Identifying a disunited canter while riding

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melbournesunrise

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Was riding earlier, and canter felt a bit funny - it was the weaker rein, so I wasn't too worried. Then it occurred to me that it could have been funny if he'd been disunited in his canter.

How would you tell if that was the case? If I were on the ground, or watching a video, I'd be able to tell, but what about when I'm riding and there's no one there to look and see? Is there a way to know if a horse is disunited without having to stick your head round and unbalance yourself and the horse (possibly more than it is already)?
 
I tell people I teach that it feels like sitting in a washing machine with a bag of rocks. Blegh.

You'll learn to feel it. Chances are if it feels wrong, it probably is.
 
Thanks guys. Good to know there's a general consensus. I wouldn't say it felt like a washing machine at all... so maybe it was just the fact that it was the weaker leg. Which is good in a way, because the only way to strengthen it is to use it!
 
melbournesunrise said:
Thanks guys. Good to know there's a general consensus. I wouldn't say it felt like a washing machine at all... so maybe it was just the fact that it was the weaker leg. Which is good in a way, because the only way to strengthen it is to use it!
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Ah, but have you ever ridden a washing machine? How would you know? :-)
 
JFTD-WS said:
I was going to say that I know what a disunited canter feels like, but I've no idea what a washing machine would actually feel like - would it be different on different settings, for example? Are some more expressive than others?
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Well, there's always the spin cycle.....
 
You will start to get a feel for when the horse is disunited, but if you’re not sure it can help to push the canter on a bit more and if you are disunited it should feel more obvious, normally if you put your leg back and ask for canter again they’ll switch their legs to sort themselves out
 
It's horribly uncomfortable! Mine does it around jump courses occasionally..great for when i'm trying to concentrate!
 
JFTD-WS said:
I was going to say that I know what a disunited canter feels like, but I've no idea what a washing machine would actually feel like - would it be different on different settings, for example? Are some more expressive than others?
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having ridden a few yes some are more expressive than others. Glad I could clear that up for you 🤣
 
JFTD-WS said:
I was going to say that I know what a disunited canter feels like, but I've no idea what a washing machine would actually feel like - would it be different on different settings, for example? Are some more expressive than others?
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Sounds like a time-waster for this evening. Have to put a wash on anyway so might as well kill two birds with one stone.

To answer the question, I'd say it feels twisted (and exaggerates my wonky-ness).
 
I find it feels a bit rock and roll - as you tend to be rocked sideways as well as forwards and backwards.
 
It's so obvious usually, the rear quarters going down when it should be coming up. Mine feels really odd and there's no way I can stay in the saddle while she's doing it, so I stand in my stirrups until she's put herself right. We hack mostly so when we're cantering along a track, it sometimes happens when she spooks.

JTFD - you need an old washing machine preferably one where the block of concrete has moved and it walks itself across the kitchen floor in spin. The new washing machines barely wobble at all.
 
9tails said:
It's so obvious usually, the rear quarters going down when it should be coming up. Mine feels really odd and there's no way I can stay in the saddle while she's doing it, so I stand in my stirrups until she's put herself right. We hack mostly so when we're cantering along a track, it sometimes happens when she spooks.

JTFD - you need an old washing machine preferably one where the block of concrete has moved and it walks itself across the kitchen floor in spin. The new washing machines barely wobble at all.
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I found a rambo dry rug does a good job of turning the machine into a bit of a bronco when I forgot to reduce the spin. Thought it was going to come through the wall that day... 😱
 
Cortez said:
Ah, but have you ever ridden a washing machine? How would you know? :)
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Oh bother, now everyone knows what I get up to on a quiet night :eek:

All joking aside, I actually don't know what a washing machine feels like... but after all of you giving an extended discourse on it, I have to think now that he was actually disunited - I wasn't sitting the canter, we were hacking and I like to be off his back for that. Next time it feels weird, I'll either bring him back and try again, or I'll put my leg on again and try to get him to change and see what happens!
 
melbournesunrise said:
Oh bother, now everyone knows what I get up to on a quiet night :eek:

All joking aside, I actually don't know what a washing machine feels like... but after all of you giving an extended discourse on it, I have to think now that he was actually disunited - I wasn't sitting the canter, we were hacking and I like to be off his back for that. Next time it feels weird, I'll either bring him back and try again, or I'll put my leg on again and try to get him to change and see what happens!
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He'll most likely put himself right with a skip, I don't think it's comfortable for them either.
 
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