how wud u improve a fizzy mares canter(other than chopping legs off)

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prudunce

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any ideas to improve/calm mad mares canter down?? shes so full of it as she knows its hunting time(NO-we r NOT going this yr).lovely walk trot,ask 4 canter and she chops and changes behind,infront(party trick when she wants 2 pee me off),.tonight i played the minx at her own game and made her gallop fast around arena each time she went stupid,it kinda worked(we was both exhausted,me more-so than her) any other tips??i may 4get trot and just do canter when schooling,as this is peeing me off now.Im sure she pratts about thinking im going to stop and give her a pat&put her to bed!! arrrrrrrhhhhhhhhh.
 
sounds like you need someone watching you on the ground, to work out some excercises to help settle her. I should book yourself a few lessons.
 
I would get her back checked first to be honest, changing legs like that is often a sign of a tightness somewhere.
pm CCJ, she has sorted Jonty's canter out and they don't come madder than that horse believe me!
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back fine,checked every 6 mths or sooner iF i thought it was that,teeth all done,i have lessons wiv pros and the fact is,i just have a fizzy/tense mare who just wants 2 hunt /jump and go fast.I kinow theres no quick fix as shes hunte for yrs with no schooling b4 i had her(2 yrs ago now)and i wudnt swap her 4 the world(her jump is fab) BUT just wish she wud calm down a bit in canter.(i was in bad mood lastnight after riding in the dark/cold and wet).Ive calmed down now hehehe.
BUT always interested in other peps ideas,just incase theres something that may help!!
Dont worry,her legs are safe Jo!!!!!
 
It depends where you want her quiet. Jonty will canter quietly in a dressage test, be reasonable SJ, but ride her round the farm and she bounces on the spot like a rubber ball! XC you have no chance, she adores it so wants to do everything at top speed, and holding her back produces sideways, up and down etc..
As you say, the fact they jump so well is part of the equation!
 
oh dear hun - dont worry sara was like that she needs to relax over the back more it sounds !!!!

Id have a few lessons with louise she is the only person to help me !!
 
I was talking to an instructor about this the other day, she used to have a very fizzy sj-er, and my gelding is the original 'arab with too much energy'! Changing his feed helped (no mixes/starch of any type!) but what has also helped is having a different set of tack for flatwork to that which we use to jump in! As Henryhorn says, some horses just love to jump and go forward, so need to learn to be quiet when that is what is needed. Its all a bit psychological with my boy
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, he now knows that if the dressage saddle, snaffle/flash/no martingale go on, its flatwork, and there is no point in getting het up, whereas if the GP/martingale/universal bit go on, there is cause for excitment! Have to say in my case I also wouldn't push him on into a gallop if he prats around as that is what he wants to do so then he has won! Both my dressage and sj instructor have told me that if he takes a hold and bombs off in canter, he has to stop, straight away, whatever it takes, reinback a few strides, then he can canter again. So canter to halt transition, then canter on, and so forth until he gives in and canters nicely.
Re the balance, can you canter her on the lunge? That might give you more of an idea of what she is up to re the eg changing etc? Sorry if this sound patronising but is she definately changing legs? I only ask because when J was a real sod in the past he would do a little 'skip' to evade whatever I was asking him to do!
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I would suggest you don't canter very much in the school but work on transitions in and out of canter, cantering for no more than a circle, then trot/walk/halt/rein back/TOTF, etc etc, mixing up the transitions to keep her guessing. Concentrate on keeping her inside leg under her, which will keep her balanced and help to stop her changing legs. Always make sure before you ask for a transition to canter that she is connected inside leg to outside rein, if not, do a little leg yield or shoulder in, in walk or trot and ask for canter again. Don't allow her to run, if she runs canter for only 1 or 2 strides and make a transition to trot/walk/halt, depending on her level of schooling. Make sure to make your trans to canter as you approach the boards, which will help to back her off.
 
I can vouch for the fact that B definately changes leg, more behind than in front, and tends to bounce on the spot. She looks so excited I think she's going to explode and wonder where Prudunce will end up!
 
hahaha,thanks JO,B is very balanced even in counter canter,so even tho i still push her on when on wrong leg(dont stop and change)shes quite happy to be on wrong lead.
Im not that fussed 2day,shes not that bad,just a c*w at the mo(hunting season).Will say what Gill Wise says about her in 2 mrws lesson at cobham,bet ya life B will be a saint out! MINX!!! but a loveable fluffy MINX!!!
Thanks 4 all ur tips,must say i got very annoyed lastnight,hence the post!!!
 
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