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Slave 2 Magic
Gold Member
 England
1023 Posts |
 Posted - 11 Feb 2010 : 9:32:09 PM
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My mare can have a really short bouncy canter. It is incredibly hard to sit to. How can I get her to lengthen? Walk and trot are fine. I have no access to an arena at the moment, just a large round pen so circles only.
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West Yorkshire
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Quarabian
Platinum Member
Wales
4340 Posts |
Posted - 11 Feb 2010 : 10:07:52 PM
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I see that no one has replied to this topic yet so I'll go first. I wonder if she does this on the lunge or just when you are riding her. If so I would try to give her more rein as long as she does not become silly. 
This sounds like a tension thing. So if you can eliminate the cause she should improve. She will find it more difficult to take a longer stride if she is not relaxed. But I can think of so many reasons. I presume you are both happy with her saddle and her bit. Does she take up a strong contact, or try to evade the bit at all? Are you relaxed in your seat and back? How does she canter out on a hack? What bit are you using?
Sorry about all the questions. I think anyone offering advice might need to know these things. It could be just that she feels restricted in the round pen. Try watching her on the lunge or loose first. You might need to give the ridden canter a rest while you work on this from the ground. Good luck |
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Slave 2 Magic
Gold Member
England
1023 Posts |
Posted - 11 Feb 2010 : 10:43:36 PM
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| Thankyou Quarabian. She canters the same on the lunge. I have just started to lunge in a pessoa to try to get her to relax through her back. Saddle, teeth back all checked. She is ridden in a loose ring french link and doesn't take a strong hold. I have tried giving her a loose rein but she still bounces. My friend thinks its an evasion tactic to get out of working forward. We don't canter on a hack as its all roadwork. |
West Yorkshire
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Vicki M
Silver Member
England
294 Posts |
Posted - 12 Feb 2010 : 12:51:53 AM
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Sorry don't know much about your circumstances or the level your mare is at.
But if possible, it maybe an idea to go for a hack or if you have transport take her to a beech or gallops. This will change her outlook and make the experience fun instead of just going round in circles.
Take someone with you on another horse to encourage her to go forward and lengthen naturally. It will be easier for her to extend on a long stretch in a straight line.
I'm not saying go at a mad gallop, just an extension to her natural pace. A bit of a blast may do the world of good. |
  
Vicki M
Al Karif Arabians |
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Roseanne
Moderator
United Kingdom
6708 Posts |
Posted - 12 Feb 2010 : 10:40:04 AM
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I'd agree about taking her out hacking. You may need to go alone if you don't have a companion who is really quiet.
I'd find a ride where there's a canter with a nice, gentle incline (not steep or you may cause strains) and ride there several times on a nice walk, going briskly and 'tapping her up' if needs be to ensure she's walking out nicely.
Then when she knows the ride a bit I'd take her into a trot on the gentle incline and let her slip into canter, using your seat to ask her to lengthen; keeping a contact, not giving the rein away and not holding her back. Keep your shoulders back reasonably to encourage her to bring her legs under her and keep your weight off her forehand.
If you can find a completely reliable compaion who'll canter at all paces alongside you, that would be good too as your friend can lengthen so your mare will naturally extend a bit to try to stay with her.
It is worth checking the saddle's OK too; some horses will stay a bit choppy and short if they don't like the pressure of the pommel behind the shoulders.
Good luck! |
Roseanne |
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Mrs Vlacq
Platinum Member
Wales
3776 Posts |
Posted - 12 Feb 2010 : 1:39:57 PM
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Yeah, straight lines and gentle slope would be my first aproach, as always working on the turn will encourage her to spill in/out. She needs to be relaxed and strong enough to hold herself (and you) properly. You need to appriach it very 'matter of fact' and don't tense up yourself (easier said then done when you know the pneumatic drill sensation is iminent!)
A good tactic is to ask for canter from a very relaxed and stretched trot and only hold it for a few strides - you need to have as little contact as possible (loopy reins) and sit very centred and soft. Then get the 'sloppy' trot back. Do this a lot - in the middle of other exercises, around poles, out hacking, on the lunge / longreins. It's a very handy trick for horses that over-commit and get faster and harder. As she gets stronger and smoother (calmer about it all) she will slot back into the trot straightaway. Then you can ask for more strides before dropping back a pace.
I taught my shortcoupled and tense horse to Western lope this way and it tranformed him!! Buckle-end canter ni self carriage feels great!
Good luck  |
    
- V Khazad - V Calacirya & V Sulime - Quarida(L) - V Boogie Knights - V Hamra Tofiq |
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BeckyBoodle
Gold Member
Australia
795 Posts |
Posted - 12 Feb 2010 : 1:45:31 PM
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I would go with a long gentle incline too out hacking if possible. What is she like with trotting/canter poles?
Otherwise, schooling exercises like a little bit of shoulder fore on a circle and leg yield to engage the hind quarters for a couple of strides before straightening and asking for working trot, then if you are getting good extension in trot moving to canter from leg yield. Also transitions within each of the paces. Collected trot to working to medium and back and the same in canter if you can achieve it.
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Slave 2 Magic
Gold Member
England
1023 Posts |
Posted - 12 Feb 2010 : 4:28:47 PM
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| Luckily, I am at an old racing yard so have access to a circular gallops which has a steady incline on both long sides. Its abit boggy at the moment but when it dries up I will try the relaxed loose rein approach. Its like sitting on Tigger at the moment but I know its in there somewhere! |
West Yorkshire
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BeckyBoodle
Gold Member
Australia
795 Posts |
Posted - 12 Feb 2010 : 8:23:39 PM
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Was thinking on the walk back to the station, is it just canter that she won't extend? Just wondered about whether it is balance that would be helped by strengthening??? Obviously if she can extend in the other gaits and not in canter, there is something about canter that might be making her cautious, which could be balance. If it is all gaits then it is a matter of building strength and increasing flexibility. Could leg yield, do shoulder fore, or shallow loops out hacking if you have no access to an arena. Also gentle stretches from the ground and/or massage round the shoulders/neck etc.
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Slave 2 Magic
Gold Member
England
1023 Posts |
Posted - 12 Feb 2010 : 9:44:57 PM
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| She extends in trot no problem. Especially if there is something spooky to go past! I am inclined to think its a balance thing. I'll give her a try on the gallops tomorrow and see how we go. |
West Yorkshire
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Topic |
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Lengthening canter.
