how to improve our canter?

J

JessPickle

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Now pickle when he is in the school canters really on the forehand (I think!) and looks unbalanced when he is out he is amazing has a lovely canter with lots of implulsion and really balanced, his trot has improved in leaps and bounds (allthough still needs work which I am very aware of) any tips videos below

Tro Videos (I know were not anywhere near perfect!)



Canter Video
 
I'd say you need to get him more active in his canter. The same in trot, too, as he isn't really tracking up. He looks nice though and I bet he'll look lovely when you've got him going right.
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Do you have lessons?
 
Difficult to tell from such a short video - apart from what a lovely chap your horse is - but it looks to me like you are using your hands and reins to balance yourself rather than sitting in the saddle and your hands being very independant, therefore your seat isn't as effective as it should be and Pickle is having to support your body weight with his neck and head, hence why he feels on the forehand and maybe a little strong.

I would be inclined to concentrate on sitting deep into the saddle and working on your independant seat and not worry about his head or outline at the moment, when you slow the canter and push the canter forward from your seat alone you can then start to use some exercises to help Pickle become lighter although he will already be lighter when you are.

You have a very nice basic way about your riding but with small improvements on your balance you could really start to become an effective rider especially with such a great Pickle.
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I'd say you need to get him more active in his canter. The same in trot, too, as he isn't really tracking up. He looks nice though and I bet he'll look lovely when you've got him going right.
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Do you have lessons?

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Yes have lessons, just wanted an outside opinion as well
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You have a very nice basic way about your riding but with small improvements on your balance you could really start to become an effective rider especially with such a great Pickle.
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thank you basic is our game!
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mainly because I have no idea baout all these gadgets etc so dont use them! seems like no use using something you dont have a clue about!
 
Hard to tell from such short clips, but you seem like a nice quiet rider. However you need to get your lower leg much more stable and try and push your seat down so that your upper body isn't rocking in the saddle so much. He looks to have lovely paces (I think Pickle is FAB!) but needs to become more engaged behind. You can concentrate on getting this in trot by doing lots of circles, and masses of transitions. Walk to canter, halt to trot, working trot to collected trot to working trot to halt on a 20m circle etc. Keep it really varied.

The more you can get him working through his hocks and over his back, the lighter he'll become in front, making it easier for you to relax your hands and support him with the leg.

It's hard work with such a big horse (I should know!) and does take lots more time and leg effort than with smaller more piliable animals (!) but it's definitely worth it in the end!

HTH!
 
You look like you need to get your bum glued to the saddle, you are ever so slightly titling forward in the canter.

Your horse is gorge!!
 
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Your horse is gorge!!

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if pickle could read he would be very big headed right now
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thank you
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LOL! Is he not big headed already?!
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Last night the YO took a round feeder down to our field and filled it with hay - before he'd let Henry eat from it he insisted on measuring his head to make sure he could fit between the bars!! Henry takes an extra full bridle
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ah pickle is so cute - agree with above post that he needs to be moving forward more - I'd forget about an outline until he has the impulsion and balance.....lots of double line lunging will help him too. x
 
"he isn't really tracking up. "


you need to loosen up his shoulder. Loose shoulders = greater mvt = more use of himself, tracking up, longer more efficent & smooth strides.

To do this, practise reverse sidepass & foreq yields, all of which your horse will need to use his shoulders for to do. Stuck shoulders is quite a common issue with horses.

Good luck
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It should make a big difference though
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He is lovely and your doing really well. He could do with being a bit sharper off your leg, try riding lots of trot to walk,then straight back to trot transitions using your seat and leg, don't worry too much about his outline, once he's more forward and using his back end that will come easily. Keep up the hard work!!
 
Just a thought, are your stirrups a teeny bit long? Might help with you sitting back a bit more and off his shoulders. Worth a try, eh?
 
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