Medium canter - tips please!

[Mel85]

My mare has fab paces for a little one, but has quite a big canter and struggles to balance. She's really improved and the canter is now very nice and balanced...until we have to do medium canter. The medium itself isn't toooo bad - I'm really conscious of keeping control of her quarters, but when we come back to working canter she really struggles to keep the canter and goes quite tight and wobbly... or breaks.

Now I know thats not going to be fixed by any miracle and it is very much work in progress...but... for test on Sunday BE novice 125, am I better to show less medium and keep the canter and the balance, or show more medium and risk losing the canter when collect it back up again?!

I know what I think, but would like other opinions!

 

[mat]

Try this..

shorten the canter slightly on the corner, so you can get away with not over doing the medium canter but still show a good difference.

It is very important not to over ride the medium paces, just allow them to move more forward with your hips and a small amount of leg, but use the half halt to keep them balanced and sat on their hindlegs.

Good luck on Sunday

 

[Mel85]

I'll try - my mare is naturally built on her nose so keeping her sat on hindlegs is faaaaaar easier said than done!!!!!

 

[CSYMolly]

I have the same problem, at home try doing 10m circles before and after the med canter to help with balance. As you go into med, put your girl in a slight shoulder fore position and don't think of going faster just bigger. It comes eventually but it takes ages I am still not there yet, its the one thing that really holds us back.

 

[Mel85]

It's not the medium canter that is the problem, it's coming back from it after! I will try 10m circles that sounds like a good idea. Am having dressage lesson Saturday so hopefully will help that.