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  Discussion on Smoothing out the canter
Author Message
Member:
Skeller

Posted on Monday, Jul 12, 2004 - 1:55 pm:

I’ve been riding a friend’s Arab and can’t for the world of me figure out how to sit his canter. I'm an intermediate rider (so some of the fault is mine) but have never had this problem before. He seems to be very stiff legged in the back end. He is actually worse in a collected frame than an uncollected frame (he also bounced off one very experienced rider). We've started lunging him to get him to soften and round his back a bit more. Also warming him up doing circles and serpentines to increase flexibility. Any suggestions for getting a smoother canter?
Member:
Cowgrl

Posted on Monday, Jul 12, 2004 - 4:23 pm:

Is he possibly cross-cantering? One lead in front and the opposite lead behind. That would be very difficult to sit if not downright impossible. First I would have the vet do an exam on his hind legs to rule out structural problems since you say he is very stiff behind.
Member:
Skeller

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 14, 2004 - 12:53 pm:

Good thought, but no he's cantering correctly. It is harder to get him to take the right lead though.
I'm not all that familiar with working Arabs, but have seen a similiar canter on others when the are out playing. I call it a "Pepe'Le Pew" canter.
I was wondering about working him in side reins and s-l-o-w-l-y getting him to work in a more collected frame.
Member:
Stina

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 14, 2004 - 1:20 pm:

I have an Arabian gelding who will do what I call a "rabbit hop" canter. Instead of striding with off-set hind legs, his hind-leg foot-falls are nearly side by side. It is quite rough so I assume this is similar to problem you are describing. I found only one thing that helps, and that is to ask for increased speed, in-fact hand galloping works best.

But, I also must say, though not all the time, this problem stems from him having a sore back causing him to travel in a very hollow frame.

I would strongly suggest making sure the Arabian you are riding is not suffering from any back pain prior to attempting a collected frame.
Member:
Parfait

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 14, 2004 - 1:25 pm:

Skeller,

If you have ruled out soreness in the back and hind legs then you are certainly right in thinking that he needs some ground work. Maybe a little cavaletti work as well. Please don't give him the excuse of being an Arab. They should be as soft and smooth as the next horse. If my horses all moved as you described I would have switched breeds decades ago. Good luck with him.
Kerry
Member:
Sross

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 14, 2004 - 7:04 pm:

I agree with Kerry.

How rough/smooth are the horse's other gaits? How is his lateral work? Is he more stiff on one side than the other? When cantering at liberty in the field, is he very stiff legged in the back end?

I did see a horse (not an Arab) at a clinic one time, who had the most bizarre canter I had ever seen. I can't even begin to describe it. Apparently the rider had been given the horse for free because of that canter.
Member:
Kthorse

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 14, 2004 - 8:34 pm:

Hi , I have a pure bred arab and his canter is a dream. However when he was a green beginner his canter was very bumpy, because he was learning to carry a rider, was unsure of him self, and did not have the physical muscle etc. Years of suppling, serpentines, hills and later after he was muscled enough and developed, side reins. Have someone experienced with them to show you how to use them . When I first used them he was still able to stretch his neck. Everynow and again he would collect for a second and I would praise him like crazy till he got the idea. Never force them into a collected state. They have to choose to do it and have the muscle to do it and it must come from behind. If they dont you will cause more problems. Teaching a horse to collect takes years. You cant do it in a short time. Holding their neck in a nice position is not collection.
I think this horse just needs lots of conditioning (after ruling out back pain) so he is able to round his back . there are No quick fixs. Also when a horse hollows his back they cause themselfs back pain.
I have only owned arabs and never had one that was uncomfortable at the canter. Fast trot is hard to sit too though:-)
Member:
Skeller

Posted on Thursday, Jul 15, 2004 - 8:56 am:

Thanks everyone, this gives me a lot of information to work with.
First of all, I love Arabs, in fact it would be my choice to own one if the two horses I have hadn't "found me" instead of me looking for one. I was wondering if this type of canter might be more prevalent due to conformation. This horse has a very flat croup.

His owner typically gets on and goes and doesn't ask for any collection at all. Round and round the ring, that's why we are now working on patterns and suppling.

I think my major mistake was asking for too much collection initially. (it's pretty embarrassing to have 8 inches of daylight between you and the saddle. at least that's what it felt like). I think you are right, he's not used to carrying a rider in a more collected frame that's why the other advanced riders had the "bumpies" too. He was asked to do to much too soon. I think you are right Katrina, his head may have been better but he was not truely collected from the back end.

He is even in his other gaits. Trot is not the smoothest in the world but not the hardest. Also, he had a tendency to rack (single foot gait) several years ago. I've not known any other Arabs that do this however the gaited breeds had to inherit this tendancy from somewhere. Shoeing has resolved this.

I'm hoping that once he starts getting his hind end under him that taking the right lead will not be a problem. Actually I believe it's more to do with rider balance as he takes this lead fine on the lunge or in the field.

I'll borrow a video camera so I can study the way the horse goes and your suggestions better. (and hopefully be able to see the improvement over several months).

FYI, I had the chance to ride a Freisan the other day. Talk about a BIG bumpy trot to sit. They tell me that once you learn to sit it, you can. It was a lot of fun but amazing to feel just how different.
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