Canter transition - 'falling foward'?

[Hetfinch]

I have started schooling my chubby cob, Pally, over the last few weeks (he had a rather long and extended 'schooling-holiday' before I got him on loan).

He is very arthritic, especially in his rear legs and very strong (see my other thread about bits). One problem I have identified is with his downward transition from canter to trot. Basically, he misses out the trot and goes from canter, to a sort of quick run, to walk. He almost feels as if, when he stops cantering, he 'falls foward' and he ends up doing a most uncomfortable 'run'.

I'm not explaining this very well !

I am going to have some lessons on him soon, but in the meantime, does anybody have any advice? His upwards transitions are very good, and walk to trot is also good. I'm perplexed!

Heather :(

[IrisSilverMoon]

I think you need to work on keeping his haunches under neath him for your canter work. Try halting and backing up a bunch, trot, halt back, walk halt back, trot, stuff like that. when you move to canter, try little half halts ont he outside rein to keep him slow and his haunches under him, don't canter for more than five or six strides, this way he won't get the chance to fall on the forehand, eventually he should understand that you want him to canter slow and uphill rather than down. ;) of course his transition problems may have something to do with his arthritis, but you never know if it will work until you try...:)

let me know if any of that was unclear...:)

[Dizzy]

I think the answer is in your post. You say he is very arthritic in his back legs, but very strong in front (hard to stop). You also say he has had a long holiday.

An unfit horse will tend to go onto the forehand, and for a horse to slow down or halt without leaning on your hand, thier back legs should be stepping underneath them. You have said he's especially arthritic behind, this will make slowing down and halting very difficult for him.

Obviously I don't know your horse, or how arthritic he is. Upward transistions are the easiest for any horse, it is easy to launch forward and gather momentum - for your horse to be able to slow down successfully , it must listen to your leg, seat and rein aids, which I'm sure you already know. And be able to step under behind and reduce the energy flowing forward.

But what I think may be happening is that he can go forward, but is depending on you to prop him up, making him appear strong because he's not fit and is arthritic, a stronger bit will only make life harder for him, as he is doing his best to please you, but is physically incapable of responding to your demands.

Quite honestly, if I were you I wouldn't even contemplate cantering for the time being, I'd work him in walk and trot, so that he's in self carraige and can work within those paces, with lots of halts, half halts, without him depending on you to hold him up. With him being arthritic, you must keep this in mind all the time, arthritis is painful and debilitating, but can be managed successfully if the horses capabilities are understood.


All the best,

Lesley