TB with a short quick canter - need help!

[lucy_showjumper2024]

Hi all,
I have a 4yr old tb mare that I purchased in Feb 2024. She had 30 days at a track barn as a two year old but the owner sold all of his horses before she had anything else done. I purchased her from my trainer, who had done about 90days on her sporadically over a year ish.

I’ve since been really working with her to gain muscle, relaxation under saddle, suppleness, impulsion, and contact. She doesn’t have a huge trot but has learned to start to stretch herself, as well as lift her back and engage her hind end. However, in the canter, she gets a short quick bouncy stride. I’d gets a bit better if I’m in a half seat rather than a full seat. Looking for some advice about helping her keep a confident rhythm, suppleness, impulsion, etc, in the canter. Thanks!

[EventerAJ]

Time and patience.

Most horses get quick because they are uncomfortable or anxious. Sometimes soreness, sore feet, sore back, etc. But most often it’s just weakness, lack of strength and ability to hold themselves in a controlled canter. It’s easier for them to use speed because they don’t yet have the strength and balance to let each foot remain on the ground a bit longer and accept weight in their joints. Given that you’re still working on relaxation and contact and all those things at the trot, don’t worry about the canter yet. It will come.

Keep working on balance and relaxation at trot, you should be able to trot around on the buckle and maintain the same steady rhythm before you worry too much about the canter. Ask her to wait with your body, do as little as possible with your hands. Do tons of transitions, walk/trot, trot/walk, walk/halt. Work on keeping your mare straight and as soft as possible; don’t worry about where her head is, just keep her nose in front of her shoulders in front of her hips; let go whenever you possibly can.

You don’t have to avoid the canter, but while you’re building strength and confidence at trot, don’t micromanage her canter. Ask for each lead, canter half a circle and plan to trot quickly; again, focus on the transitions and preparing for the transition. If you do a beautiful trot/canter transition, the first one or two canter strides will be great! So plan to trot before she falls apart or gets quick.

It will get there, just give her time and be patient and consistent.

[strangewings]

Lots of big, working, back-swinging walk. Out in a field if you can. Over poles eventually.

In the trot work, sounds like you are on the right track, and the more you can use exercises in the trot to help her learn about her own balance, the easier it will be to “uncoil” herself at the canter. Use your corners, spiral circles, serpentines.

Everything eventeraj said too.

[trakehners]

EventerAJ nailed it. As my trainer repeatedly reminds me, correct trot work builds strength. Canter work builds wind.

We’ve been teaching my horse how to canter properly again, after a number of years of injury and bad muscle memory (today on, things I never thought I’d have to teach an 8yo TB), and I’m about two months into really solid trot work now. We just found our ability to canter all the way around our outdoor (it’s almost an acre, not small) on each lead at a nice forward pace without breaking or swapping in the last week. He’s now trying really hard to truly lift his back up and get on the bit at the canter, but he breaks after a couple of strides every time because the strength just isn’t there yet. I finish out every ride with what I’ll refer to as power trot work, where his back is really free and lifting after he’s cantered and he’s really pushing through from behind. That’s where the strength is built. Seek that and the canter will come.

[Aussie_2020]

I didn’t sit the canter on my 6yo ottb for a loonnggg time. Even at the walk I was in a “light” three point. What helped him the most, I think, is being out on the trails and being able to develop a big, marching walk on a loose rein. That have him strength in his back and loins. I added some contact work throughout each ride. He learned turns on the forehand and hindquarters too, it came in very handy for not having to get off and open gates on the trails.

Even if all you have is an arena I think being light on his back is the key. They can’t build muscle and accept contact if they’re sore or stiff.