How to get an uphill canter?

Twiggy14

Twiggy14

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Numpty question or...?
Just wondering 2 things -
1. How do you tell if your canter is uphill?
2. How do you make a canter more uphill?
:)
Thanks.
Xxx
 
B-B said:
Through suppleness and development of strength for the horse to 'sit' and carry.
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Its all very well feeling oh so clever saying that, but the girl wants to know -how- to do it :rolleyes:

It takes time really, but excercises I find that help is keeping the horse on a circle in the middle of the school in walk, and doing walk to canter transitions. Say start of cantering 6-8 strides then walk, then once you get the collection and lift through the transitions and the horse learns to steady himself, you can reduce the amount of strides you do in canter before you go straight back to walk again. I found this helped when teaching a girl that had a mare who would just run on, unbalenced and on her forehand in the canter, through using this excercise she is rocks more onto her hind legs and takes more weight behind and has a much more uphill and managable canter. Repeating this excercise not only gets them to sit on their hocks and use themselves but is also good for keeping them alert in the brain and listening for your next instructions. Canter poles can also be good at getting that extra lift :) Just keep peservering :)
 
BEUnderTheInfluence said:
It takes time really, but excercises I find that help is keeping the horse on a circle in the middle of the school in walk, and doing walk to canter transitions. Say start of cantering 6-8 strides then walk, then once you get the collection and lift through the transitions and the horse learns to steady himself, you can reduce the amount of strides you do in canter before you go straight back to walk again. I found this helped when teaching a girl that had a mare who would just run on, unbalenced and on her forehand in the canter, through using this excercise she is rocks more onto her hind legs and takes more weight behind and has a much more uphill and managable canter. Repeating this excercise not only gets them to sit on their hocks and use themselves but is also good for keeping them alert in the brain and listening for your next instructions. Canter poles can also be good at getting that extra lift :) Just keep peservering :)
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All this but I'd also add that you could try simple changes, so once your canter is balanced enough try doing a 1/2 10m circle to X, walking over the centre line for say, 3 strides, then ask for canter on the other leg before circling another 1/2 10m the other way to the track? Sorry not explained very well! Would probably try this once you've mastered the first exercises, as it requires a really balanced canter.. but I find helps a lot with engagement, responsiveness and being uphill!
 
Heres some exercises to do regularly, but as mentioned it will take time.

Transitions, loads of them.

Medium work, to working, to medium, to working etc. Move your canter backwards and forwards to get them carrying themself.

Try doing medium canter down the long side, and have a single pole at the end. Bring your horse back, keeping your leg on and you will find the pole really helps them sit up again after your medium work.

Leg yielding and lateral work, engage the hind leg.

Hillwork, go for a canter up a hill ;)

Good luck!
 
just to add that the feeling of an uphill canter will be like your horse's front is raising quite a bit with every stride, so it's kind of a nice rocking, wavy motion, as opposed to a flat feeling of a canter that lacks jump.
 
Shoulder fore then shoulder-in in canter helps to engage the inside hind leg and lift the forehand. Also on a 20m circle, every time you cross the centre line change canter thinking of 3 different canters- working, medium and collected so your horse cannot predict which you are going to ask for and has to wait and react to your aids :) They have to gradually build up the strength in their hindquarters so don't expect it to happen overnight ;)
 
My mare is exactly the same, very on the forehand and leans on me for support, our canter is a bit all over the place at the moment :rolleyes:

Will try some of the things people have suggested too :)

My previous instructor really got me to sit on my bum and to think slow, steady and collected- that seemed to really work and must of gave the correct aids as I was thinking about it, I have a close contact saddle and she also got me to really squeze with my thighs to keep my mare with me- instead of running of :)
 
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