Peculiar canter

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WishfulThinker

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Was jumping today and decied to bite the bullet and that I HAD to attempt jumpin gotu of canter (after 2 years of being petrified to after a bad fall at speed). Well all was going well until we went over one jump and he cantered away and he was on teh left leg so I turned left but he got all 'jerky' behind so I rode him a bit more forward and 'up' and he kinda snapped out of it, but if i loosened the contact he did it again. And I was keeping a short contact.

Also we turned and he lost his back end and I was so sure he was going to go over. I came back to trot and he was trotting fine, and walking fine. Prodded his back and no bad reaction - same for his legs.

He did do one very comfortable turn in canter but that was a slight uphil (the field is on a slight hill). Could this be the problem? He has always been rather stiff turning in canter.
And I dont think my bricking it helped!

But at least the non horsey OH did say that " you look a lot more comfortable and fluid when u canter into the jumps! When you trot he looks like he really cant be bothered and neither can you"
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Anyway, do u think it could havbe been the unlevelness of the ground seeing as legs were ok and he didnt seem in pain (he was VERY alert as he freaked out at a trailer load of shavings that were being delivered - was actually quite chuffed as he looks gorg when he is all alert and showoffy and it was my sisters old boss delivering the stuff and I am sure he thought I was a numpty years ago
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Not sure. It certainly didnt feel like it. He did it a few times. I am going to see how he is today. I did wonder if it was that, but he was fine in the woods earlier and is fine in the school so worried the ground might have been hard for him or something.

I must admit that in straight times our paces are fine - turning does seem to be an issue - lol
 
Did you try cantering on a circle (without jumping) to see how he went? My mare will often change canter lead when jumping and occasionally goes disunited as does complete the change.
 
If he hasnt cantered and jumped for a while then hes probably just messing up his stride coming away from the jump and going disunited.
xxx
 
That sounds about right. He is ok if I ride him UP into the canter - I can feel himgetting springier.

Any tips on how to help him become more united? I dont have the best balance in the world due to dodgy ankle and I cant ride with level stirrups for some weird reason (left leg always seems higher up and unseats me)
 
Disunited just means back legs are cantering on a different "leg" to the front legs! SO make sure everytime he feels disunited bring him back to trot and then ask again to get a "true" canter
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