your vet ! This horse needs help and a medical assessment.

What is she like hacking out?

She is diamond. But we don’t go out often as we need to trailer out due to the roads being extremely fast and busy and I won’t go alone. Xx

 

[Darcey22]

Thanks for all your comments. Rode her today and she was brilliant. very forward going and cantered a few 20m circles before breaking to trot, but better than she was. I have called the vet however and described the situation and she is going to come out and assess her. So thanks for your advice xx

 

[Darcey22]

So if I’m right, previous owners stopped riding her at 8? Why? Have you seen previous vet records?

In any event, I echo the “call the vets!”

Her owner couldn’t ride her due to spinal arthritis so she was ridden once in a while by the yard owner just to stretch legs.
She was 5 stage vetted when I bought her in October and just had a few positive steps on her flexion. No prior I’ll health records xx

 

[Xmasha]

Assuming shes not in any discomfort and With being out of work for 8 years shes probably a bit like my mare, and lacking enough muscle to do the job your asking.

My physio recommended long lining over poles, doing lots of transitions, using an equiband system.

Only use the equiband for 15 mins at a time, as its hardwork for them.

Plus lots of hacking. Id avoid school work unless in hand. Until shes stronger.

 

[Jenko109]

A horse like this lacking in strength and fitness needs to be hacked. You need hill work and to get her using that back end stepping over logs etc and all the things that hacking will naturally bring.

I would move this mare to a yard that is better suited to her needs.

 

[Darcey22]

Thanks Jenko. You are completely right. I am trying to move yards but there is just no where available at the moment. Need full livery as I work a lot. However the clocks go back this weekend so I have discussed with a friend to trailer out twice a week and get her out and about. Do you think this is enough? Xx

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Thanks Jenko. You are completely right. I am trying to move yards but there is just no where available at the moment. Need full livery as I work a lot. However the clocks go back this weekend so I have discussed with a friend to trailer out twice a week and get her out and about. Do you think this is enough? Xx

She is probably as stiff as as a board having so many years off hopefully it is just that so after you have had the all clear, get a good physio and get them to show you some suppling exercises they mainly are stretches and ground work including raised poles, do some lateral work on board just start them in walk,ca bit leg yield, shoulder in turn on the forehand will get her body stron and flexible.

Hacking will help hugely go as much as you can get her walking out going up and down hills, you can even do a bit of lateral work on a hack it will all help.

 

[hock]

4 strides of canter is fine, when she breaks don’t let her rush back into canter again re balance the trot and ask again for your transition when you’re satisfied she balanced and repeat. She will gradually build up strength stamina and balance but don’t chase into canter. You might also for now want to ask for your transition at the same point so you can use the anticipation to train her to your canter aids. Young/unbalanced horses do buck sometimes cantering providing everything fits and no pain just ride quietly forwards.
I would also suggest practising in sitting trot opening and closing your seat so when she does start doing more strides you can use your seat to drive her forwards.