How to Develop a Smooth, Relaxed Canter, Part II

Hi, I’m Caroline Rider of Rider Horsemanship. This month’s Holistic Horse “Ask the Expert” Q&A is about developing a smooth, relaxed canter. Question: My horse rushes into the canter and is tight and nervous. Her canter is rough and pulls me down onto her forehand, keeping me from balancing and feeling secure. Why does she do this and how can I help her?

There are several factors I look at when evaluating a horse at the canter. First, I want to see them canter at the free lunge, then online before I ride the canter. This process will allow me to look at their self carriage - the quality of the movement and how the horse handles them self without the rider. If the horse’s movement is not balanced, fluid and rhythmic at the free lunge or lunge I will know it needs help developing more ease, relaxation and balance when transitioning within the gaits and from one gait to another. This process will involve preparing the horse mentally and physically at the free lunge and online before I ride again.

If a horse can’t move freely and with relaxation and balance within the gaits at the lunge, he most likely won’t be able to travel well under saddle. And, if he travels well when lunged and acts differently under saddle, something is happening to the horse when he is being asked to canter. Something bothers him. We must always check the tack and his back, making sure he is not feeling pain when being ridden with a saddle. If this is not the case, he most likely has trauma from negative past experiences that triggers him into a nervous, fearful and flighty mindset. If this is the case, the horse’s emotional and mental state of Being has been compromised and will need rehabilitation. Rehabilitation will include preparing him mentally and physically through riding exercises that develop ease, relaxation, suppling, balance and rhythm during transitions.

Here is a list of questions I ask myself when working, and evaluating, a horse that appears nervous and rushes into the canter when lunged:
What is the quality of the horse’s gait when lunged? Does the horse transition into each gait with mental and physical control and balance?
Is the horse’s gait relaxed and rhythmic, long and stretched? Or, is it tight, quick and inconsistent - slowing down, speeding up and changing direction?
Does the horse’s hind end reach far under its belly when cantering, showing signs of balance and self carriage?
Does the horse track well at the walk, trot and canter?
Is the horse connected to me, responsive to my intention, cues and aids?

If you said “no” to more than half of these questions you will need to focus on developing your horse’s self carriage as well his mental confidence and perhaps obedience. Now, if you said “yes” to more than half it would appear that your horse’s issues are related to being ridden and if you are confident about your riding ability and that you are not affecting your horse’s balance than your horse is being triggered.

Here are a few riding exercises that will help your horse develop confidence and trust in you as a rider as well as develop self carriage – smooth and fluid transitions in and out of the canter:
Practice suppling exercises at the trot that include shoulder in, haunches in (travers), haunches out (renvers).
Trot to walk transitions every 3 strides. Your walk and trot should be with energy.
Trot serpentines with focus on shoulder in during the turns and riding straight and with forward movement on the straight away.
Rein aids that help position the horse into balance and create self carriage.

The following Rider Horsemanship DVD's will further explain the information covered in this video:
Biomechanics DVD: http://www.shoppingcartdepot.com/c/RH...
Riding as One DVD: http://www.shoppingcartdepot.com/c/RH...
Lunging with a Purpose DVD: https://www.shoppingcartdepot.com/c/R...

Please visit www.riderhorsemanship.com for more education materials, DVD's, clinic opportunities, training and the TAO of Horsemanship Online Foundation Course.