Balance Issues

Question
My horse is just seven and has major problems with the canter. She has gotten worse in the past couple months. When I ask her to canter she leaps foward, hangs on the bit heavily, and goes everywhere making the circle smaller and smaller. I also cannot get her to keep her head in. She is ALAWYS counterbending. When I get her head in she throws a fit and has more balance problems. Can you help me?  

Answer
Perhaps.

Let's review the basics first.
0. Pick point of transition (3 strides out.)
1. Establish the bend. Support with the inside leg, bend the horse with the outside leg.
2. Half halt to prepare the balance from the "back" and haunches or engine of the horse.
3. Upward aides from your back and both legs - give with/relax your hands as the horse changes gait.

The canter is difficult for the horse to become "trained" to since it requires a bit of balance, some well time ques - as well as fitness/strength.

Have you had her stiffles checked? Does she need extra warm ups and sometimes seems "ouchy" in the hind legs at all? If so, no amount of training will help this - it's time to consult with a vet and see if medication or a short lay up is required. Stiffle pulls sometimes take a year to recover from.

My next check would be the saddle and the mare's back. Is the fit good, adjusted well and does the back adequately give clearance for the movement of the hind legs underneith the belly? Is it any difference in one direction than the other? (Many horses like thoroughbreds are left or right handed.) A bad fitting saddle makes as much pain for the horse as the rider.

Here is part of the clue - your horse lurches and grabs the bit. This says that she is unbalanced (no back end strength) and ill prepared for the canter transition. You both should work on this. Example exercise: Try to do many canter transtitions (up and down) in a lap around the ring. When you can do a half dozen properly, you should find you're on the right track. At first you'll do them from the trot, but later - you'll be able to try them from the walk. This will take a while to get the timing and the balance correct.

Now, let's talk about you. Are you giving the correct aides? It doesn't sound like it to me. First, never canter on a counterbend. Don't allow it to happen. You can do this with making sure there is a proper bend in the turn, just prior to giving the aide for the canter.

Exercise: Do a trot circle establishing the correct bend, and then transition into the canter, still in the circle. If the canter is good, add a stride in a straight line and then go back into the circle and down transition to the trot. Do this until you can keep the balance and bend correct.

Whenever the horse wants to counterbend, turn them against the counterbend (eg left lead, turn left.) They will want to break stride, as they will feel very unbalanced - the head will drop and the horse will "fall" onto the forehand. In short, you're probably leaning too. So recognize that balance starts with you. Half halts are numerous, so if you've not learned these - or do - it might be good for you to review this topic in depth again.

So in conclusion, don't let her set herself (and you) up for it. Just don't. Stop her from doing it. Always develop the inside bend around the leg and support her through the canter by bending her around your inside leg with your outisde leg.

My guess is that she's learned this, and now has to be "un-trained" out of it. Be patient, take your time, and if you still are having troubles - get with an instructor in person.