Having trouble getting my horse to collect

Question
I ride a 14 year old very moody Dutch Warmblood mare, and I can't get her to collect at the canter.  She just throws her head down and just pulls me off balance.  If I squeeze her with my spurs she doesn't put her head up she just goes faster, I feel like she's out of control and she doesn't listen to me.  What I have been doing is trotting her and getting her to collect at the trot before I ask her to canter.  It works for about 4 canter strides and then she throws her head down and acts like I'm not even on her back.  I don't know what to do.
Thanks for your help

Answer
Hello Erika,
Thank you for writing in with your question. Dutch Warmbloods are majestic horses and I find great pleasure in watching them. I'm reading that your mare throws her head up when asked to canter and does not collect at a canter. First of all, if you "feel like she's out of control" then she is out of control. Collection and softness is more than a look. It's more a feel. If the horse "feels" soft, then the horse is soft.I would assume also that you are riding her in a snaffle it. I would not change that. This is more a horse not listening to you and respect issue than anything else. You mentioned that you squeeze with your spurs and she just goes faster. I see too may riders using spurs improper and for the wrong reason. Spurs are not made for forward movement as most riders think. Spurs are made for lateral movement such as yielding the hind end or forehand. For instance, to get a horse that does not listen to you to move a certain body part you turn your toe to the outside and "roll" the spur in an upwards motion at a particular place on the body. So before you go and start "spurring" keep in mind what the spur is suppose to do. Now on to the main problem.
I would go back to the fundamentals and get the ground work reestablished. Obviously, she's not listening to you and feels you aren't qualified to be the leader. Basically, she's off in fairy-land flipping cigarette butts at you when you ask her to do something. And when you press the issue she resents it and tosses her head saying, "No. I don't have to do as you say". Going back and laying fundamentals will solve most of those problems. Under saddle this is my suggestion.
I would start at a stand still to begin with. You can use either rein to do this but for now let's say you are using your left rein. Slide your left hand down the rein and pull back to your thigh and hold it. Slide your right hand down the rein and pull back to your thigh and hold it. This causes the head to bend slightly to the left and then the right hand will cause the head to bend to the vertical. As soon as you feel her give to the bit, release the pressure. Toss the reins away as if the were burning you. Horses learn from the release of pressure and the sooner you release it the faster she get's her reward. As she gets better with this you can ask her to collect longer and longer. Keep your legs off her while doing this. That will mean she isn't to go forward but to just collect. Next I would do the same thing but gently squeeze with your calves. She should remain collected and move forward at a walk. When she has this down pat you can then move her up to a trot. Then do the same at a canter. This will take some time to fix and will look ugly in the beginning. But you have to have a starting point to work with and this would be it. Just keep working with her and have patience. Don't give up. Success is just around the corner. Most people give up too soon and don't realize that if they would have gone just a little bit farther they would have achieved the goal they were seeking.
I hope this has answered your question and I have helped. If you have any more questions or problems with this exercise please feel free to contact me again. You can also e-mail me at my facility...Yazoo Equine Training. The e-mail is blpdoc82652@yahoo.com
Thank you again and please stay safe.