Lope Help

Haha. Good point :)

So.....what ever happened Spastic? Is he doing better? What was the trick?

It's still more or less at rain wreck...The lope itself isn't as bad anymore, it's the actual departure into the lope that needs help. At the show on Sunday they asked for two walk to canter transistions in the green horse class. They were...hideous to say the least haha

Oh no!! Well I'm sure you will get it figured out. Good luck : )

Thanks :)

I once had a trainer have me put my horse in a circle at a lope and when he rushed or threw his head he immediately got pulled in the other direction and kicked back up into the canter. They don't want to have to work that hard and usually quit rushing...for a moment:)

As for your canter depart, I don't really have anything except you probably already know to not lean forward and don't look down at your lead because it puts too much weight on the front hand. I would just think forward, forward, forward and really drive with my seat and leg. Take my advice with a grain of salt though...I've been riding for awhile, but am by no means a pro.

Good luck...hope it works out.

I'd check for pain all over, then if you can't find a problem, try letting him run it out. Sometimes they just gotta be a horse for a minute. I know my mare does that every now & again. Good luck,and I hope you guys work it out soon.

I love Clinton. I use 'cruising' on horses that have never learned to canter calmly. You may not want to do that, though. One horse I had last summer always trotted and cantered like a maniac when I asked it. However, after he was in that gait for a while, he learned he could 'get by' with a slower pace in that gait. Sometimes it took seconds, sometimes up to ten minutes.

I would reward his collection with a rest, maybe a slower pace. Make sure your seat is relaxed and hands soft. Check all of your tack, also.

I'm not really looking for collection just balance. He's got no pain and is doing better now that the chiro is out. Canter isn't any better due to it, but he is more responsive and happier all around.

Right now he is on a break while I look for boarding (just moved) and then I'm going to bring him back to work. There's quite a bit more trail riding out here so I hope to do some long-trotting with him.

Lope departure - back and then ask - helps them to rock back on their hind quarters and push off rather than starting from the front end and pulling themselves into the lope.