We are working on straightening my guys canter. He is very adjustable forward and back with true collection. We have our lateral work but especially to the right it is sticky. We have changes. We have CC and counter flexion. We have plie.
He has always carried his haunches somewhat to the inside especially to the right. (Also throws haunches right when changing left to right).
As we work to straighten him, we seem to be losing a good step forward with that inside hind. This is especially evident in the change L> R.
Is this just a time and strength issue?
Heās 15 and I imagine he has done this for a long timeā¦ā¦
Bodywork done, no history of any lameness, saddle fit regularly.
Thx
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Out of curiosity have you ever tried a bute trial to see if there may be some subtle diffuse mid teens ouch that could result in a little guarding even if he isnāt acutely lame anywhere?
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It could be a strength issue but at that age it might also be subtle guarding especially if heās done this for a long time.
If you can get him straight, which is pretty much shoulder fore, at the walk and the trot and itās only at the canter then it could just be habit. Can you do renvers?
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How are you trying to straighten him? Assuming physical health, it could just be the way your working to straighten him. Sometimes thinking of riding the quarters straight and putting the shoulders always in front of the hind legs is enough. Sometimes you need to go back to kindergarten and spell out lateral shoulder mobility (lateral balance) in kindergarten block letters starting at walk with shifting balance laterally every few strides until itās super easy, then trot, then canter. And when I say shift that balance, I mean shift that balance so that it becomes (eventually) easy for the horse to load whichever foreleg you ask for the couple of kilos more than the other at any time.
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Yes he can be/is straight st walk and trot. Yes we have and do renvers
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Thatās great. Then Iād suggest time and practice, also leg yield is a good straightening exercise, but you knew that 
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To go with my post above, try approaching renvers differently. Instead of thinking butt to the wall, move the shoulders off the wall and really let them ārun throughā your rein. Thatās the type of balance shifting I mean.
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He tends to lean on his left shudder. We are addressing that and it is helping.
We are also using the rail to encourage him to be straight in CC and in the changes to the right CC. We are using HP- Plie-HP steps to keep his haunches aligned.
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Also check your own seat. Are you at all ātwisted?ā Do you have a ābigā aid for the change L-R? I agree with shoulder-fore to get the inside hind underneath as a way to straighten and strengthen.
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Renvers in canter? Cant visualize that.
In canter, relative to the wall, you do it in counter canter, but itās really useful to get the feeling in walk and trot - that āgrossā shoulder movement and rebalancing - so you know what youāre feeling for in canter whether youāre doing renvers or not.
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So its only renvers relative to the wall, not relative to the lead. thanks.
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What is your change aid? Possible you need a smaller aid for the L-R change or one with your leg not back quite so farāmore towards a seat change.
A few exercises:
Canterāleg yield both ways (towards and away from the lead) on both leads
Walk/trot/canterāhalf pass-leg yield-half pass again both ways on both leads
Does he have sequence changes yet? Either way, ride the changes on a 20m circle/curved line to the left.
Ride a āGerman serpentineā in canter, I can draw a diagram and take a photo if anyone is interested. Across the centerline change lead through trot, then walk, then flying change. It uses the idea of counter canter and lets you manipulate the positioning of the shoulders a bit more easily.
Or Iāve had a few that this was a sign they needed their hocks done.
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Does he have the same issue in long lines?
This is going to sound silly, but has your body worker done any stability pad work or fascia work? Maybe heās done it so long horse doesnāt realize it or heās hiding some discomfort somewhere?
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He is weaker on the RH LF diagonal. And so he is using his LH to carry more weight by bringing it towards midline. It could point to some discomfort or weakness, and heās heavy on the left shoulder because he pulls himself along more with the LF. The problem might actually be more right front than right hind especially given the changes. He leans on the left shoulder and doesnāt want to stretch the RF forward. As a consequence to being too hollow over RF, the haunches then want to swing right or you lack real throughness on the left side which blocks your RH.
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Yes fascia work. No stability pads but I am curious about them and might try the cheap version.
Recent rib release work made a difference in his stance at rest and fascia work has changed him from standing right front back to now square, and work on his haunches has reduced his toe out stance with that right hind. More body work to come, this was just the start.
@Dutchmare433 We already do most of the exercises mentioned. No long lines tho. And I donāt understand the exercise you explained. Canter trot walk then flying change?
And @IPEsq you nailed it. That is his weaker diagonal. He falls on the left shoulder.
Early December I have a vet appointment to do a deep yearly exam with flexions and possibly imaging if called for.
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If he also wants to stand with RF behind and feels better after fascial work, take a look at his lower neck in addition to the joint flexions.
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Sorry I couldnāt sleep last night so I wrote that at 3am.
The serpentine exercise is basically a 5ish loop serpentine but it looks like candy ribbon/switchbacks almost. You first ride it with change of lead through trot as you cross the centerline. Once he is doing the transitions straight and understands the exercise C-T-C, try simple changes, then flying. I can try to draw a diagram but if you want to PM me I can send of video of me riding it and itāll make a lot more sense! Iām not in the headspace to post my riding for all to see.
And what do you mean no long lines? Or was that to someone else?
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Iāve been doing this for 40 years and Iāve never heard or read the term plie. What is that?
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Think a bit more than shoulder in; like moving the shoulders to the 2nd track. Iāve also seen it described as leg yield in the canter.
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