desunited canter

[sara78]

@MapleLeaf

I am working through a similar issue right now. While trying to figure out whether it was weakness or pain related, a few things helped:

1. Spend time really getting your horse to seek the bit down to strengthen his back in walk, trot, and canter. Lots of “stretchy” feeling contact. Forward is your friend.
2. In the canter warm up, think of getting off of the horse’s back in two point and encouraging him to go forward and use his whole body from back to front. It was an eye-opener to me that my horse did much better when I got him really stretching down and I left him alone in the contact.
3. Cavaletti – Walking over cavaletti is good for loosening the back and strengthening the stifles. You can build up to trotting and cantering. Don’t over do it at first.
4. In the canter itself, be sure you are not bending the horse too much with the inside rein. On the circle, try to give the inside rein and see if that helps. Also, in the difficult lead, try slight counter-flexing to get the horse standing up in the shoulders rather than laying on one side. As the horse gets stronger, you can softly switch between slight or thinking counter-flex, straightening and very slight flexion to inside.
5. Lots of transitions within gaits - especially at the trot while the canter is still weak.
6. At the canter, go forward. Don’t stay in it too long. More transitions in and out of canter are likely better than waiting until the horse loses its balance in the canter.
7. Rein back. Introduce some steps of rein back on the ground. Again, don’t do too much as this can make a horse sore.
8. Hill work if you have the terrain and can safely do so.

These things really made a difference for my horse. The canter improved dramatically, but did not completely solve my problem, so I’m now investigating some physical issues. Best of luck.

thank you very much, i find your post very good and constructive.

[sara78]

@dressurpferd01

To be very blunt, you have no business riding or training a young, inexperienced horse. Find a trainer that can at least put a few months of quality work on him before you end up creating even more serious issues.

thank you anyway, i rode many young horses in my life but i don t have the presumption of being a good rider, the horse had many physical issues, my trainer who is a top showjumping rider here in France also struggled with him this morning. The horse is a bit crooked after his problems and i showed him to the chiropractor, i hope he ll be better, we will see

[WildLittleWren]

I am glad your chiropractor found what physical issues were ailing him. If he continues to have issues, a full lameness exam may be in order from a good equine lameness specialist. If he hurts, it doesn’t matter if you are an Olympic rider! Get him fixed physically first, then worry about the training. Good luck!

[sara78]

@WildLittleWren

I am glad your chiropractor found what physical issues were ailing him. If he continues to have issues, a full lameness exam may be in order from a good equine lameness specialist. If he hurts, it doesn’t matter if you are an Olympic rider! Get him fixed physically first, then worry about the training. Good luck!

thank you, he had full vet exam, he was level 1/5 lame on his hind left stifle, but by then he never disunited at canter, got 4 months walk, then injection in stifle was pretty good and after 2 months riding it s when he disunite and very stiff behind but not lame

[sara78]

Hi, I sent the horse to my trainer and he has also the same problem, often desunited, the horse is calm and relaxed but even then he gets desunited, after one year of trying to figure out the problem and after spending a lot of money on trying a lot of different things I wonder that he s just maybe not born to be a sport horse

[hoopoe]

perhaps he needs another 6 months off to truly recover from the injury If it is a stifle issue, then get out of the ring and build condition in the walk on hills. He is four, many here would just be starting to back this horse let alone riding full training sessions

Many issues of the canter can be fixed with effective trot work. Getting control of the shoulder and the outside rein can be key to managing straightness in the canter

the last thing I would be doing is cantering a horse where I am concerned with too much forward and manage it by slowing it down. Again, get into a bigger space and stay off circles.