Lazy trotter - any ideas??

[123Jump!]

We have a new horse at the stables who is lovely to canter, jump etc but his trot is awful!! He does a slow heavy trot and if you give a nudge to pick up the pace then he just goes straight to canter!! Its really strange because if you try to do a 20 metre circle in trot with his then he won't bend, but when you do it in canter he does?? I don't think he was particually well schooled so does anyone have any ideas on what I can do to help him??

 

[tallyho!]

Yes I do.

Firstly how old is he and has he got any joint problems this includes spine and shoulders?

Are you trying to engage his hind-end actively or are you just asking for a "trot"? Trot is an easy gait for any horse and they can be very lazy about it.

I don't believe you get a true 'bend' in your canter. I bet his neck just turns in.

What I am trying to say is that I think something is amiss there somewhere... muscular, arthritic perhaps somewhere in pelvis or stifle. are you doing much lateral work to supple him and get his bottom working?