helping horse with confidence in canter

[Murphs]

Bit of an odd question (or maybe it's not, i don't know!). I'm trying to work on schooling my horse (she's 11, cob cross mare, pretty placid nature, owned her for almost 2 yrs) as we have been confined to barracks since FMD and i can only hack out now if i box up and take out (which i haven't done yet as only just bought box and i'm test driving without her to start!). Anyway... Ebony is great in school on walk / trot work - transitions, circles & serpentines. I'm a novice (but at the more experienced end of the scale in my opinion!) rider and whilst i'm happy in canter/gallop out on hacks (not that i've done a lot of that with her) my canter in the school has not been great so part of her problem may be my problem (if you follow). When we strike off for canter Ebony's reaction seems to be "panic" - head goes down and she wants to take off at full speed and ride in ever decreasing circles. I decided to be brave as my seat is fairly secure and try canter without stirrups (my problem is i tense my legs with stirrups so figured it would be easier to practice without - 1 less thing to worry about!) - whilst i can stay on, i'm not sure how to encourage her to relax and enjoy cantering. I'm trying the softly softly approach - just a few strides lots of praise, change rein and then, depending on how hyper she's got herself trying the same again or finishing the schooling with some trot and walk work to relax her again. Am i doing the right thing? What else could i try?

[claireh]

Hi Murphs!

No idea in answer to your question, i'm afraid!;)
No doubt one or more of our more experienced friends will soon be posting with the answers though!

Just wanted to post to say I haven't forgotten you, and it looks like I may have some time free this weekend if you are free to meet up!

I will make every effort to remember to phone you tomorrow night before it gets to an impolite time!

By the way- cantering without stirrups? Way to go girl!!

Take care, talk to you soon,

[ros]

Hi Murphs

It's early days yet and patience is the key. If your mare hasn't done much schooling it will be much harder for her to canter inside than outdoors. Her reaction at the moment is probably a combination of excitement and apprehension. The ever-decreasing circles syndrome is down to lack of balance and is very common.

Just carry on as you are and take it slowly; you don't HAVE to do circles straight away - a few strides, maybe down the long side of the school, will do at first, and you can build it up as both of you feel more comfortable. Lots of transitions at all paces and changes of direction will help your mare improve her balance generally. If you feel her rushing off, just bring her back to trot quietly and let her balance herself before you ask again. Remember Rome wasn't built in a day!

If you really feel you aren't progressing, some lessons with a good instructor would probably boost your confidence and your mare's (if you aren't already having lessons of course); if you can't do that, lungeing might help her get used to the idea of cantering indoors and balancing herself, but if you haven't done it before it would be sensible to get someone more experienced to give you a hand, otherwise you could end up confusing her.

Hope this helps.

[Murphs]

Hi Claire - yep i'm around this weekend so maybe just maybe!!!

Ros - thanks for your advice, she hasn't done lots of schooling - i bought her from a riding school who had only owned her for about 6 months or so but hardly used her in the school as she wasn't calm enough (she was a very nervous horse when i had her but she has come on beautifully in terms of confidence around people so maybe this is the next step on our progress ladder). Re the circles - it's actually her that decides to circle rather than me (unless i'm unconsciously doing so although i'm trying not to have too much rein contact to let her "get on with it") My aim generally is to try and canter a longside of the school but we never quite make it! I'll keep doing as i am and see how we go

thanks again

Debbie

[floppy]

you could try before you start riding her to lunge her in all 3 gaits both ways..that way any energy she has to let out she will do it then...
when you want to ride her in canter you should ask her to maybe canter on a circle and then striaghten your shoudlers out and ask her to go striaght up the school instead of round int he circle again...do you use a whip? it might help to have and to hold on the insde so when you want to leave the circle you have some back up to make her go straight on instead of round (that is off course that your horse is scared of whips)
dont forget to use your inside leg with your outside rein.
if you are worried about maybe falling off when you horse lowers its head then bridge your reins.
hmm just another thought...are there any other horses you could possibly ride with in the arena??? that way maybe she might be more willing to go on straight.
Then you ahve to think of all the other thigns such as does the tack fit comfortably..is it pinching anywhere?is her back and teeth ok?
last but not least make sur ewhen you ask for cante ryou are sitting upright and dont lean forward!:)

[Murphs]

Floppy thanks for the advice - i don't carry a whip, mainly because i've never really needed to use one - she can be lazy if i'm being so but otherwise she's generally quite responsive.
I'm going to get an experienced rider to try her for me - to confirm if it's me, her or both! Not worried about falling off - done it before! it's a fairly soft landing and i do wear my body protector!
I keep her at home with an unridden companion so no option to try her with other horses. I've thought about tack - saddle & back as she's put on weight since i've had her but wouldn't this affect her in walk/trot as well? I'll see what my friend thinks when she rides her (she's an ex riding instructor) and also get her opinion on tack / back check.

thanks again

Debbie

[floppy]

thats the other idea i forgot to mention that getting someone more experienced to help woudl be an idea!
i only mentioned the whip as a help incase your horse isnt moving away from your leg...hope you get it solved..let us know what happens! best of luck :)

[claireh]

Hi Debbie!

I had just sat down with a coffee and the phone to ring you this evening when my cousin rang! Boy can she talk! Have only just got off the phone and look at the time- I'll try to phone you again tomorrow! If at first...!

[ros]

If your horse is circling without your consciously asking her to, it could well be that you're asking her without realising. Don't forget that the main turning aid is your seat, not your hands. Try to feel if you're inadvertently puuting more weight on one seatbone - it's very easy to lean to the inside without realising it, then you end up unbalancing your mare even more. Some people say you should lean to the inside along with the horse, as you would on a motorbike, but this really does make things worse.

[floppy]

no you shoudlnt lean...your outside shoulder has to come slightly forwards and your inside shoulder backwards so that your body is always square witht he horses

[Murphs]

and things were a bit better! did a few more strides before the "panic" set in. I have a feeling that i do lean in so maybe that's also part of the problem. I'll have another go tomorrow.
Thanks again for the advice

Debbie

[floppy]

another htin gi find useful is to read articles on improving your riding th enight before or befor ei go riding because then i sub conciously think of what i should be doing etc and how to do it and concentrate more on my postion etc than i normally would!

[floppy]

sit tall, dont lean forwards and dont lean sideways :)