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Cantering Problem

1K views 3 replies 2 participants last post by  Bucko 
#1 ·
Hello, I joined a while back, but haven't been around. Howdy to everyone. :)

Anyway, my horse has been having issues with cantering... I've never dealt with a horse that doesn't want to go fast, so I'm at a bit of a loss. XD Right now he's out of shape, I was gone for a few weeks, and nobody I asked to ride him did, so he's understandably a little grumpy about a lot of work. However- the large majority of the time, he's in tip top condition, and he still doesn't want to canter. I doubt he's uncomfortable with the saddle, it's a cushy, adjustable English saddle that fits his back perfectly. His feet are not sore, nor are his legs as far as I can tell. He's had no terrible experiences with cantering (before he got into his little problem, that is... he did buck someone off once.)

When I lunge him, he'll arch his neck, pin his ears and generally scowl when I tell him to canter. On a bad day, he'll kick or throw a fit, nothing truly horrendous, but there's obviously a problem. He also won't do it very long before he'll refuse altogether, being almost impossible to start again.

When I ride him, he'll pull his head way down, almost pulling the reins out of my hands before he starts to canter. He'll stumble around in something like no gate I've ever seen, then he'll start a really rocky canter, regardless of the lead (pulling the reins the whole time.) That, or he'll break out into a flat out gallop... yeah. I've tried pushing him through it, but really, it's extremely hard to sit. I can't afford to fall off if I can avoid it, my joints are made of old rubber bands.

So, I don't know what to do. I've tried all my ideas, some of which work- then he'll start it again. Any ideas are totally welcome.
 
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#3 ·
I'd think he'd have issues with saddling, mounting, and trotting if it was his back, you know? I will keep an eye on it though.

Oh, he knows how to canter. Before he started this thing he had a gorgeous canter, a little rocking horse-like but perfectly paced. He's an 8 year old QH.
 
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