I know one is considered much easier to improve than the other, but I can’t remember which (I’m thinking it’s the canter). I tried a search and got a lot of CANTER cutie threads :).
Rode an apppendix yesterday and really liked him, until I cantered him. The canter was really rough compared to other horses I have ridden. He is a 5 YO but quite green and has only recently been in consistent training. I have a short video but I hesitate to post without sellers permission.
You buy a walk and a canter. You can improve the trot.
Trot is easier to improve.
Interestingly enough, I’ve seen my trainer work with a couple horses that have pony trots and she worked with mine on her canter (that was a bit tranter-y when it started) and I think I’ve seen huge progress in my horse’s canter. I was a bit spoiled coming from a beautiful TB rocking horse canter and the new mare was just a bit lazy in getting her hind legs under her.
So the moral of the story is I don’t think its impossible to fix the canter!
[QUOTE=Lindsayah;7803609]
Interestingly enough, I’ve seen my trainer work with a couple horses that have pony trots and she worked with mine on her canter (that was a bit tranter-y when it started) and I think I’ve seen huge progress in my horse’s canter. I was a bit spoiled coming from a beautiful TB rocking horse canter and the new mare was just a bit lazy in getting her hind legs under her.
So the moral of the story is I don’t think its impossible to fix the canter![/QUOTE]
no it isn’t impossible to improve a canter but you can improve a trot much more.
Thanks guys. We would only be doing lower level stuff. OK, here is the link. I don’t think you can recognize the rider. Notice she isn’t even trying to sit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVr28EX8xtY&feature=youtu.be
Always a guess off a single video but…
Not that bad. Almost looks like he’s been in draw reins or something, too much worry about the dropped nose and no thought to that trailing back end. He doesn’t look like he’s traveling straight either…they tend to get crooked if held too much with the rear not engaged (haunch in, shoulder out). Sometimes too much arena work and circles and not enough straight line, forward work. Or he’s too green to stay straight. Either way, he’ll improve with softening in front and driven up behind. Just correct flatwork, no tricks.
That said, don’t think he’s got a ton of step but he can sure do better if allowed to move forward with more freedom in the face and that motor behind in gear instead of playing catch up.
If you try him again, drive him up and let him extend his step more. Maybe get him out of the ring. He should do much better in a larger area with room to get going.
Overall, looks like a nice type, good shape, well started, just some minor details easily dealt with. I like him, I’d be very interested.
Thanks findeight. I did take him out of the ring and canter/galloped him. He felt better. He was very quiet too. I think he will be a fun horse.
For LL he is fine. Bet he feels rough more from his back or hocks (or both). That may improve some but you shouldn’t buy thinking you will make a big change. You likely will get use to it. Me… I want a great canter and will buy a horse with a crap trot if I love their canter.
But if you love everything else about this horse, I wouldn’t think you are crazy to get him.
[QUOTE=kcmel;7803658]
Thanks guys. We would only be doing lower level stuff. OK, here is the link. I don’t think you can recognize the rider. Notice she isn’t even trying to sit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVr28EX8xtY&feature=youtu.be[/QUOTE]
I find it helpful to think of the canter in two parts - the natural rhythm of the canter and the quality of the canter. Its lovely to have a good quality canter (ground covering, naturally pushing from behind, etc), but when it comes to lower level jumping, I think you can get by with an ok canter as long as the horse has a nice rhythm - it makes your job as a rider infinitely easier. The short video you posted suggests to me that he has a nice internal rhythm. As a bonus, with some proper flatwork, the actual quality of the gait will improve as well.
Old lady posting - this is one adage that is true, the trot is easier to improve. You can really really improve a canter, but it takes diligence. I would not recommend it for someone who take much time off, say for winter (raises hand, this is pot to kettle). Also, I am not good enough to improve it on my own starting out again in Spring, so I ended up always using a trainer (and was fabulously pleased each and every time). On a good note, in a twisted way 
I think that having to be really diligent about the canter made me a better rider in a lot of ways…
I think the canter looks okay-very rhythmical. Agreed it takes a while for a horse to learn to sit but if you have a good trainer they can certainly help you. It always gets “ugly” looking before it gets better! I had a horse with a TERRIBLE canter that took me nearly 4 years to even look acceptable…
Thanks so much everyone for your input. Still pondering…
I agree a lot with what FindEight said. I think he has a nice rhythm, but looks like he’s either been ridden in draw reins like F8 said, or been ridden a lot from front to back (ie stiff hands, or someone concentrating on a head set). I think, if you get him using his hind end better and get his loosened up in his back, he’d be cute. As is, his canter doesn’t look bad, actually kind of cute. If I were to just see the video, without knowing any of the back story and asked for an opinion on the pair, my first reflexive answer is slightly tight rider, and horse needs to come through his back more, not man, that’s a rotten moving, rough gaited canter.
And if you are just looking for a LL type horse, it sounds like his personality/temperament are great! That alone goes a long way in my book.
Having said that, because the canter does FEEL rough, check out the hocks, stifles, and SI especially well if you are doing a PPE, since he does trail his hocks out a bit behind him.
Sheila
He looks like he is a bit downhill or as QH folks say “hip high”. As he learns to carry himself better his canter will improve but it will take a lot of diligence. You will always need to think “ride uphill”. As an eventer that has had many cowbred horses I have dealt with this a lot. Rhythmically his canter looks fine. As others said right now work on straight and then up.
Trot is easier to improve than a canter but I find you improve the canter more in the trot than in the canter. If that makes any sense…
My mare screams hunter through and through but with the right ride and a little help she will rock back and carry herself but I cant forget to keep the forward, otherwise we lose it.
I liked him from the video. Looks nice quiet and rhythmical.
Well, the canter you get out of a 4 or 5 year old isn’t necessarily the canter you get out of the same horse as a 7 or 8 year old. If the horse is big and at all downhill, it can take quite a bit of time to get the canter working right. My 3yo took a couple years to learn how to bring his hind end up under himself instead of throwing it side to side at the canter. As he built muscle and learned how to use his legs, his canter has improved dramatically.
Is he built downhill? It looks like his front is really slow to leave the ground.
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
