The other day while I was talking to my trainer, It somehow came up that she said my horse has a washing machine canter. I just followed along in agreement, but I’ve never heard that term before. Than a few days later someone else said their horse had a washing machine canter just like my horse. I guess I’ve never heard this saying, but what I’m wondering is what is a washing machine canter? To be honest, I’ve always thought my horse had a pretty decent, normal, and comfortable canter, but I guess people think otherwise?
I haven’t heard of a washing machine canter…was it maybe a sewing machine?
seeing machine refers to the vertical nature of the needle going up and down - and that same motion happening with the horse’s front legs.
Does your horse set his foot down with a more vertical motion? (As opposed to reaching forward and pointing his toes)
To me, that makes me feel like there’s somewhat of a circular rotation feeling to the canter from the saddle. Some I’ve found comfortable, some hurt my back. In contrast, a rocking horse canter feels more forward and back. Of course, the motion of the horse is not really that simple.
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It is sure to leave you clean and smelling fresh!!!
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Around here, that term refers to feeling like you’re in a washing machine when you’re riding the horse. A little up/down, side to side motion, not a very fluid or consistent pace.
That’s a good question from somebody trying to learn.
Means the horse moves asymmetrically creating a side to side roll and/or the legs move more up and down rather then reaching forward in a bigger step.
SM(sewing machine) is a common mark on judges cards, some say the horse moves like it’s pedaling a bicycle. It means it’s not a good mover, Normally its conformationally caused by hip and shoulder angles…and the up down is desireable in some disciplines and breeds (like Saddle Seat). Sometimes its caused by discomfort and aggravated by bad farrier work, especially if it’s mostly behind.
I don’t like to hear a trainer referring to any clients horse this way…particularly to younger/less experienced clients. Trainers job is to educate, not use derogatory slang terms about client horses. Tell the client the horse is not a good mover and why, see if it can be improved. If more trainers did this with less experienced clients, they might understand why they place where they do (or don’t) in shows, especially the flat classes where movement is part of the judging criteria. I don’t like to hear clients using those terms to others either, it can be perceived as hurtful and create barn drama.
A sophisticated show rider knows their horses pluses and minuses. If you have a SM mover, adding leg and giving more in the bridle to create more extension smooths out the SM, even if the horse is not going to be going as slow as some of the others. Moving out a little also helps them stay straight instead of crabbing along dumped on the outside shoulder with haunch cocked in following the rail-if you don’t understand that, stand right behind a horse going along the rail. Crooked horse is not going to have a long sweeping stride even if it can physically create one. SM mover will look worse.
Rider has to accept the minuses and work with them, not try to mimic any others as they are likewise showing off their horses strong points while trying to smooth out and minimize the weaker ones. Of course this is not much of a problem if you go horse shopping with an unlimited budget, great movers are very expensive, most of us have to learn to select in our budget and work with what we have.
I got lucky, I had a very early instructor who taught recognizing faults and how to minimize them at shows. That could mean something as simple as staying away from the good movers and not making a single mistake in the flat classes or just saving your money by not taking a poor mover in a flat class filled with good movers. That’s no fun, nobody needs that kind of experience, you get enough of the gate instead of a ribbon without asking for it.
If it makes OP feel better, rating movement on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being breathtaking and 1 missing a leg? My best mover was a very solid 7 that could be tweaked to an 8 with a perfect ride. That one was also my most expensive purchase. Generally couldn’t afford anything better then a 6, had a few that were 5 at best, But that early instructor taught me how to understand and work with what I had.
Something trainers should do more of rather then name calling without explanation.
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I think this motion is quite distinct from “sewing machine”. I’ve ridden a few “washing machine” canters on some decent moving TBs, which tend to have flatter than average knee action. I think for OTTBs in particular, there’s something about race training that makes them tend to carry the haunches more to one side, and this plus a powerful hind end can create a more circular feeling through the back.
It’s not necessarily derogatory. The phrase was used with my first horse, an OTTB, as a visual to help teach me how to sit that canter versus the very smooth, yet high-kneed pony I was coming from. It helped me imagine how I needed to move my hips to stay with the motion.
I also leased a horse for the equitation that had a certain, distinct funk in the trunk at the canter, and he got some good prizes in the hunter flats, a better than average mover, occasionally winning some. Maybe it was like a washing machine on spin cycle. Anyway, it was also quite hard to learn to sit well for the eq. Nothing “bad” about the horse…just the way he was.
You could run into issues with more “comfortable” canters too. Sometimes the very still canters (flatter back movement, which may or may not come with a lot of knee action) or the rocking horse canters get you pumping like a monkey on a branch. lol!
We can’t know what trainer really meant as trainer never defined it to still inexperienced young client trying to learn.
