Yet another canter question

[ANN H]

Misty's now striking off on the right leg, after lots of practise, but she drags herself round by her front legs and the canter is quite flat. She IS getting better, but how do I achieve a nice, steady rocking horse canter, getting her to work from behind. Is it just a matter of schooling and more schooling. Thanks.

[chickyd444]

i to would be interested in Nr's replies :)

[Hollymead]

I found with my youngster that we had issues with right strike-off too, and subsequently her right canter was worse than her left canter. I think it's basically that whatever weakness is causing it to be harder to strike off on the right lead, simply makes right canter harder, and therefore the horse will go on the forehand/not bend properly etc. With Holly it wasn't so much going more on the forehand, as just that her canter was so much less comfortable than left canter - she was obviously having to compensate for a weakness somewhere.
Now, though, her right canter is actually better than her left canter :rolleyes: For me I got there by doing, as you said, schooling schooling schooling. It didn't take too much complicated stuff though. I used to do a short burst on the better rein first, so she was in the canter frame of mind, then switched reins. Once we'd got correct lead on that rein, I personally like to keep the canter going. Use LOTS of half halts to get the horse going quite steady (the steadier you go the harder it is, so some leeway is advisable, mine was sort of between a working and medium canter at first), and I like to use lots of circles, getting the horse relaxed and flowing on the circle before going large.
Make sure that you are helping her as much as poss, sitting up properly, not having so much of a contact that she uses it as support, not tightening your seat or legs up so that she can swing through her back etc (this is where I need to work :o).
It's working for my girl, although, as you can see from my thread in this section, now my trot work has deteriorated :rolleyes: Youngsters!

[ANN H]

Thanks Hollymead - that's very helpful. She's having her booster jab tonight so I'll try that on Friday.

[5.7FB+16.2FC]

Is she due any check ups?? teeth back ect
My boy was dragging a back leg through into canter and had his back check he was tight through his back:)

[ANN H]

Is she due any check ups?? teeth back ect
My boy was dragging a back leg through into canter and had his back check he was tight through his back:)

No, teeth were checked a couple of months ago and saddler checked her back recently. I think its just really difficult trying to re-educate an ex-driving horse that's used to trotting everywhere. Its worse than starting from scratch. I believe she didn't know how to canter when I got her, so things are a lot better. I'll just keep perservering.

[5.7FB+16.2FC]

she maybe is still building muscle and finding balance to push herself along in canter.

[ANN H]

Use LOTS of half halts to get the horse going quite steady (the steadier you go the harder it is, so some leeway is advisable, mine was sort of between a working and medium canter at first), and I like to use lots of circles, getting the horse relaxed and flowing on the circle before going large.
Make sure that you are helping her as much as poss, sitting up properly, not having so much of a contact that she uses it as support, not tightening your seat or legs up so that she can swing through her back etc (this is where I need to work :o).
It's working for my girl, although, as you can see from my thread in this section, now my trot work has deteriorated :rolleyes: Youngsters!

YAY - it worked. THANKS HOLLYMEAD. I loosened my contact and tried not to concentrate too hard on the aids for canter. I had the best canter I've ever had on her, and she struck off on each rein on the right lead and wasn't disunited. I think that cos I had a looser contact she was just going with the flow and not fighting with me. Can't wait to take her down to the field later to see how she goes.

[Hollymead]

Wicked! :D Very glad to hear that! It's quite scary, isn't it, loosening the rein off in canter, but then they really have to think and balance for themselves. How did the canter in the field go?

[Sticky's GF]

I am working on jerry's canter at the moment, he is a big moving horse and relatively weak through his back. We were really getting somewhere last summer but then had soundness 'issues' :rolleyes:

Anyway, yes it is practice but there are other things you can do to help strengthen the back, latteral work, trotting poles and counter canter if you can manage it. That was REALLY hairy the first time we tried it but it is supposed to be really good for them. There seems to be differing opinions on which way the horse should bend but our RI advised to just keep him as straight as possible even through the turns and just try and hold him together. This exercise really helped his canter and we shall be using this again now he is back in work.

[ANN H]

Wicked! :D Very glad to hear that! It's quite scary, isn't it, loosening the rein off in canter, but then they really have to think and balance for themselves. How did the canter in the field go?

Surprisingly, she was just as calm in the field. Her field mate was down the other end of the field doing some schooling work and she usually pulls towards her hoping I won't notice, but she was great. I also had another good canter in the paddock on Saturday and it went so well we had a little hack afterwards. Thanks again.