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Re: [RC] Cantering issues/young horse - Lysane Cree

Well, it could be all of what you have mentioned. Yes, I have been using big circles, using the whole width of the arena (which is 150 long x 75 wide), so the circle is at least 60. She *is* just a long 3 year old, so she must be finding it difficult to canter on a circle as you said; she is also stiffer on one side which doesn't help. She trots in a circle in a very relaxed manner, so it is definitely not stressing her mentally (or physically) as much as the canter is.
I am keeping the sessions short and most of it is walk-trot. I only ask her to canter one or two circles in the whole time. I am trying to switch directions often, so that I can work her stiff side (but without her trying to change directions). I can only work her at a walk and trot on that stiffer side because even at a trot she gets worked up and will try to switch directions. So I have only tried to canter her on her better side at this point (which is the left side).
 
Even if I lead her from the right side, she will try to get me back on her left side. I know its partly my fault, as I have been in the habit since I was young of handling horses on the left side (I don't know *why* we are taught this, its a hard habit to break!!) I guess it is something I need to work on myself if I want her to be more "even" on either side.
 
Lysane
Sky Ranch <skyranch@xxxxxxxx> wrote:
Well, here's my 2 cents worth (and I'm not sure it's worth even that much!)  Young horses are still developing their bones, ligaments, muscles, and also mental capabilities -- yes, even at 4.  And I guess actually she's really still a "long 3 yr old."
 
Longing is really hard on a young horse, so I think it's really best to NOT do much of it.  Especially cantering.  I hope you're making really BIG circles, and not small.  With big circles you're less likely to stress all of the above.
 
She also may just be bored by going in circles... ?
 
Good luck, and Happy New Year!
Carla Richardson
Colorado
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, January 03, 2006 9:48 AM
Subject: [RC] Cantering issues/young horse

I have been doing a variety of work with my mare - always keeping in mind that she is only 4 in April. I notice that she is one-sided and also has difficulty cantering. I think it might be a balance issue as well. And her saddle is not the best fit, so I am going to test an RP. With all that said, I'm wondering what else I can do to help her along.
On the longe, she has learned the voice commands well, but she is significantly better on one side than the other. I longe because I want her to know how to do it, as well as a warm up and get her focusing on me. She will go quite well counter clockwise and will rarely fuss (except to pick up the canter). In the clockwise direction (i.e. with me on her right side), I can get only get one or two circles out of her at the trot before she will try to slam on the brakes and switch directions. I have been trying to change her directions often so that I switch her before s he tries to do it herself, but I still can only get her to go one or two times around before she will try to switch.
In both directions, she always hesitates to canter. She pins her ears and then canters. She sometimes canters on the wrong lead or will give a little buck and switch her back feet.
Under saddle, I have been doing circles and figures eights at the walk and trot - on her stiff side, she will always try to cut her circles. She will pin her ears if I ask her to canter, but she will canter for a short distance. I try to do this on a straight away rather than a circle, because I have been taught that it is easier for young horses to do straight lines than it is to do circles. She is very heavy on the forehand which I expect at her age, but she seems to have trouble getting the right lead or feeling comfortable cantering. She will occassionally do a little buck which is what she does when she needs to switch her legs around. I am t rying to be as easy on her as possible and not interfere too much because she is obviously not too sure of herself. I will ask her to canter a few strides and then bring her back to a trot.
I'm wondering how long it takes for a young horse to develop that ability to canter under saddle, or to canter on a circle (a large circle)...She has been under saddle for a few months now, but I am only now beginning to ask her to canter a little bit. I want to make sure I am not pushing her too much.
 
Lysane
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