collected canter

[lindiak007]

:confused::confused:
i am cantering, getting better and better, but it is only the medium and extended canter.
how can I make the horse to collect the canter? you know the slow nice rocky canter:D

[coss]

you need more contact in the reins and you mustn't forget your legs. ask for the back end to work harder with your legs but the "catch" it with the reins and make a smaller motion with your seat. make sure you stay soft as some horses get very edgy with collected work ;)

[lindiak007]

thank you....what do you mean with smaller seat motion? at canter i should sit deeply, right?

[coss]

thank you....what do you mean with smaller seat motion? at canter i should sit deeply, right?

yes you should sit deeply but that simply means that you move as one with the horse and your bum shouldn't leave the saddle ;) sitting deep should not be taken for sitting heavily or still. you should have movement through your pelvis and hips that mean that your seat is "moving" to move with the horse. when the horse collects there is less movement backwards and forwards (just goes up and down more) so you need to move your seat less, doing this without the horse collecting should encourage the horse to collect.

[carthorse]

Looking at the pictures you posted yesterday you probably aren't ready to be asking for collected canter yet, sorry. Build up to it gradually - start by taking a contact in the canter, then over time shorten the frame by creating more energy behind & containing it (softly!) in front. The horse should become rounder through his whole body, sit behind as he pushes more & the front end will lift & lighten. The steps will shorten but they should still have energy & rhythm. It sounds easy but the reality isn't! Coss is right about some horses become edgy in collected work so don't rush it because it is hard work for them, or you get someone like Jim who actually seems to like the power & lift he generates & gets miffed when I want him to work in a longer lower frame :rolleyes:

[lindiak007]

i agree, i havent perfected even medium or extended canter yet,
i just was wandering....my RI told me that to learn collected canter will take a long time:cool:
but it looks so nice

[Skyhuntress]

Before you can get collected ANYITHNG, you will have to learn to ride your horse in a contact, so that he lifts his back up while still continuing to move forward. It's not even you who has to learn, but the horse has to learn the necessary muscle coordination in order to be able to do it and sustain it.

You or the horse aren't there yet. But no biggie! It DOES take time and lots of practise. I'd ask your trainer to help you to start understanding bending through the ribcage and jowel area first.

[lindiak007]

Before you can get collected ANYITHNG, you will have to learn to ride your horse in a contact, so that he lifts his back up while still continuing to move forward. It's not even you who has to learn, but the horse has to learn the necessary muscle coordination in order to be able to do it and sustain it.

You or the horse aren't there yet. But no biggie! It DOES take time and lots of practise. I'd ask your trainer to help you to start understanding bending through the ribcage and jowel area first.

I started to collect walk and trot in my early lessons;-), i do not have a problem with that...That horse on the picture (my threads) is not mine, i ride him twice a year at my friends stable.

bending through the ribcage??? i ask my trainer, if the horses know that...

what if the horses at my RS do not do that?