Ask the Expert
Question:
I have a 16.2h, three
year old stallion, who is in his second month of training has a problem
with
staying on the correct canter lead, he becomes un-balanced and get disunited
once i come off a circle onto a straight line. This occures on both reins.
I have tried lengthening and shortening the stride on the circle then coming
onto a straight line. I have tried jumping a small vertical off a corner. I
have even gone back to lungeing him. His balance is very good on turns and
circles in both walk and trot, and he rides quite well on a contact in an outline.
How do I overcome this problem in canter?
Answered by Tricia Gardiner FBHS and Olympic Dressage Rider (see photo below)
There are two reasons
why your 3yr old stallion is changing behind when
going from a circle to a straight line. Either:
1. He has a very big off the ground canter and is not yet strong enough to control and co- ordinate it, or
2. he is still stiffening himself against the weight of the rider and therefore lacks suppleness .
After the 3yrs old horse has been broken in, it is advisable to stay on a circle in canter until he is strong enough and balanced enough to go onto a straight line, as the circle is much easier. This can take several months.
There are several things to do on the circle that will prepare him for the straight line:
First, be able to move his neck to the inside and also the outside of the circle, this will gradually help to straighten his body.
You could also push out from a smaller circle to a larger circle and gradually make a few strides of straight line within the bigger circle. I would also do this work off the horses back in a forward position.
As I am not able to observe your horse it is difficult to assess the problem accurately., but here are a few points that may help:
~ It is essential
to have your weight to the inside of the circles and corners, this
will help to keep the horse to the inside canter lead. It often happens
that a horse will push the rider to the outside if he is unbalanced,
and then feels it necessary to change behind to take the weight.
~ When moving from a circle to a straight line be careful not to pull the outside
rein. Always push
the horse straight forward from the inside leg on the girth position, keeping
the neck straight.
~ Be aware that your contact with the horses mouth remains soft and unresisting
so that the horse can move his head and neck in a way that young horses
do. Also allowing the horse to stretch down in a rounded outline.
It is possible that
his pelvis may have been damaged or stressed when he
was younger, so it would be just as well to have his backed checked out.
I hope some of these
suggestions will help, but the problem is fairly
normal at that age and I feel that you must be patient and get your horse
stronger and gradually more flexible.
Mrs Tricia
Gardiner FBHS International Grand Prix Dressage Rider and Trainer
Roundelay, Grange Court Lane, Huntley, Glos. Tel. 01452 830445 Email: trishgardiner@tiscali.co.uk
Top class training in your own arena. Also, clinics held at Sally Newcomb’s
Tricia riding her own Grand Prix Dressage Horse - Moon Tiger