Weakness in loins causing poor canter?

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showqa

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On/off unlevelness has been a constant with my horse for 28 months, always after a lay off over winter. This one no exception. Had the vet (twice) had the physio to him - both said he's not unlevel in their opinion, but weak in the back. Ok - been doing a lot of inhand work to build him up, and then onto hacking up and down serious hills and raised pole work. He's generally a lot better and stronger. However, around the loin area there is still an obvious weakness and it's also quite tight there.

It's complicated further by his saddle. Had it checked and adjusted, but the fact is that it still isn't an ideal fit. The saddler's profiles over the few years that I've had him show a huge change in shape, and as he's Spanish and 8 in September, he still has some maturation to go. Hence the fitter said that at the moment, the saddle he's in (Isabell), regularly checked - whilst not perfect - is the best we can do.

Now, today I schooled him in a manege (rather than on a hack) for the first time in a very long time. Walk, trot, transitions, lateral work - all lovely. Canter - especially on the left rein - horrid. Strikes off on the right lead, but he just feels tights through his back and almost seems to be going nowhere in the canter - cantering on the spot. Are we back to square one, in terms of needing to drag vets back in? Is it due to the weakness in his loin area? Is it the saddle?? Totally running out of ideas frankly, so your thoughts would be much appreciated. Thanks.
 
Your horse is obviously not going forward in canter for a reason - maybe its discomfort or weakness as you say but I would think that if you lunge him this will enable you to assess him from the ground without the weight of a rider and/or an ill-fitting saddle. If he is forward on the lunge then you know that it has something to do with the saddle or a weak back. Lunging a horse is an excellent way of building muscle and improving fitness. Lunge as often as you can but dont put him on small circles - keep them quite large.
If he is not forward on the lunge then I think its time to get another opinion.
Good luck.
 
Thanks Zuzzie.

I have cantered him on the lunge recently and he's fine. Occasionally disunited, but corrects himself - generally relaxed, elastic and covering the ground nicely.

By the way, the post should have read 18 months not 28!!!

Again, thanks.
 
If he can't canter well when ridden - ie tacked up and with a rider - but can when lunged - ie no tack and no rider - then the answer is staring you in the face I'm afraid.
 
OK - thanks for that. Have my RI out here today anyway, so we'll see what she has to say too. Thanks all.
 
Just and update - for those interested.

RI says that the saddle is shifting in canter which he did seem to be reacting to. So further discussion needed with the fitter with regards to that. She also felt that his musculature wasn't developed well enough yet to be expecting a very balanced and rounded canter - so for now we're happy with a flatter, more open canter whilst he develops his canter fitness and confidence.

Glad to know that in her opinion he's absolutely fine physically - just a bit underdeveloped for the level of work I was asking of him.

Thanks to all who posted.
 
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