self carriage in canter

soulfull

soulfull

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I've ridden a couple of BIG moving horses and both have needed a good core and a restraining hand. Without which they tend to either bound on too much or come back to trot
Is this how it should be?
My own albeit smaller moving, I have taught to canter without me interfering as well as allowing me to collect them up a little.

However the one big moving horse I felt I had more adjustability in the canter than I ever did with my own. Just needed to be pretty fit to be able to ride it

So which one is right or nearer to 'right'
 
I always prefer to train to allow me to ride with as little interference as possible - some horses will find this more difficult than others. My older mare has a big canter and it has taken a lot of training to turn this into a more manageable pace. My youngster on the other hand finds canter much easier to stay naturally balanced, and so she is taking to this much more readily. I would always rather be doing less than more - just some find it easier to do this than others :)
 
My brother's horse (18hh WB) has a massive canter that's extremely adjustable - but I always feel like I'm steering some sort of ocean liner :D On the odd occasion I have to ride him I do tend to leave him alone pretty much and he bobs along quite happily with very little input from me with my legs just off the saddle flaps :D
 
I'm more a jumping person (done plenty of low level dressage) but I definitely think a horse should stay in the gear you select until told otherwise! 😀
 
Thanks. I think maybe somewhere in the middle. So that they don't fall out of canter just because your not 'there' I don't want a horse that I have to hold together. But can understand that some need the help to start with
 
Yep baby ISH still isn't quite ready to keep going without input from me - and I daren't say good boy to him as that's canter - halt in 2 :eek: As they get stronger physically and fitter I do expect them to be able to maintain a working canter without much input.
 
Lanky Loll said:
Yep baby ISH still isn't quite ready to keep going without input from me - and I daren't say good boy to him as that's canter - halt in 2 :eek: As they get stronger physically and fitter I do expect them to be able to maintain a working canter without much input.
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Sounds sensible. Bless him
 
I think it's worth remembering that bigger/more powerful horses might need holding together more on your seat and that if the rider isn't strong enough in their core to help the horse contain that power then it's very easy for them to become strong in the hand.

My WB is big and has a very powerful canter but if I don't hold it together with my seat and legs we can struggle with the self carriage. However I certainly expect him to maintain his pace until I ask him to change it, but I do have to do my bit to help with that.

I always think that you do need something in your hand if you're riding a very powerful or advanced horse - CDJ always said people were surprised how much feel she had in her hands with Valegro, yet clearly she doesn't struggle with self carriage because she is also holding that power together in other ways.

I know from experience it's also sometimes easy to mistake a strong contact as a horse pulling you, when actually it can also be because they are pushing forwards into your hand (not a bad thing at all). If the horse is in true self carriage, and you have it off your seat and legs then releasing the contact for a few strides should not change anything.
 
At one point, OH was having 2 lessons with our regular trainer - one on "QE2" and one on "kayak". With QE2, young, big moving, not enough power to control it, he had to set up the turns well in advance to give her plenty of time. With kayak, sharp little mare, by the time he'd thought about turning a corner, he was already around it. For QE2, she did need more help initially in the canter, but really because she just didn't have the power and balance to be able to do it herself. That improved over time, so he was able to do less. So to me, the goal is rider doing less, horse being able do more itself.
 
Having spent the last year on a pro yard riding some lovely pro horses I was amazed just how much leg and core was needed. I found with mine, whilst having lessons with said pro, that when teaching them to have that wonderful uphill, adjustable canter you do need weight in your hand. They have to be taking a good contact to get the connection. But when it's *there* and it all clicks into place you can push your hand forward, to push the nose out, keeping what seemed like a huge amount of supporting leg on and a holding core to keep it together. And then it's light and floaty and lovely. But yes, to look like you're sitting effortlessly astride your uphill floaty beast you are actually doing a huge amount!

It's not a strong contact. I suppose I'd describe it as a firm handshake as opposed to a floppy one!
 
My horse is a big mover and my core is still not strong enough to ride him properly but it's getting there.

He hates you taking a strong contact though. I have to ride with long reins and then I can have him moving properly and still get a contact but the tension in the reins is tiny and barely any pressure. He has a soft mouth and if you take a firmer contact he gets tense. Dunno if I am gonna need to fix that for dressage but my instructor likes it and insists I ride like this so gonna trust her. She has trained numerous dressage horses to high levels (think her stallion got to advanced) so think she knows what she is talking about its just so odd compared to how I normally ride but he likes it.
 
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