Canter help!

[larri]

I'm having lessons on Safi this week before I finally get to bring her back home, and oh boy do her abilities outshine mine :o

Ive been having a problem getting a good jump into canter and wonder if I'm getting myself mixed up. She's trained to go from the inside leg aid on the girth..a lengthening of the inside leg and nudge inwards and upwards from the calf. My problem is that when lengthening I tend to lean forwrds and bring my leg too far forwards blocking the movement.
Instructor says lighten my inside seat bone...how do I do that and lengthen my leg at the same time...I'm trying to visualise it but can't understand the mechanics, can anyone help?

[cvb]

Alexander technique talks about the back lengthening and widening. Would it help to think of the hop joint becoming open and wide, allowing both the leg to drop away and lengthen, and the hip to lighten ? ie you have TWO movements - both are lengthening but each one is away from the hip joint - one up, one down ?

[Maria]

Hi Larri

I'm confused by what your instructor is saying too - as I'd move my inside hip forward, which naturally place outside leg slightly back and then I'd brush my inside calf in and forward for the canter strike off.

Have to say though I've been taught numerous different ways of aiding the canter strike off and I have to say that the majority of them work on any horse.

[cvb]

I've been taught the "inside nudge" method as well and it does work on certain horses. Seems to be better on the more educated balanced horses in my (limited) experience (don't get to ride schoolmasters that often).

[larri]

Thanks for input, I have another lesson today - last one before we are cast into the big wide world to figure each other out again lol! I'll see how we go and try to get some clarification from Marcia.

I hope she behaves herself today - Bento Castelhano is doing a clinic at Turville for two days and I'm terrified he'll catch sight of how bad I am :eek: :o

Safi is by no means a schoolmaster, but for a fairly newly schooled 4 y o she has incredible lightness and balance - I think the problem is me definitely!

[cvb]

I know Safi is just learning, but that doesn't mean she can't have the same 'feel' as a schoolmaster type. I guess what I was trying to say was that I've found it easier to do 'inside' nudge on a horse where it is easier to maintain a centered, balanced position, and hence have a secure, still leg - then just nudge in and up a little. Whereas with my mare we're still learning and we're not always as balanced as we should be.

Interesting reflection however as it makes me think that I need to sharpen up my act as then maybe she'll be able to do it right, rather than me being sloppy and making the whole thing worse (or at least not better) :eek: ;)

Good luck with your lesson - hope you'll share any clarification !

[Maria]

Another aid I've been taught - which does work universally as the instructor said it would, despite my concerns otherwise, is to set yourself up in position for flexion/bend right and then brush your outside leg back as you ask with your inside leg. This differentiates it from the aid to move away from the outside leg when used in the 'behind the girth' position.

[Heather]

Hi Larri,

Actually advancing the inside hip to canter causes the knee to deepend and the leg to lenghten, so you are probably already doing it!!

When you say 'a good jump' is this from trot or walk to canter? In walk to canter you will get a bigger jump up into canter, as the horse has to make more effort to lift his forehand into the canter and cannot rely on speed, as many horse do, to run into it from trot!!

Heather

[Kerry's Partner]

Heather, when we do this (advance the inside hip when asking for canter) are some of us a bit onesided?

I have no problems at all on the right rein and Kerry is doing really well but I feel as 'though we get it right about 1 in 10 on the left rein. I just wondered if it might be becuase I need to loosen up that side of me more.

[Yann]

It might be that Kerry finds that rein more difficult? Most horses seem to be 'handed' and find things easier one way than the other just as we do?

[larri]

We seem to have sorted this little issue OK, just have the general stroppy pants to get over :rolleyes:

[cvb]

Just out of interest, I was riding mid week in an indoor school that in hindsight I think was quite deep. (Poor little mare got quite warm and out of puff). She was in the western saddle. And the canter work was really not up to her normal standard.

Then I rode in our outdoor sand arena on sunday in a dressage saddle, and she was hopping up like a zebedee !

So do bear in mind that the change in enviroment might have affected her til she adjusted as well ?

[Kerry's Partner]

I'm pleased you're sorted Larri you must be SOOOOO proud.

I'm sorted too to a certain extent - at least I know in whom the problem lies!! Kerry may well have a one-sided prob as I know people say horses do - but not in this instance. It has to be me!! (I prefer that really.) The day after I asked my question (above post) I found ABSOLUTELY no probs left rein and many on the right.............so it's me and not her which is what I expected really.

Poor soul she has not only me to deal with but a "hole in her mouth" now. Requiring vet and dentist together on Thursday to sedate her then examine her mout (ooooooooooooooo I'm not at all convinced she'll actually respond to the sedation by going to sleep - if she's true to form she'll go beserk because she'll be SO insulted by it all). If after this experience (and examination/consultation between experts) it is decided that they shouldn't proceed she'll be off to Potters Bar for surgery.

She just does not deserve all of this.