I have a 14.3hh appendix show jumping gelding that likes to canter really slow. All his life he was a western horse till I got him 3 1/2 years ago and started to ride english with him....and I think thats why he canters so slow. How can I get him to a 12 foot stride for jumping?
2006-10-13 10:08:57 · 6 answers · asked by ? 3 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Kick him (not too hard) and start to make him go faster. Naturally his stride will leanthen
P.S. I have the oppisite problem, my horses never slows down!
2006-10-13 10:15:57 · answer #1 · answered by Phantom's Lover 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The lengthened canter results in a longer frame from the horse, with a larger stride. The horse should still maintain impulsion, and care should be taken that he is not driven forward onto his forehand. Rhythm and tempo stay the same.
To lengthen the canter, the rider uses her legs against the horse's sides in rhythm with the gait. The leg aids should be applied as the hind legs are engaging. This is the time when the rider's seat moves forward in the canter stride. Additionally, the rider should engage her seat at the same time as the leg aids are used, "rolling" is forward with the canter motion. Contact may be lightened, but should not be dropped. The rider should not lean forward.
Check out this website for everything you need to know about the canter!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canter
Good luck....and keep in mind that some horses are just LAZY!!!
2006-10-13 17:16:31 · answer #2 · answered by msnite1969 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1) make sure he's balanced enough to lengthen. A good exercise is shoulder-in at the trot, down the long side, and shoulder-in on a 20m circle.
2) make sure he's FORWARD!! That means you have to stay balanced & off his mouth, and moving WITH him.
3) Use your corners to help rebalnce, and bring him back.
Try a 20m circle, lengthen & GO for half, then quietly bring him back.
If he's 14.3 , a "standard" 12 foot stride may be a stretch for him, so be patient! He's gonna have to be truckin' to make the distances.
Another exercise-- lay down 2 ground poles, as you would for a 4 or 5-stride line, using an 11' stride first, then 11.5' the next time, then 12'....gradually increasing the distance.
2006-10-13 17:19:16 · answer #3 · answered by Jan L 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One thing you may consider is that he may not be able to have a 12 foot stride. It's ok to add a stride in a line, if you keep the strides even and it looks nice. Ponies can't make it down a line counting by horse strides. Mostly, the judges look for a steady rhythm in the canter and an evenness throughout.
2006-10-13 18:59:19 · answer #4 · answered by horselover50 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well gradually get up to the stride length that you want. to start go into two point and ask for all hes got and go from there. But i dont mean to make him run until hes hot and sweaty
2006-10-13 17:22:01 · answer #5 · answered by Sassy B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Consider massage therapy for him. Massage lengthens the connective tissue of the muscle, allowing for better range of motion. ( Forgeing is due to the front end not moving freely enough, and massage can fix that with as little as one session.)
2006-10-13 17:55:37 · answer #6 · answered by Sharingan 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋