Softening the canter

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Nannon

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After a lot of work my horse has developed a lovely stretchy neck in trot, lovely and soft. However, in he canter he keeps blocking me through his neck, most people say to me "oh but he looks so pretty!" But to me all I can feel is this horrible slab of muscle in front of me that he won't soften! I have been working on doing big circles and flexing him in for 4 strides, then straight for 4 then out for 4 but it does seem to take a fair while for him to give, also we do gear changes in the canter both on long sides and on circles etc and I give and retake the reins when he starts to really lean on me. I know it's going to be a long game getting him to soften (as it was with the trot) but does anyone have any other handy exercises to try? We have lessons every other week, saddle teeth etc all up to date
Any ideas appreciated!
 
Does he get fixed and 'tight' in front?

...just looked at pics of him on your page (lovely!) .. I would say he needs to build up strength and musculature in the right places before you will actually see an improvement in his way of going in canter. He is needing you to 'help' him as he can't carry himself at the moment.

Sounds like your doing plenty of exercises already and are having lessons (so you must be heading in the right direction!)

Canter is our poorest pace, we get too short and tight and concertinad-up and I feel your pain.
 
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Have you tried some flexion and counter flexion in the trot before asking him for the canter?

I was having similar problems with my boy, but my instructor helped me get him to become really loose and flexible through his neck in the trot (think a big wobbly marshmallow!) and then when asking for the canter, keep some flexion and really sit back and wait for the canter to come instead of chasing it - I used to chase it which definitely made Jack tense and block his neck.
 
Thanks :) he is lovely!
I agree sprat - I think I probably chase him a bit too which tightens him up and I do have a tendency of letting him pull me forward (hence why I have started putting a give and retake in - gives me a chance to get him off my shoulders!)
Will try doing more flexions in trot before I canter him and see what that does :) thanks!
 
Nannon said:
Thanks :) he is lovely!
I agree sprat - I think I probably chase him a bit too which tightens him up and I do have a tendency of letting him pull me forward (hence why I have started putting a give and retake in - gives me a chance to get him off my shoulders!)
Will try doing more flexions in trot before I canter him and see what that does :) thanks!
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What breed is your horse? Mine is a Section D X WB and has a huge neck and shoulders so when he does set his neck against me in the canter, I really am just a passenger! It has taken me a long time to get him to come softer in the canter, but the flexion and counter flexion has helped no end.

I would be interested to see what others think as I'm open to other ideas!
 
He's an ex racehorse - like riding a plank of wood at times!
Had a lesson today and we worked on just cantering him really open for 5mins in the warm up - not bothering about an outline just pushing him along. Then we worked on flexion and counter flexion on a 20m circle and he did produce some nice moments!
 
Nannon said:
He's an ex racehorse - like riding a plank of wood at times!
Had a lesson today and we worked on just cantering him really open for 5mins in the warm up - not bothering about an outline just pushing him along. Then we worked on flexion and counter flexion on a 20m circle and he did produce some nice moments!
Click to expand...

Fab news, keep at it, I'm sure he'll come good quite quickly :)
 
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