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Discussion on Shorten Canter Without Elevating Frame??
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Member:
Horsepix
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Posted on Tuesday, Apr 20, 2004 - 4:55 pm:
I realize that this thread is a couple of years old, but I think it is very interesting that the original poster asked if all hunters have bad canters because they want a low head set. My thought is yes! It seems to me that the hunter 'head set' is just that. The look for the ring does not require a horse that is not on its forehand, but instead, is low in the poll.
It is a natural (and good!!) response for the horse to come up in the poll when asked to collect the canter. The energy has made a shift from going forward (working canter) to upwards (collected canter) when doing a half halt at the canter. If the horse naturally offers this, it is probably due to his conformation (more uphill neck set) and should not be punished by having his head forced down into a head set.
Likewise, I think the original poster should re-evaluate the effectiveness and use of her seat if she must resort to pulling on the reins in order to half-halt her horse.
Just my opinions...
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Member:
Aannk
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Posted on Friday, Apr 23, 2004 - 2:07 pm:
Amy,
I don't see that I said anywhere that I pull on the reins. Quote "I try very hard to minimize the rein use in half halts, I try to mainly use my seat." I have become more adept at this in the few years that have past. I also pretty much gave up on trying to not elevate him. I just let him go around in his huge stride when hacking, and an elevated frame is not such a big deal when doing a course, so we don't suffer from his frame.
Alicia
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Member:
Horsepix
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Posted on Wednesday, Apr 28, 2004 - 5:50 pm:
"Of course, when that doesn't work, you need to get stronger with the reins."
This was what I was trying to get at. There seems to be more necessity for a good half halt from the seat when rider resorts to getting stronger with the reins. I've been guilty of this myself, so I don't mean to sound holier-than-thou!! Forgive me. ;)
I'm glad that you've become more adept in the past few years. That's great! One question though...why would you choose a horse with an uphill dressage build for hunters?
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Member:
Aannk
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Posted on Thursday, Apr 29, 2004 - 10:28 am:
Amy,
Oh, I see now  I should probably tell you that I used to ride with "loopy" reins. So, for me, strong aids were having a feel. I now know, after a few years, that the horse can't be through unless there is rein contact. I based my contact on the hunter pros who seem to magically have the horses in a great frame with no contact. That is self carriage, and I don't pretend to have acheived that!
On the second thought, I bred this horse, and have had him since birth. I want him to be a hunter, and he can go that way. It is basically a first level frame, but a little more long and low. The best movers who win at high level go like that. In the past few weeks, I have had consistant lessons with my dressage trainer, and his canter has gotten much better. He was basically behind my leg, and up and down instead of forward. It is taking me a long time, but we are slowly getting there! The stride is still huge, and we may spend a couple of months getting it to where I can adjust shorter as opposed to longer, but when I do, we can go back to doing courses again.
Alicia
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