N0t L0ping In Th3 R0und P3n?

At the fairgrounds there is a round pen where I often work Blu. I don't know what's wrong but he will only lope for a short time and it is difficult for him. He slides and kicks the fence like the pen isn't big enough. Could that be the problem? It's actually big. Is he just being lazy or what? I need him to lope but I also don't want him to get hurt. Ideas?

How big is the pen (diameter)?
It's VERY tough for some horses to canter in a confined space, and what seems like a confined space to them may not look so to us. Is he worked regularly at the canter? What kind of work is he in? Is he fit? A horse that is unfit, lacks the proper muscling or is unbalanced will find it tough to canter on even a gentle curve.
I'm working with a greenie at the moment who can't make it round the short side of our school in canter on the left rein without bucking because he is unbalanced and it upsets him. He needs a lot more work building him up in walk and trot, getting him flexible, fit and balanced before he can do this, including a lot of work cantering out on hacks in straight lines, slowly bringing in some turns.

It's possible Blu just isn't fit enough for what you're asking. If he's slipping or kicking the sides like you say I doubt it's just because he's lazy.

How old is Blu? Is the problem on both reins, just one, or one more than the other?

I haven't worked with him much. This was all last year. He was in great shape. I will try and find out the diameter of the pen. It is normally when I am lunging him in there or just free lunging him. He won't under the saddle much in there either. Both sides. He's about 8 now.

if the diameter of the round yard is reasonable then i would have to agree with kyani about balance. go slowly and build him up to a point where he is capable of handling the turns etc. you might even want to do very little cantering for a while and focus on strengthening your walk & trot and getting him supple and relaxed. through doing this he will become fit and build muscle and maybe start to be able to progress to cantering :)

good luck with him

i forgot to ask...is he rushing a lot when you are lunging him?

Sometimes.

I don't get how he can run around a barrel but not lope around in a circle.

I had the same problem and it turned out to be the footing

Poco can turn a barrel perfect when racing but its hard for him to canter in round pen or on a lunge line. I swear it has to do with balance. He can lay into a barrel and get up just fine but hes got speed behind him and automatically picks up leads but when asked to do so on the lunge line they have to find their lead (thinking too much sometimes will mess them up) and balance themselves based on the size of the circle. Its going to take alot of work to get Poco to keep cantering circles but hes got too. Ask for a few strides then lay off, ask for a few more than ask back to a trot. Keep adding up a few strides at a time and work both sides not just one. I have a 30 ft long line and it was all the way extended today when I got Poco to canter on it.