Huge confidence issue with canter

[crazyginge]

Hiya
Pretty much as title says ive got an issue with canter it started off i think because my mare had an issue with cantering when she first arrived she was so on the forehand she couldnt go forward a misaligned hip has also resulted in her being very unbalanced in all gaits my instructor has worked tirelessly with us to get us to the point where we can start to canter again and we have started asking for more than a long side worth of canter

Ok so on Friday we were having a lesson and she is always string on the long side towards the gate (naturally) but friday was a whole different ball game i asked her for canter at the bottom of the school up the long side towards the gate and she took off flat out wouldnt listen to me asking her to slow down to the point we got to the other end of the school and then she wouldnt turn it took all my strength to got her into the corner but them we were again faced with the boards (its a dressage arena) so pulled back as she was completely out of control and balance (i by this point was a panicking quivering wreck) and she then proceeded to bunny hop jump in the air and twist about at this point i lost balance and came off landing on the 2'/3' high wooden dressage boards and have fractured my spine im now questioning my ability to get this horse to canter without seriously harming myself

There was nothing that spooked her she always speeds up down this long side just not this fast ....

Any advise greatly appreciated .. Xxx

[crazyginge]

X

[holi]

You poor thing hope you are feeling better soon from the injuury. As for the horse - sounds like she might have been in pain too - perhaps she needs to be checked?

[crazyginge]

Thanks holli x shes has had teeth back and saddle checked all fine and up to date x

Shes fine in herself post my side door exit and couldnt wait to get to the field yesterday she had a lovely play and came back in duly filty

X

[Mellymoo]

Oh my, I hope you recover quickly

Jos was rubbish at cantering in the school, but now he is pretty good. What we did was start cantering on hacks, as it helped him to get his balance with a rider on. Once he was fine with this, we progressed to cantering the long sides, and just this last weekend we managed a whole circuit of the school in balance.

If your girl is out of balance, she will find it really hard to canter in a school - she will be worrying about it, so will probably tank. Jos did that initially too, although luckily I never came off him. If she is safe to hack out, or you can get to a set of gallops, that would be a safer place to start than a school I think. My YO teachers her baby horses to canter on hacks :-)

[crazyginge]

Jun 20, 2012 21:37:56 GMT 1 Mellymoo said:

Oh my, I hope you recover quickly

Jos was rubbish at cantering in the school, but now he is pretty good. What we did was start cantering on hacks, as it helped him to get his balance with a rider on. Once he was fine with this, we progressed to cantering the long sides, and just this last weekend we managed a whole circuit of the school in balance.

If your girl is out of balance, she will find it really hard to canter in a school - she will be worrying about it, so will probably tank. Jos did that initially too, although luckily I never came off him. If she is safe to hack out, or you can get to a set of gallops, that would be a safer place to start than a school I think. My YO teachers her baby horses to canter on hacks :-)

This is the first time shes actually run off with me - shes been strong but never actually tanked off my instructor has been working with us for the past few months with this lots of halt, walk and trot transitions we startes asking for canter about month ago first it was a couple of strides great we got that then a long side brilliant then asking all the way round the school, when i first got her i couldnt ride due to her having a hip problem diagnosed because she had an issue with cantering shed bunny hop and spin and completely refuse to go forward at all 4 physio visits later and was cleared on the 5th so think it could possibly be residual from this ? Ive tried to hack her out but she panics before weve left the yard and when weve got 100 yds down the road she starts panicking so not sure quite what to do on this score either as my confidence isnt the best xx

[Mellymoo]

Can you have someone else ride her out and school her for a while for you? I have had Jos schooled recently because I hurt my hand, and in the three times someone else has been on him his cantering has got a lot better. If she canters down the long side but panics at corners, I think it is still to do with her balance.

Best of luck with her, let us know how you go on :-)

[crazyginge]

Jun 21, 2012 18:54:02 GMT 1 Mellymoo said:

Can you have someone else ride her out and school her for a while for you? I have had Jos schooled recently because I hurt my hand, and in the three times someone else has been on him his cantering has got a lot better. If she canters down the long side but panics at corners, I think it is still to do with her balance.

Best of luck with her, let us know how you go on :-)

Hi melly

Thats something i had been toying with regards to someone else riding her

Regards her balance i couldnt agree more she is definitely unbalanced but wont accept the aids to help to balance her

Think sometimes it just takes someone not connected with the situation to point out what youve had in your head to reassure yourself thank you xxxx

[fth]

can you do any online work to help her practice her balance without a rider?

Cathy

[Mellymoo]

Jun 21, 2012 19:41:00 GMT 1 crazyginge said:

Think sometimes it just takes someone not connected with the situation to point out what youve had in your head to reassure yourself thank you xxxx

No problem I am good at sorting out other people's stuff, not my own though ;D

Best of luck with her. It's taken us nearly 3 years to get a balanced canter!

[crazyginge]

Jun 24, 2012 21:52:32 GMT 1 Mellymoo said:

Jun 21, 2012 19:41:00 GMT 1 crazyginge said:

Think sometimes it just takes someone not connected with the situation to point out what youve had in your head to reassure yourself thank you xxxx

No problem I am good at sorting out other people's stuff, not my own though ;D

Best of luck with her. It's taken us nearly 3 years to get a balanced canter!

I really do appreciate the advise though id be happy to get one stride of balanced canter atm !! Got back on yesterday for the first time since the fall did some walk and trot and left it at that then long reined her so she actually did some work !
Bless her she kept looking at the exact spot where i came off with her outside eye it really seems to have upset her