jeeez...her canter (advice please!)

[atot]

Okay, two years working on her canter and it's still the same - rushed, unbalanced, and generally horrible. I must be doing something seriously wrong.

She's changed shape as her schooling has come along, particularly in the last 6 months, she's had all the physical checks and recently had an osteopath out because a fair bit has been asked of her in the school, although that was pretty clear. She seems blocked on the left rein particularly, although on both reins she cannot, or just won't bend or at least accept the contact and start to work into it. I am hopefully having a lesson on a schoolmaster just to pinpoint and get some ''homework'' for myself to work on.

She's FINALLY happy in her mouth in a myler comfort snaffle.

Okay, this was at the warmup at a very exciting ''party'', and she is usually better than this, but this gives you an idea. She just looks totally disconnected in this pic. Are my hands too low? That is deffo one of my problems...I had a recent lesson where I worked my socks off, and my hands improved towards the end so she could feel more direct signals that I was giving her, but it hardly helped.

This is what she is normally like

I know it's very hard to judge just by two pics, but does anyone have any exercises we could try, or tips for me, in order to help her? I am at my wits end, although I won't give up!!

thank you

 

[BigRed]

If you gave me access to a school with no trainer. I would aimlessly potter around and my horse and I would not progress. So I have regular lessons and we have things to work on, even out hacking, and my horse and I have improved a lot.

If you have not been able to improve her outline in 2 years I think you need to work with a different trainer, if you don't have a trainer, you ought to find one.

 

[atot]

I have had 2 in the last 2 years, and now have one who is superb and just knows my horse and her way with her is wonderful. I cannot have regular lessons as I do not see her that often, although now I am seeing her a fair bit as it is the holidays. I do as much as I can, and I try to help her, but perhaps she is not giving anything back because I am not helping her in the right way....

 

[kate081]

Do you jump? Grid work or pole work helps their canter loads. Also I notice in both pictures that she's evading the bit (mouth wide open) so you could try a flash noseband. The canter needs to be collected more - lots of half halts so that her bum comes underneath & to get the strides are more compact. She's gorgeous - looks a bit like my IDx!

 

[atot]

yup we do, and yeah totally agree with you, but she tends to rush and power forward into the jump, rather than sit back and have to use herself! It is improving now that we are competing though, so will keep up with that.

Thanks, will keep up with the half halts. I've just been doing short bursts of canter and getting her really listening to me. It can all get a bit exciting though because she begins to anticipate it and then gets very cross when I say NO lol. thank you,

 

[alex_mac30]

Hi
I get my horse to canter from lateral work, such as leg yielding. His really gets him to sit on him bottom and lift the weight of his front legs. I would also say that you need to give a little more with your in side hand. I would work more on getting a good rhythm in the canter, half halt, with the outside rein to slow him down and not worry to much about where is head is. As he gets more balanced and calmer he will naturally drop in to the shape.
Other things to try are lots of transitions up and down. Not just trot-canter and but walk-trot and walk-halt. Get him relaxed in the contact, just do a few strides in each pace, this doesn’t work for all horses. Also walk-canter transitions can help.

The best thing to do is to talk to your trainer and get her suggestions, also see if she will sit on him. Sometimes its not easy to see where the problem is from the ground. If your instructor can ride him is there an experienced rider you could ask, they might be able to detect where the problem is.

I hope you find a solution
M xx

 

[TableDancer]

Hard to tell from 2 photos as you say, you have a very nice seat but look as though you might just be a bit fixed in your hands/stiff through your wrists. Agree with the above, trainer needs to help you through this - if current one is really good have you considered sending the mare to her for a week or two for her to work through the problems? I know it's expensive but sometimes you need to do something drastic to make the leap to the next level. Good luck, whatever you decide! She looks very sweet

 

[atot]

thank you both!!
alex_mac30 we do try a tiny bit of leg yielding, but she does find it hard and we both tend to tense up, but once we get a little better that exercise is DEFFO on the cards, thanks

ohhh yes must do more transitions, am seeing her tomorrow so shall remember that!!! instructor is starting to school her twice a week rather than just once so hopefully the consistency will help step her up a little.

TableDancer yes that is one of my horriblle faults, and both me and trainer are working hard at it. That might be a very good idea, thank you. I think it would be difficult, but I shall explore it a little further and see if it could work out, thank you