Rushing and acting anxious at the canter..

DB4L90 · 05-11-2008, 10:46 PM

I have been thinking alot about this and trying to work on it by myself but now i think i need your help.

Some of you guys know that Char was on the injured list for about a month but has been back undersaddle for about 2 weeks. When i first got on her after the month off, i wasnt worried about her frame, i just wanted her to move forward. She did awesome but i did notice that on her bad/weaker side (which is clockwise) she would be kinda rushing and acting nervous/anxious at the canter. I just thought it was because of not being ridden.

Its getting better but not by much or not as much as i would like to see. She has a very hard time getting collected and staying there. She will try but she acts very anxious and rushes out of it. On the other side, she will collect up and slow to a PERFECT western lope and she's perfectly comfortable and i can throw away my reins and she will hold it herself, but the other way forget it.

Is this just something i just have to keep up on and just ride her through it? Maybe its just her being out of shape and its a matter of her getting her strength back on that side?

Lately i have been doing this:
When i asked her to canter, i would start off in a circle and ask her to collect up and when she does i release some of the pressure then when i feel her start to fall apart, i would pick up and ask her to collect again and i would repeat that until she is holding it pretty much herself then i would take her down the wall and once she starts to fall apart i ask her to collect and if she doesn't i will do the circle thing again. She seems to be making a little progress. The last time i rode her she wasnt rushing as much and she would collect up faster, get a little slower and she would hold it longer.

Am i doing the right thing?
Should i just give it time?
Would pattern work help her or is that a bad idea?

Thanks for any help you can give me
Nicole

**EDIT:The saddle fits her and she is fine about the bit.**

jhalton · 05-12-2008, 01:07 AM

To me, from what you have written, she is telling you she is still sore that side. Yes she can go in one direction more easily, but I am guessing that when her sore side is on the outside it is much tougher on her. By being anxious or not wanting to go forward, something is still amiss, to me. It can take a long time for a muscle pull to heal. Like months.

Give her more time. If you must work her keep her straight and on the flat. Possibly later then get her to go at a walk over trot poles that have been raised 1/2 a foot on one side, the next pole is flat, and the next pole is raised 1/2 a foot on the other side. This is physio work given to my horse when he ripped his hip. But, you MUST take it slow and just go over once or twice for the first few weeks. Later, if she is feeling stronger you can go over more times or begin trotting over.

I did this to my boy - started lunging him (I thought slow enough, just getting him to trot a bit) but now we have gone 5 steps backwards because I pushed too hard.

If it is a muscle thing (I am not sure, have not read your other posts) then it will definately take time and you'll just have to keep her at the walk. If she stops, let her, she is telling you that is enough for now. Maybe give her a rub, but be very gentle it will be tender. Go slow and soft. It will take time but it is better to let her heal before pushing or you may take the 5 steps back too.

Good luck. This is what I would do...

jhalton · 05-12-2008, 01:13 AM

Also dont make her collect so much. Ask her only a few times a ride. She does need to build strength but collecting can be hard especially on an injury. With the turning, this is tougher, so start her doing straight lines, then a few wide circles can be put in. But only a few or she will go backwards not forwards (in recovering I mean). Ask her to collect once or twice and she will go as long as comfortable then stop. let her have a rest and then ask again, but if she cannot maintain it stop asking she is hurting and not ready. Again, good luck.

DB4L90 · 05-12-2008, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhalton

To me, from what you have written, she is telling you she is still sore that side. Yes she can go in one direction more easily, but I am guessing that when her sore side is on the outside it is much tougher on her. By being anxious or not wanting to go forward, something is still amiss, to me. It can take a long time for a muscle pull to heal. Like months.

Give her more time. If you must work her keep her straight and on the flat. Possibly later then get her to go at a walk over trot poles that have been raised 1/2 a foot on one side, the next pole is flat, and the next pole is raised 1/2 a foot on the other side. This is physio work given to my horse when he ripped his hip. But, you MUST take it slow and just go over once or twice for the first few weeks. Later, if she is feeling stronger you can go over more times or begin trotting over.

I did this to my boy - started lunging him (I thought slow enough, just getting him to trot a bit) but now we have gone 5 steps backwards because I pushed too hard.

If it is a muscle thing (I am not sure, have not read your other posts) then it will definately take time and you'll just have to keep her at the walk. If she stops, let her, she is telling you that is enough for now. Maybe give her a rub, but be very gentle it will be tender. Go slow and soft. It will take time but it is better to let her heal before pushing or you may take the 5 steps back too.

Good luck. This is what I would do...

She didn't pull a muscle, she had an infection in her leg.

Maybe i wasn't clear about the muscle thing. I was talking about was how she lost all her muscle from being out of work so i thought maybe this is just because she doesnt have the strength to hold herself.

I dont think she is sore on the leg that had the infection because when she is loose she goes crazy (bucking and taking off), she puts full weight on it, and she is fine when i lunge her.

jhalton · 05-12-2008, 01:40 AM

oh ok. Well then, um, due to the time off she probably still is having a hard time of it and as you say has lost conditioning so it will be harder for her to do as you ask. Yeah I was really focusing on the muscle thing but obviously was on the wrong track - oh well!

So anyway, still let her take some time to build up slower - I still think she is trying to tell you something ie that it hurts on the one side. But I am not an expert in leg infection rehabs... (I know some things re muscles as I am studying massage - amost qualified yay!) Mayve she just needs some more straightforward miles put on her to build her slower. Well see you round! I am sure others will have some great advice to follow>....!

DB4L90 · 05-12-2008, 01:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhalton

oh ok. Well then, um, due to the time off she probably still is having a hard time of it and as you say has lost conditioning so it will be harder for her to do as you ask. Yeah I was really focusing on the muscle thing but obviously was on the wrong track - oh well!

So anyway, still let her take some time to build up slower - I still think she is trying to tell you something ie that it hurts on the one side. But I am not an expert in leg infection rehabs... (I know some things re muscles as I am studying massage - amost qualified yay!) Mayve she just needs some more straightforward miles put on her to build her slower. Well see you round! I am sure others will have some great advice to follow>....!

Well thank you for helping me tho!

thinkfast88 · 05-12-2008, 12:52 PM

It sounds as though she has lost some muscle strength during the time she was off. Its common for green horses to act this way and it is usually b/c they are having a hard time staying in frame and collecting themselves. From what you said you were doing it sounds like ur handling it pretty well. It will take some time for her to get her strength back. Just take it easy on her untill she is strong enough to go hold herself in frame properly. Do lots of transitions, circles, serpentines, spirals, and figure eights and she will come around. I hope this helped

DB4L90 · 05-12-2008, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thinkfast88

It sounds as though she has lost some muscle strength during the time she was off. Its common for green horses to act this way and it is usually b/c they are having a hard time staying in frame and collecting themselves. From what you said you were doing it sounds like ur handling it pretty well. It will take some time for her to get her strength back. Just take it easy on her untill she is strong enough to go hold herself in frame properly. Do lots of transitions, circles, serpentines, spirals, and figure eights and she will come around. I hope this helped

thanks! It did. I am going to try some serpentines with her. I forgot about them until you mentioned it. I think she will do well at them. When i ask her to collect, even if she is still not 100% collected i still accept it because of her being out of shape. I will slowing start asking for more and more when she gets stronger. Thanks for your help!!

thinkfast88 · 05-12-2008, 01:44 PM

no problem! im glad i could help

p.s.-i like ur signature lol its cute and so true haha

TB Jumpers · 05-12-2008, 06:15 PM

I would say not canter her for a while. But i dont know 4 sure.

05-11-2008, 10:46 PM	#1
DB4L90 Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Chicago, Illinois Posts: 3,462 Images: 275 Blog Entries: 20	Rushing and acting anxious at the canter.. I have been thinking alot about this and trying to work on it by myself but now i think i need your help. Some of you guys know that Char was on the injured list for about a month but has been back undersaddle for about 2 weeks. When i first got on her after the month off, i wasnt worried about her frame, i just wanted her to move forward. She did awesome but i did notice that on her bad/weaker side (which is clockwise) she would be kinda rushing and acting nervous/anxious at the canter. I just thought it was because of not being ridden. Its getting better but not by much or not as much as i would like to see. She has a very hard time getting collected and staying there. She will try but she acts very anxious and rushes out of it. On the other side, she will collect up and slow to a PERFECT western lope and she's perfectly comfortable and i can throw away my reins and she will hold it herself, but the other way forget it. Is this just something i just have to keep up on and just ride her through it? Maybe its just her being out of shape and its a matter of her getting her strength back on that side? Lately i have been doing this: When i asked her to canter, i would start off in a circle and ask her to collect up and when she does i release some of the pressure then when i feel her start to fall apart, i would pick up and ask her to collect again and i would repeat that until she is holding it pretty much herself then i would take her down the wall and once she starts to fall apart i ask her to collect and if she doesn't i will do the circle thing again. She seems to be making a little progress. The last time i rode her she wasnt rushing as much and she would collect up faster, get a little slower and she would hold it longer. Am i doing the right thing? Should i just give it time? Would pattern work help her or is that a bad idea? Thanks for any help you can give me Nicole EDIT:The saddle fits her and she is fine about the bit. __________________ Myspace If I smell like peppermints, I was feeding my horse treats. If I smell like Shampoo, I gave my horse a bath. If I smell like manure, I tripped. Proud member of the Paint, Quarter Horse and Western Club

05-12-2008, 12:52 PM	#7
thinkfast88 Full Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: At the barn Posts: 140 Images: 42 Blog Entries: 5	It sounds as though she has lost some muscle strength during the time she was off. Its common for green horses to act this way and it is usually b/c they are having a hard time staying in frame and collecting themselves. From what you said you were doing it sounds like ur handling it pretty well. It will take some time for her to get her strength back. Just take it easy on her untill she is strong enough to go hold herself in frame properly. Do lots of transitions, circles, serpentines, spirals, and figure eights and she will come around. I hope this helped __________________ BIG black horse and a cherry tree!

05-12-2008, 01:44 PM	#9
thinkfast88 Full Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: At the barn Posts: 140 Images: 42 Blog Entries: 5	no problem! im glad i could help p.s.-i like ur signature lol its cute and so true haha __________________ BIG black horse and a cherry tree!

05-12-2008, 06:15 PM	#10
TB Jumpers Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: NC Posts: 454 Images: 18	I would say not canter her for a while. But i dont know 4 sure. __________________ You can't breathe until you choke *You gotta laugh when you're the joke* ~Life Is beautiful by Sixx: A.M

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05-12-2008, 01:07 AM	#2
jhalton Full Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 299 Images: 13 Blog Entries: 24	To me, from what you have written, she is telling you she is still sore that side. Yes she can go in one direction more easily, but I am guessing that when her sore side is on the outside it is much tougher on her. By being anxious or not wanting to go forward, something is still amiss, to me. It can take a long time for a muscle pull to heal. Like months. Give her more time. If you must work her keep her straight and on the flat. Possibly later then get her to go at a walk over trot poles that have been raised 1/2 a foot on one side, the next pole is flat, and the next pole is raised 1/2 a foot on the other side. This is physio work given to my horse when he ripped his hip. But, you MUST take it slow and just go over once or twice for the first few weeks. Later, if she is feeling stronger you can go over more times or begin trotting over. I did this to my boy - started lunging him (I thought slow enough, just getting him to trot a bit) but now we have gone 5 steps backwards because I pushed too hard. If it is a muscle thing (I am not sure, have not read your other posts) then it will definately take time and you'll just have to keep her at the walk. If she stops, let her, she is telling you that is enough for now. Maybe give her a rub, but be very gentle it will be tender. Go slow and soft. It will take time but it is better to let her heal before pushing or you may take the 5 steps back too. Good luck. This is what I would do...

05-12-2008, 01:13 AM	#3
jhalton Full Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 299 Images: 13 Blog Entries: 24	Also dont make her collect so much. Ask her only a few times a ride. She does need to build strength but collecting can be hard especially on an injury. With the turning, this is tougher, so start her doing straight lines, then a few wide circles can be put in. But only a few or she will go backwards not forwards (in recovering I mean). Ask her to collect once or twice and she will go as long as comfortable then stop. let her have a rest and then ask again, but if she cannot maintain it stop asking she is hurting and not ready. Again, good luck.

05-12-2008, 01:40 AM	#5
jhalton Full Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 299 Images: 13 Blog Entries: 24	oh ok. Well then, um, due to the time off she probably still is having a hard time of it and as you say has lost conditioning so it will be harder for her to do as you ask. Yeah I was really focusing on the muscle thing but obviously was on the wrong track - oh well! So anyway, still let her take some time to build up slower - I still think she is trying to tell you something ie that it hurts on the one side. But I am not an expert in leg infection rehabs... (I know some things re muscles as I am studying massage - amost qualified yay!) Mayve she just needs some more straightforward miles put on her to build her slower. Well see you round! I am sure others will have some great advice to follow>....!