Canter exercises?

[SA rider]

Help everyone. Things are going really nicely with Chica's trot, she's more forward going, working better from behind and relaxing a little at the poll. She's still very on the forehand though but am trying to sort that out too.
My big problem now is her CANTER. It's pretty terrible really. She's quite unbalanced and she tends to do the `giraffe' in canter. You name the problem, she's probably got it. When she's not giraffe-ing I feel as though I'm holding her up as she's so on the forehand.
She also has a tendency to run around in a kind of `what the hell am I doing' type pace, occasionally breaking into a confused `tranter'.....
I really need to instill some discipline (in her and me) - what sort of exercises are the best to try and tidy everything up?

[Scarlett 001]

Ok, I am no expert (hence all my recent posts asking questions in this section of NR) but I would think transitions are a big thing here - to bring her down to trot when she starts getting too fast etc. - it would also help her to rebalance. Also, can she manage a walk/canter transition - sometimes the zipping around and accelerating in trot that horses do before canter sets things up for speedy/disorganized canter. You could also try doing the canter on the lunge or long reining so she can get the feel without the added weight of a rider on board. Or how about a riding lesson on the lunge line - that might help keep things nice and controlled. Also are you cantering outdoors, in a large arena or where? 20 meter circles will help keep the canter more relaxed.

[palmerlover52]

Tranter lol...Love it!

Transitions, serpentines, lunge work, 20m circles, just working on getting a slow balanced canter, but not breaking into trotting. Maybe work on establishing voice aids on the lunge so she doesn't get confused?

[SA rider]

Cheers for that, yes I just really need to work work work at it. I ride outside in a large arena, but try to mainly work within the 20 by 40 so that I don't get sloppy. Yes will also do more work on lunge with canter, have been including alot of lunge work lately anyway.
I don't know if you guys have the same problem but with having such a green girl I feel like there are just so many things to work on that sometimes I don't know where to start. I get obsessed with trot, then I think OMIGOD her walk is terrrible then OH HELL her canter is awful, and I end up just getting off feeling demoralised and eat two mars bars (which of course helps a bunch).

[Scarlett 001]

If you do the lunge work, don't forget to transition when she gets too fast (or even if not) - it will keep things tidier and more in control.

To answer your question my horse is not green at all (16 year old ex-riding school horse with some good early training before that). But his many years as a riding school horse led to him riding like a giraffe with no hint of accepting contact and he shuffled on the forehand - plus he was not well cared for and came to me a mess physically. So my issues are different than yours - I sort of feel like I am retraining a horse who once knew a lot - but also he has never done dressage riding, so some of this is new too.

I too get confused with what to focus on as I see so many things that need work! Do you have a riding instructor - my instructor is so good at helping me stay focussed on a few things at once and not trying to conquer it all.

Hey, I like the idea of Mars-bar-therapy! Sounds good to me! ;) :D

[SA rider]

Thanks yeah transitions are sooo the answer aren't they. for ages I neglected transitions but now I drive her mad with asking for them constantly. She is moving so much better as a result. When I was working with her today she was so fabulous that I felt quite sniffly, it makes all the difficult days worthwhile.

[Scarlett 001]

When I was working with her today she was so fabulous that I felt quite sniffly, it makes all the difficult days worthwhile.

Oh, that is so nice to read. I just *love* it when things come together after a struggle. I've had a lot of those moments in the past while and it feels so good! Let us know how progress goes with this! :)