Improving balance in canter?

[dwi]

Can any kind helpful person suggest some exercises to help improve Lil's balance in canter?

We're really sticking our head between our kness and rushing when we ask for right canter on a circle. She is lovely and soft on the left rein and fine out on a hack so I don't think its a general issue.

*Galaxy to all helpful suggestions*

 

[Renvers]

I was having the same problem and tbh we went back to working in walk and trot.

I did lots of work to get hind legs engaged and stronger in trot especially and it really it paid off for us.

Good luck

 

[LadyRascasse]

i found with my mare that lunging her in side reins (or similar gadget as she likes to do giraffe imprssions) helped her get her own balance correctly then when this was established we just kept doing transitions keeping a light seat to allow her to sort her legs out, she is now (or was before she injuried herself) happy and balenced on both reins

 

[ofcourseyoucan]

lunge on the worst rein! and do lots of canter poles and transitions on the worst rein! head between knees and rushing sounds to me like on the forehand! get the hind quarters engaged!! then the front end will get lighter. dont worry about shaoe til horse can at least self carry!

 

[Sessle]

I had a similar problem with my mare except she ran around like a giraffe, but similar to yours was perfect on the other rein, and was perfect in walk and trot on the same rein as rubbish canter!! I did lots of leg yields, and circle/serpentines etc in walk and trot, and also did some lungeing in side reins in walk, trot, an canter, and she now goes beautifully
Also something that was suggested to me at the same time by a saddler, it can also be to do with the riders weight distribution, they gave me a foot lift to put in one of my boots, which basically helps to balance you out, use it in all your shoes everyday for a few weeks, so that may have helped towards her going better as well!

 

[dotty1]

This really worked for my mare. On a 20 m circle, ask for canter, canter half the circle, then trot half the circle, then canter half etc. Keep repeating and eventually she will come off the forehand and carry herself more. Remember to do it on both reins too.