[QUOTE=arabiansrock;8469914]
BTDT - I will look into the degogue, Can they be lunged with this? It really might help her to be lunged to get used to having to use her body differently without the weight/influence of a rider on top so she can just sort out her body.[/QUOTE]
While a couple of people have mentioned that the saddle may be too narrow, I’ve also seen this with saddles that are too wide, or that don’t have a lot of depth to the panels. Either one will sit too low over the horse’s spine. While that may not be a problem at most gaits, in the canter both hind legs swing forward together so the back rounds up more than in other gaits. This extra roundness can put the horse’s back bone in contact with the saddle. Ouch! Avoiding that can me a reason to hollow and throw the head up.
The only gadget I would consider would be a running martingale set pretty high so it would only come in contact with the horse’s mouth if the head came up very high.
Sometimes sensitive horses that aren’t quite coordinated in the canter yet can bump us out of position which results in the horse getting bumped in the mouth, which then sets up a vicious cycle of the horse getting nervous and throwing head up at the depart, etc.
It is unlikely to be a saddle fit issue, this mare does this with any saddle put on her, and she has her owned fitted saddle, although I am going to get that one’s fit touched up in the next few weeks (saddle fitter going to be out of town for a bit).
I agree with most who suggest that it is a strength issue, altho I also suspect habit and the fact that it is harder to balance into the canter than fall into also comes into play. Miss Mare likes to give the bare minimum that will accomplish the job.
Unfortunately it has FINALLY started to rain in NorCal (we need it desperately), and our indoor arena is now reduced to a rideable area of about 15m x 20m. so lunging only for the next week or so. Unfortunately the “indoor” is open at both ends and when the wind blows, the rain comes right in.
Chambons are useful for building the back when lunging. Much easier to build the back (in my opinion) without the weight of the rider.
A very simple, but good transition exercise I have used: canter a 20 meter circle, then transition to trot while at the same time transitioning to a 10 meter circle, then back to canter and a 20 meter circle (or 15 if that is all the room you have). Keep the place you change the circle size the same, and make the circle a priority over the transition. This is a simple way to make sure the horse stays supple through the transition and that neither horse nor rider get braced.
Walking over ground poles is still quite helpful for building abdominal strength so you can work on this even with lousy footing. Also changes of tempo through the walk are good on circles of varying sizes and changes through the circle.
[QUOTE=snowrider;8469009]
Also a common sign of a saddle that is pinching at the shoulder.[/QUOTE]
OP please go the saddle route first. Just about every horse I’ve ever watched or sat on that did what you are describing your mare do had a saddle fit issue…
When I was green behind the ears I had a gelding that did the same… just could not get a nice canter transition… we thought it was balance, horse fitness, maybe a little of me… EVERYONE thought it was balance/greenness… I only wish we had investigated the saddle sooner as the culprit – we had it fitted to him THREE times but it just was the wrong glass slipper and he paid the price… I feel horrible about it even after all of this time has passed.
The more I learn about horses the more I learn that even if the saddle fits it doesn’t mean it is comfortable or enjoyable for the horse… what’s on paper almost never counts.
My horse also tosses his head in transitions, but we’ve worked on it a lot and now it’s only in trot to canter transitions, and not 100% of the time. He’s set low with a short neck and head tossing is his go to when he’s bored in his stall, at the halt, or as a general evasion. One thing that has helped me a lot is making sure I’m not being too aggressive in asking for the transition. He tends to be behind the leg, so when he was more green I had to be pretty apparent in my aid to ask for canter or else he just wouldn’t. Now that he’s more keen to the aids, I need to dial myself back.
The idea that’s helped me the most with this lately actually came from my husband when we were talking about my target shooting. I tend to anticipate too much, which makes me pull the trigger fast and jerk the gun a bit. He told me when he shoots, he pulls the trigger verrrrrry slowly while concentrating on his breathing. He is so slow about it that it actually surprises him once the gun fires. I’ve been applying this concept to my trot to canter transitions (ask verrrrry gently and be surprised by the canter) and it’s helped TONS.
My horse does the head toss when he needs to run and play. If he’s turned out or lunged when needed he doesn’t toss his head in the canter transition at all.
I have had 2 of those, and three other gf’s horses that had done that. I refuse to use any gadget that can’t go into the show ring. i’d start with spiraling in and out at a trot. Then Walk up and down the side of the ring with as close to a shoulder in as possible. Then alternate that with a walk that’s so so slow without stopping. Light rein, barely leg. Keep the horse straight.
Then, before and after every transition, I bring her long low and out. I do this by teaching her to respond to moving my hands to my knees with a vibration of the bit. There’s no pulling, NO weight. Just that response. Then put hands back and let the horse come up to the bit in the proper position. Ask for canter immediately after she comes up and is soft. After you get a consistent soft response, you can add keeping that soft response by seat into hand. Do not ever pull back on the reins. If necessary, plant your hands on the pommel and keep them there until she responds.
All this to teach her softness prior to asking for the canter. Don’t ask for the canter until her jaw and neck are soft. Then once that’s consistent, you can use the “engine” to keep her there. Hope this helps.
Be very careful if you ride with the degouge which is similar to draw reins, I used one for a short time and horse tripped in it and almost went down, that scared me so much never used it again. Also one rien came loose from snap one time and was flopping all over the place ( at canter no less), luckily he was very good about it and did not panic. As soon as stopped using it problem came back so imo thumbs down on it.
It is a work in progress with me I like the above advice in post 30 will try it. I can see using a chambon or similar on lunge line I dislike riding with gadgets.
Does the horse throw its head up when transitioning into canter at liberty?
alicen - yep, always has.
We are getting saddle refitted. Miss Mare is very picky about her saddle and quick to tell us if she is unhappy.
I like all of the suggested exercises, many we already do or have tried in the past. The figure 8 with one circle 10 m transitioning to a 20 m canter circle sounds interesting, will have to have kids try that one.
She does seem to do the best when moving well forward into the canter, so we are going to continue to work on “you shall move forward when I say go” and strengthening exercises when we can ride (soggy arena right now).
thanks again for all the help and ideas, will report back in a month or so to let you all know if she is starting to get better and stronger, more balanced, better able to lift herself into the canter .
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