How to get my horse thinking more 'forwards' in canter?

[Polos]

My 4 year old has a very very uphill canter, it's so uphill its almost to the point of him cantering on the spot! It's more up and down instead of forwards if you get what I mean.

Last time I asked, people told me to canter him on hack which I have been doing. It makes no difference if I canter him alone or in company or even in the school we are still going nowhere! Even on the lunge it is still very uphill and having a whip makes no difference at all.

Does anyone know what I can try next?

Quick update to my last post, the vet came and checked him out and he doesn't have ulcers or anything wrong with his sternum or back. The saddler is still coming in a week. I have been trying him in a different girth, I am borrowing my friends leather shires girth and it is making a huge difference, he is not humping his back and shuffling when I tighten it. So depending on what the saddler says I may be investing in a new girth.

 

[Polos]

anyone?

 

[be positive]

I would get a physio to check him over, vets are not trained to really find problems in the muscles in the same way, I have known vets say the horse is fine yet a physio can still pick up issues that are causing tightness.

When riding are you trying to sit and drive or going into light seat and letting him relax under you, if not sitting light try it you can stay forward through transitions if he is as balanced as he sounds. Some pole work may help open him up even a small x pole to get him moving on, it may be trial and error until he opens up and uses himself properly.

Does he go normally when turned out in the field?

 

[Polos]

I would get a physio to check him over, vets are not trained to really find problems in the muscles in the same way, I have known vets say the horse is fine yet a physio can still pick up issues that are causing tightness.

When riding are you trying to sit and drive or going into light seat and letting him relax under you, if not sitting light try it you can stay forward through transitions if he is as balanced as he sounds. Some pole work may help open him up even a small x pole to get him moving on, it may be trial and error until he opens up and uses himself properly.

Does he go normally when turned out in the field?

I'll ring the physio tomorrow then.

I admit in the school I don't go in a light seat, but I try to on hacks. I'll try more in the school and see what happens.

He is still quite scared of poles and jumping (he either plants himself or broncs) but at the end of a session with them he does get better. slightly more opened out but not really enough.

When I turn him out first thing in the morning he has a canter (it's his routine!) but it is still very uphill, so he still does the same without me interfering. After the canter, he then spends the rest of the day mooching around and stuffing his face!

 

[Meandtheboys]

My boy is 4yrs and exactly the same..............just had a lesson and i am totally shattered doing canter pole work!!

I think its just time they need although I went x country schooling and I actually felt under bitted!!

I have found more cantering out on hacks has made my boy stronger, but all horses will differ - I personally would not worry and just take things slowly.

 

[Patterdale]

With a young horse, lack of strength and balance creates problems in canter. Can be lack of forwardness, like yours, or going flat out. It is almost certainly down to lack of balance and strength. Could be pain, but in a 4 year old its a really common problem so I doubt it's pain.

You need to do lots of forward hacking, and taking him hunting would help loads. Lots of canters on straight lines, up a slight incline if you can.

Do short sessions on the lunge in all 3 paces, in side reins to help with his balance, including spiralling in and out in walk initially eventually building to same exercise in canter.

Do lots of little bits of lateral work, a few steps of leg yield, shoulder fore etc on your hacks.

Once he's going more forward, introduce canter exercises in the school, such as changing the pace within the canter, eg canter large around the school, then shorten the canter on the short strides and lengthen on the long strides. As he progresses you can do the same on a 20metre circle at B/E eg half circle medium canter, half circle shorter canter.
You can change this exercise by putting a pole at B and one at E, and as you canter round try for one extra or one less stride between them.

This last bit is way down the line though. You need to strengthen and balance him first, which won't take overnight

 

[Polos]

With a young horse, lack of strength and balance creates problems in canter. Can be lack of forwardness, like yours, or going flat out. It is almost certainly down to lack of balance and strength. Could be pain, but in a 4 year old its a really common problem so I doubt it's pain.

You need to do lots of forward hacking, and taking him hunting would help loads. Lots of canters on straight lines, up a slight incline if you can.

Do short sessions on the lunge in all 3 paces, in side reins to help with his balance, including spiralling in and out in walk initially eventually building to same exercise in canter.

Do lots of little bits of lateral work, a few steps of leg yield, shoulder fore etc on your hacks.

Once he's going more forward, introduce canter exercises in the school, such as changing the pace within the canter, eg canter large around the school, then shorten the canter on the short strides and lengthen on the long strides. As he progresses you can do the same on a 20metre circle at B/E eg half circle medium canter, half circle shorter canter.
You can change this exercise by putting a pole at B and one at E, and as you canter round try for one extra or one less stride between them.

This last bit is way down the line though. You need to strengthen and balance him first, which won't take overnight

Thank you this is so helpful I will definately give these a try!

I think I will get the physio out just in case.

Unfortunately my mum is strongly against hunting so she would not let me go even if it is good for his education. Would xc schooling with another experienced horse provide the same benefit?

 

[Polos]

My boy is 4yrs and exactly the same..............just had a lesson and i am totally shattered doing canter pole work!!

I think its just time they need although I went x country schooling and I actually felt under bitted!!

I have found more cantering out on hacks has made my boy stronger, but all horses will differ - I personally would not worry and just take things slowly.

I know how you feel about tiredness after lessons! after some lessons I just want to go back to bed even tough it is only something like 11am!

Now that the weather is getting better and its staying lighter for longer I'll be able to hack him out much more now which will be good