Improving canter in a heavy cob type.

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Greylegs

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My chunky, short legged cob has been doing ok in local dressage comps recently, just at prelim (I don't have delusions above my station!) but we are now getting marked down a bit for his canter work which tends to be a bit unbalanced and on his forehand. He's nice and forwards generally but we need to lighten up a bit! I accept that a horse of his build is never going to be Utopia but any tips on improving his balance and getting his hocks under him a bit would be much appreciated. Thanks for your help.
 
Mines not a cob but a big Irish horse who doesn't find school work the best. He's got a really big stride and finds it difficult to balance himself. Loads of transitions helps for us, walk to canter, canter to walk. Plus I just started by only cantering for as long as he could stay balanced, and then built it up from there. (We are still not great but much improved from where we were!). Good luck!
 
lots of leg yield, spiralling out on a circle to help him use his hocks, also half halts and changes within the pace, eg 10 strides of collection followed by 10 strides working. Also transition within paces
 
I agree with all of the above!

Do a lot of balancing in the walk and trot, spiraling in and out etc. Then in the canter, try canter poles. You could even start to raise the end of every other pole progressing to each one raised but from alternate ends (hope that makes sense) so he has to think about his feet or tiny cross poles. Try this both on him and whilst lunging him.

Additionally, lots and lots of transitions. No point sticking in the canter when he is unbalanced because it will only make him go more and more on the forehand. So, take him onto a circle, ask for canter, do half a circle (or less if he feels unbalanced) and bring him back to trot. Get a nice balanced trot then ask again. Also, go large, at one end of the school ask after B or E (heading into the corner) do the short side of the arena, then bring him back as you come out of the second corner so you don't go all the way down the long side. Depending on his ability you could try serpentine of canter (this was much later on in my green horses progression but we got there:) So start on one leg then bring him back to trot as you go along the straight then ask again in the corner (good in bigger schools for beginners) or do one loop in trot etc ). figure of 8's as well are always good.

Basically, different ways to do as many canter transitions as you can, without letting them get too fizzy or rushy so you get them balanced rather than on the forehand to begin with. :) inbetween let him do some stretchy trot so he has to balance himself and it will be a bit of a calming blanket if he gets heated up with all the transitions :)

Hope that's of some help

you
 
The above are good suggestions - but as you are competing at prelim level I assume you are training around that level as well? Everyone has given suggestions but not asked what level your horse is working at. It's all very well saying to leg yeild etc but this could do more harm than good if ridden in correctly.

I would say for someone competing at prelim level to improve the canter I would work on a 20m circle being conscious to keep the outside rein with the outside leg against the horse so he doesn't fall out through the shoulder. Make sure you are soft and relaxed through your elbows. Use your inside leg to create jump and lift in the canter and to lighten the forehand - so use your inside leg in time with your horses rhythm and think of closing your thigh and sitting deap into the saddle. Do lots of canter trot canter transitions making sure they are balanced and your horse stays engaged by keeping the leg on and the arms and elbows soft and giving with a light seat in trans to allow hindleg to step under. I would do lots of changes of rein in and out of smaller circles (10/15ms) in trot to again help with the engagement.

If your horse has done counter canter and is established and balanced doing it then counter canter serpentines are very good for improving engagement and suppleness in the canter.

Unfortunately without seeing you ride though its hard to really comment (and for anyone else to suggest) much more.

What does your trainer suggest? As I would be looking to them for advice in the first instance as they should be able to help you with the problem more than people commenting blind on a forum :)

Good luck :)
 
All really good suggestions but as "Tempi" advised as your working at prelim personally I wouldn't start a lot more basic and work up to more difficult stuff from there. I know how it feels as the welsh C I ride couldn't canter really last year and its taken soooo much work.

I know it gets said a lot but "Transitions Transitions"!!! Direct and in-direct and walk to canter. Like above said when you do get canter don't keep it until they break! much better to get 3-4 strides of balanced canter and that you decide to come back to trot, rather and doing laps of the school unbalanced then they break back to trot. And you can start building this up further and further. I can now canter laps of the school but its taken a long long time! Really work on the downward transition as well as the up! I think alot of people get so worried about the canter that as soon as they get it the transition back to trot just goes to pot! (I'm hugely guilty of this and have to remind my self all the time !)

I also found cantering out on hacks made such a difference as it feels much more natural for them and they don't have to worry about being confined to a school which I think makes a lot of horse and ride combos more tense IMO.

If your jumping grid work is amazing! Keep it simple and work it up. Most horses will naturally pick up canter ones they get the idea. Like others have said trotting poles as well and build up to canter poles.

I have loads and loads of other things I've done to get Nemo to build up so PM if you want any more :) x
 
I have had a real uphill struggle with my mares canter. It's not really that its a bad canter - just more that it's so big that she just doesn't really know what to do with it!

She was struggling to maintain a nice balanced canter within the school, and the best thing I did was early last year was take her to the beach and just keep cantering in a straight line. We did several weeks of this (along with regular schooling and doing some endurance training rides), and the difference in her canter is amazing. I think the continued canter in a straight line gave her a bit more confidence in herself, and gave her a chance to build up the muscles to actually cope with the canter work in the school.

:) xx
 
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