Okay, This is Duncan. He is not my horse.. Im not sure his age or breed, Im pretty sure he is a cross… Im asking help for a few things.
1. PLease Judge his Conformation
2. How can I get his canter to be balanced.. and keep his head in a frame (or atleast collect) he sometimes does it at the trot
1. Ask permission from the owner for an evaluation
2. Send us a video so we can see what you are talking about
The owners gave me permission.. As the also want me to teach him how to jump.. But I know hes needs alot more before he gets into jumping a course
Duncan is a heafty boy.
I can’t help you with the conformation part of things, but as for the “collection/frame” you are speaking of, I have a few suggestions. First of all, from what you said, it sounds like you are speaking of as I and a few barn friends call it, a “4H frame.”
If you ever join a 4H club (at least here in Canada) , they are very big on having your horse in a frame all the time. They do not care if the horse is working forward from his hindquarters, or using his back. A true frame requires the horse to push off of his hind end, round his back and really step forward into the bit.
Also, I hope you realize that balance, collection, and frame are very different things.
For the balance – It really is just a matter of a lot of canter work, a good, balanced seat, and a steadying hand. Give “balancing” half halts (little 2 second squeezes) before corners and whenever you feel him getting on the forehand or unbalanced, to help pick him up a little. I like to work my horses on the lunge line (preferably with loose side reins/reins tied with the stirrups to give him something to work down and forward to) in the walk, trot, and canter to help them learn how to balance without the riders constant shifting weight to put them off. Also, sit up around the corners! Make him work up to you instead of leaning with him, even though you may feel like you are off center in the saddle. Work him outside rein to inside leg and vice versa. Lots of circles!
For the frame – give little half halts with the inside rein (I like to start this exercise on a circle), starting with the trot, or if you are really struggling with getting him to soften, the walk. Make sure that you have a constant contact on the outside rein to give him something to balance off of, and really push with your inside leg with every squeeze. Make your circles bigger and smaller using your legs – small circles make it so that he has to use his back and hindquarters – the second you feel him start working properly, move him back out to the larger circle. Your legs should be burning!! Once he starts to soften and bend on the circles, work on the rail for a bit to give him a little bit of time to loosen up, and make sure you do it both directions! Don’t rush this part of things. Whenever he starts to get a few steps at a time of proper bend, move onto a different activity. Once you feel he is bending properly, you can do the same thing, but on the rail. Have a good contact on the reins, and then every few steps, sit deep and give him a good squeeze with your leg and a half halt with both reins, this will encourage him to step forward into the bit. Results are not going to be instant! Depending on the horse, you really have to push to get this, and it can take 20+ mins! Both of these exercises can be done at all gaits, but master the trot before you move onto the canter, etc. etc.
As for collection – once you have him working forward into the bridle, it will be much easier to start asking him for a proper collection.
Sorry for the super long reply, but I hope it helps a bit!
Sorry I’m not very good with confirmation but I can give you a little advice on his frame/collection/balance. As LinkOnyxSonny143 said, they are all different things and therefore require different exercises. There is also not a set way or a list of rules to achieve softness and bend. It all depends on your level of riding, and your horse. I would work a lot on circles and pole work for his balance but you need to find what works best for him. If he is very resistant to being in the frame try to warm him up long and low so that he stretches out and then try asking for contact gradually. It could also help to lunge him once or twice a week with loose side reins so he understands the concept. Hope this helped
he is built very down hill and seems like he’d do well in the hunter or western world
@Eventer4life, I disagree. We hunters don’t want a super downhill horse either. It’s hard for a horse to jump well if they have to lift a massive shoulder with an inadequate haunch. I’m sorry this is just one of many comment I’ve seen where you say a downhill horse is a good hunter.