Weak left canter - exercises/advice please

nuttychestnut

nuttychestnut

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I have a very large ISH 5 year who is struggling with his left canter. He can strike off lovely on the right, however the left looks and feels horrible. He struggles to maintain the canter, as soon as I push him he throws his toys out of the pram and I land on the floor or fence!

I know its not pain related as teeth, back and tack have been recently checked. Ensuring my horses comfort is at the very heart of my training.

When lunging he is fine on both reins. I have regular lessons, however I would really value other opinions.

Maybe I am riding him too much - 4-6 days per week, schooling 30 to 45 min/hacking 2 hrs plus and jumping 30 mins. Is this too much? How much do other people work their 5 year olds?
 
Hi NuttyChestnut

How long has he been backed for? That would have some impact on how much and what balance of work he should be doing... does he canter ok left lead on the lunge?

If he struggles with left canter, I'd be inclined to just canter out hacking for now - take the pressure off - it will be easier cantering with left lead in the open in a straight line than it is in an enclosed small area like an arena.

I'm sure other more experienced people will be along with other suggestions too.....
 
It's worrying that he's bucking you off , is that what he's doing ?
This problem is really common .
Assuming your are not dealing with an as yet undiagnosed issue the cure for cantering issues is usually cantering.
I would do lots of strike offs then no more strides than he can offer easily then back to trot regroup and straight back to canter do that intenstively for say five mins in every schooling session , it will seem like a long time .
This problem won't disappear unless you work at it .
I would also get a good trainer to help you and look at the straightness of the horse and your straightness ( as this a common cause of canter difficulties for the horse ).
 
Goldenstar said:
It's worrying that he's bucking you off , is that what he's doing ?
This problem is really common .
Assuming your are not dealing with an as yet undiagnosed issue the cure for cantering issues is usually cantering.
I would do lots of strike offs then no more strides than he can offer easily then back to trot regroup and straight back to canter do that intenstively for say five mins in every schooling session , it will seem like a long time .
This problem won't disappear unless you work at it .
I would also get a good trainer to help you and look at the straightness of the horse and your straightness ( as this a common cause of canter difficulties for the horse ).
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Well its more of a leap off the ground with all fours than a buck. The vet has seen him recently and is happy that its more baby behaviour and not pain related due to the fact he is completely sound and happy when lunged in tack, jumped or hacked. I only get the issue when I ride him in my school.
Just really wanted to know if other people have had the same sorts of issues with babies!
I think I will drop the session duration down to 20-30 mins, he is just so nice to ride when he behaves!
 
Are you riding in a jumping saddle with your stirrups short enough ? And wear a neck strap.
I have just got a five year old ID he's finds the left rein very difficult it's time and slogging away at it .
If the horse is happier with you cantering off his back I would do so for a while I have even got them into canter off their backs using just the voice for a while if it defuses the situation .
 
Yes I ride in a jump but I also have a dressage for flat, however that is out of action due to the flocking settling and now not fitting quite right.
However when do flat I keep the stirrups mid length, not quite dressage, but not short enough to have a comfortable jump.
So just keep asking little and often? I do have a breast plate, but for some reason I haven't grabbed hold of it at all, I have no idea why! I haven't tried lifting off his back, just in case it makes it easier for him to have me off!
I do wonder if its tiredness/boredom related as due to other issues he has only really been in the school daily. due to FT work and lack of day light week days have to be spent in the school. Then weekends I have to rely on others at the yard hacking out (who would want to hack a 5 year on an A on their own???!!!)
Good job my other half loves xc running as that's what he'll be doing on his weekends!
 
I bought my horse as an unschooled (only hunted/ gone in straight lines, had no idea of aids) 5yo and he couldn't canter right. I managed it once when I tried him and the seller couldn't get it at all when he was vetted. It took a lot of work and as GS, a lot of cantering, to get it. He was stiff, not at all supple, definitely not straight and did everything with left bend. I cantered out hacking and tried to get it there, and also little and often in the school. He found it really hard as was quite weak, and when he did strike off correctly, the canter was horrible. I was given various pieces of advice - exaggerated right bend, asking over poles, using X poles on right circles, letting him canter even if he struck off incorrectly so he realised that cantering on the wrong leg was uncomfortable, bringing him back to trot straight away then asking again. Actually what worked best for him was shorter stirrups, going into half seat then pushing him forwards but sort of letting him fall into the canter; he seemed to strike off better this way. I'm sure it isn't the correct way to do it but he at least got the idea of cantering right. Once he started to get the hang of it, we just did loads and loads of transitions. For him, letting him just keep cantering didn't work, if he got it wrong he had to be brought straight back to trot. Also not cantering for ages once he had struck off correctly, as it would just make him tired. Half a circle and slowly build it up. It suddenly clicked for him one day and he had a right canter.

I also did LOTS of work inhand and over poles with him to strengthen his right hind, because it was weak. To start with he struggled to even walk a correct, even circle, never mind canter one. So we worked on that, even just 10 mins a day in hand, ensuring he stepped through evenly and correctly with both hinds on circles, shallow loops. Then you can move onto LY and SI/ counter SI. This helped enormously with his straightness and strength, and is is now even on both reins.

FWIW, my vet also said the horse was completely sound but he was also weak and one sided. You can work on this from the ground, though having had a 17hh IDx for my last horse, I do appreciate that trying to work a big horse on the ground isn't easy! ;)
 
But on the strap off a martingale as well as your brestplate its easy to get hold of .
It sounds like he's trying to get into canter with both hind legs close together , this want my 5yo does on his stiff side .
Imput from a physio may help , my physio has advised side tail pulls on mine twice daily she was able to tell me exactly what he does by feeling and assessing his muscles.
 
Goldenstar said:
It sounds like he's trying to get into canter with both hind legs close together , this want my 5yo does on his stiff side .
Imput from a physio may help , my physio has advised side tail pulls on mine twice daily she was able to tell me exactly what he does by feeling and assessing his muscles.
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Mine did exactly the same thing. It was a sort of leap from behind with cantering front legs. Physio would definitely help - I now do a lot of carrot stretches, horsey "sit ups" (lifting and rounding the back from the ground), rounding the bum plus tail pulls. They help a lot.
 
chestnut cob said:
Mine did exactly the same thing. It was a sort of leap from behind with cantering front legs. Physio would definitely help - I now do a lot of carrot stretches, horsey "sit ups" (lifting and rounding the back from the ground), rounding the bum plus tail pulls. They help a lot.
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I have one coming out on Monday so I'll ask her then, and I will start with the carrot stretches again.
Its nice to know that I am not the only one! As no one at our yard has a baby or dealings with one, they can make you feel like the behaviour shown is completely abnormal and you've got a seriously nasty horse!
 
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