Inconsistent contact/wobble in canter

[Murphy’s Gauntlet]

Hi All,

Can anyone help with this, obviously it isn’t the only thing that is holding us from getting a decent 30 dressage score (eventing) or 70/68 dressage. My main problem that I have tried to solve is on the left rein in canter, my boy often wobbles and is inconsistent in the contact, sometimes it is bad, sometimes it is quite steady as per the right rein.

He is in perfect health and fitness, everything from teeth, bit, saddle physical side etc etc.

But it is always refelected in our dressage sheets.

My trainer has also tried everything, and although it has massively improved, since she has rode him and told me what to do, it does creep in and gets the better of him. We have tried to build him up in strength etc, and he is improving, but is there any tips out there that could help? We are currently working on all the lateral work to help strengthen him, but has anyone had anything similar?

 

[Nocturnal]

Do you have a video? I’m sure someone would have some good advice on here, but it’s just guessing without actually seeing the issue.

 

[Murphy’s Gauntlet]

Novice 1

Hi thanks, I’ve added a dressage video that I have on YouTube… obviously you will need to fast forward it to the canter part. But hopefully gives you a better idea. TIA

 

[silv]

Lovely horse and you ride beautifully. I think from looking at the video it is a balance issue, no quick fix. lots and lots of transitions and shallow canter loops, bit of counter canter. This will build up his strength as you already doing it will just take time.

 

[maya2008]

If you had been one of my children schooling I’d have been saying, ‘Inside leg! Inside leg! His back isn’t up and round enough - you should feel like you are sitting on the top of the hill. Don’t let him suck in his neck instead of raising his back fully or he won’t be able to get his hind legs under himself properly.’

And basically that’s your issue. He’s not supple enough through his back to get decent engagement and this affects everything else. Contact is a bit of a red herring here. Yes it needs to be consistent and elastic so the horse feels they can lift their back and trust, but a horse rides from back to front so I would always start there.

 

[SEL]

I love maya's post above because that's my issue too currently, although a saddle adjustment has returned our left bend. I've picked up an exercise recently which is walk a 10m circle at A / C then a few steps shoulder in, few steps leg yield and strike off in canter as you hit the track. Move the canter forward onto a 20m circle. Its really helped my inside leg remember it has a job.

 

[scats]

Lovely horse. The first thing that jumped out at me is there’s a disconnect in the canter. The best way I can describe it is he looks ‘wobbly’ because he’s not fully through. You lose him on the trot-canter transition and he then just buries himself onto the forehand and dribbles out the back. The longer the after goes on, the more on the forehand he goes and the more the contact suffers. It’s not the contact you need to work on though, it’s the quality of the canter.

My focus would be lots of trot/canter transitions and working initially on short bursts or the canter where you keep him up, through and engaged. So a trot to canter transition and a strong half 20 metre circle (inside leg to encourage a bit more ‘jump’ but also careful not to lose the outside shoulder) and then forwards to trot again. Rebalance the trot and then repeat.

 

[Squeak]

Honestly I'd try a different trainer, it doesn't need to be a permanent move from your current one, sometimes you just need a fresh set of eyes and fresh approach.

ETA - not saying it's what's happened with you but it is possible to outgrow a trainer, some are brilliant up to a certain level or they've taught you as much as they're going to with a specific horse.

 

[Orangehorse]

I love maya's post above because that's my issue too currently, although a saddle adjustment has returned our left bend. I've picked up an exercise recently which is walk a 10m circle at A / C then a few steps shoulder in, few steps leg yield and strike off in canter as you hit the track. Move the canter forward onto a 20m circle. Its really helped my inside leg remember it has a job.

I remember doing this exercise on my horse!

 

[SEL]

I remember doing this exercise on my horse!

Really works!! My arena is set up in my field so the ground has been hard but I found I could start in walk on both reins, then move up to getting a sharp trot transition then a sharp canter transition without having to power on the canter each time and wear his legs out - just really get his bottom engaged. Felt like a proper little dressage cob by the end with his back right up.

 

[j1ffy]

He's got a good rhythm and steady tempo and looks very willing - all great building blocks as per the scales of training!

I think the left canter is just the most obvious section where a more general lack of suppleness and 'connectedness' show up - he can't be steady with his head because he's stiff elsewhere and also crooked at times. He looks quite blocked through the rib cage, hence Maya's comment about inside leg.

Is your trainer eventing focused or specialist dressage? I ask as the focus on the 'wobbly head' is a bit of a red herring, you need to work on general suppleness and working from behind (and many eventers I know see dressage as a phase to tolerate, and aim for obedience and the head in the right place rather than correct work!).

As Squeak has suggested, I think some lessons with a good dressage / flatwork specialist would pay dividends. Also some in-hand lessons so you can teach him to bend and lift through the core correctly - it sounds dull but it's a great way to work your horse on dark winter evenings and can make a big difference!!