Incorporating Canter

Question
Hi there!

I have been taking English riding lessons from certified instructors for about 5 1/2 years now  in Nova Scotia. I'm 17, and horses are my life!

Currently I am riding the same horse, which is having some behavioural issues in the lessons. He is a 15.1 French Canadian gelding who hasn't had any professional training to speak of in about five years. He is about 13 years old now. He is sharp, and learns easily - sometimes this works against me! He is a wonderful horse, and I usually feel like there had been an improvement by the end of my lessons. Lately however, we have been working on lateral and longitudinal flexion at all three gaits. He does this wonderfully at the walk and trot, but as soon as I add canter to our plan, it goes badly. He is excitable, and I ride in group lessons. I try to keep him more collected, using half-halts, but its like im suddenly riding a green horse! He acts like he has forgotten anything we might have done at the trot or walk - even if it was only seconds ago!

I have been making lots of progress on him, we're jumping medal-type courses at 2'6'' successfully, but even during them, I feel as though we could really improve if I only had the same GIVING horse under me as I do at walk/trot.

He has just been given the full OK by the vet, and has been sound all of his life. I can't think of anything that has changed in his life... and I was just wondering if you have any tips or exercises that may help me.

Thank you so much for your time, and I hope you have something that will help me :D  

Answer
Hmmmm... would love to see a video, but let me give you what I can guess at so far.

First, it really sounds like a combination of strength and balance from the haunches (hips.) THese go hand in hand, and if a horse isn't strong enough - he'll tend to rush things that require strength (jumping and canterwork.)

In order to help this, I would recommened "hillwork" combined with transition work. Now, hill work as it implies is done on a hill. Walking and trotting up and down the hill, many, many times. This will also take a few weeks to help develop the muscularture needed to improve balance. The key will be to extend the pace length, but not the pace rythm. Talk to your instructor about this, if you don't understand. Make sure to work up hills in a straight line, surpentines, and down hills. Make sure to include transition work up and down after a week or so. I typically added 15 minite periods of this kind of workout to my regime.

Next, work on transition and also creating a collected, a medium, and an extended pace. Do this at walk, trot and canter. This will help balance your horse, and also give you "gears" when you are jumping. Sometimes, it's very important to up gear, or down gear - in order to make a turn or take some combination jumps that are set at odd paces.

Think that might work?