Outline in canter....and being stroppy!!

[Meadon]

Just wondering if anyone can give any advice!

My loan mare is a riding school horse who is suitable for complete beginners. As a result she gets away with everything!

She's a horse that can do it but it just takes alot of time and patience to get her to do something. When I first had her she wouldn't go in an outline in trot very easily but is brilliant now. I'm now trying to get her into an outline in canter but she's having a few strops and bucks when asked to. I'm asking her to drop her head when going into canter but then throws it up again.

Her canter isn't very together which doesn't help and she'll pelt round at times. Putting her in a double bridle has definately helped but any other suggestions? She does a very good giraffe pose.

Thanks!

 

[KatB]

A double bridle will be pulling her in so she looks pretty but isnt working correctly. The "not together" explains it all

You need to ride the canter forward to encourage her to engage from behind and into the contact. Lots of circles and transitions will help her engage and round her back and work properly.

 

[Meadon]

Thanks Kat! I'll try that. I think it's just going to take time, like the trot did. I managed to fall off her the other day because her canter went all to pot. Unfortunately it was on my side saddle and have to admit it hurts more than a normal saddle lol. My instructor seems to think the double bridle is helping, but I'll pop her back in her other one again! Thanks!

 

[Parkranger]

Forget about her head for now and as Kat said, ride her forward with lots of transitions - also lots of lunging in canter helps them get their balance. Also, make sure you're not leaning forward and keep your hands up. My instructor has got me out of the habit of gripping with my knees as that stops my boy going forward.....she uses the analogy of pretending my legs are a wet towel.....works for me though!

 

[Meadon]

lol I like the wet towel idea...different! I'm terrible for gripping with my knees with her astride saddle which doesn't help. I just feel like her legs are flying everywhere at the mo, her canter is quite short strided too which makes it quite a bumpy ride!

I'll think wet towel next time!

 

[ajn1610]

I agree with Parkranger lunging will help her sort herself out once she is balanced and comfortable in the lunge try again with you on top. Also asking for short periods of canter like half a circle or long side so they don't panic when unbalanced and whiz off can help.

 

[madmav]

Useful tip I learned recently from RI is not to fix your hands too solidly which then freezes up their front half. Keep moving them (subtly) and don't clamp leg on. Try to keep everything connected and flowing. Good luck

 

[Madasmaz]

So glad to hear I'm not the only one. My instructor has started to school my pony after we had 20 minutes of her asking me to trot, outline, canter, no, trot, outline, canter, no...trouble is for me my dear pony has worked out that if she sets her neck, I can kick till I collapse and she can't move. A rather clever evasion, as she looks like she's doing the do, cept she ain't and probably curled up in hysterics on the quiet, cheeky mare! I finally challenged my instructor to try it...her turn to sweat! Still now she swings more in her back after only two sessions, so there is something the "if you ain't got that swing it don't mean a thing" Never knew it related to horses!!!! Ooo yes the other thing I have to do is keep my hands up and thumbs pointed toward her ears, and relax my legs and....don't pull back thats it.