An elegant, balanced rocking chair canter is executed with a more neutral and relaxed topline than the flatter lopes or canters. It is slower, more deliberate and the entire skeletal structure of the horse is in a more orthopedically sound posture than when we see high headed and flat canters. Those fast and flat canters often border on 4 beat gallops rather than balanced and effortless 3 beat gait. Similar to the posture of a pirouette the horse remains collected and balanced.
i openly admit i know nothing of TWHs. i've ridden one once and it was very unpleasant (not blaming the breed just this particular animal) while watching this video i became curious. do the TWHs develop arthritis in their neck/spine after performing these extreme head bobbing movements for years and years? it looks very uncomfortable even to watch. and do these animals perform this same movement without a rider? say at liberty in an arena or pasture? if not how is it a natural gait?
I will honestly state that this is a very natural and "relaxed" movement. A TWH naturally uses their head and neck in greater counterbalance at all gaits, which enables them to stride bigger and deeper with their hindquarters, adding balance and brilliance. They quite simply use their head and neck to assist the forehand lightness and a reaching hind. Like us swinging our arms as we walk its a natural counterbalance, relaxed and effortless. Once learned, they *prefer* the balanced RC canter.
It's actually a blast to ride, and my horses love this gear. Once they learn the balance to execute this collected and controlled canter it becomes very effortless and they readily go into it. Much easier on them than the fast and flat gallopy canters.
am i the only one who thinks the rocking chair canter looks not only uncomfortable but unnantural? I know its a natural gait but it still throws me off...
@monette570 Train the deliberate, slow takeoff using a 10 meter circle and keep the tempo slow. If the horse tries to throw themself forward they will loose their balance and get strungout, pacey and 4 beat rather than the upward lifting of the correct 3 beat canter. I ask my guys to drop their head just before I ask for the canter. This helps put them into correct posture.
Actually, collected means to gather from back to front for upward and brilliant lightness as well as balanced forward impulsion. It is very common for Walking horses to use their head and necks very effectively to assist in their upward lifting. The more collected, the slower the tempo the easier it becomes to utilize their head and neck to lighten and lift.
I would rather see this type of head and neck use rather than severely restrained, rolkur type bitting and framing.
First off, there are multiple horses in this clip. The rider is NOT lifting anything... the elbows stay fixed and the hands low, the reins making light, if any, contact.
I see that you are a stock horse person. TWH are not stock horses. Twice their stride and reach allows them to reach under and lift higher.
There are degrees of collection. If a TWH is not collected somewhat he will pace/gallop in a fast, flat 4 beat gait. This is a balanced, deliberate "3 beat" canter.
An elegant, balanced rocking chair canter is executed with a more neutral and relaxed topline than the flatter lopes or canters. It is slower, more deliberate and the entire skeletal structure of the horse is in a more orthopedically sound posture than when we see high headed and flat canters. Those fast and flat canters often border on 4 beat gallops rather than balanced and effortless 3 beat gait. Similar to the posture of a pirouette the horse remains collected and balanced.
howetheywalk 10 months ago
i openly admit i know nothing of TWHs. i've ridden one once and it was very unpleasant (not blaming the breed just this particular animal) while watching this video i became curious. do the TWHs develop arthritis in their neck/spine after performing these extreme head bobbing movements for years and years? it looks very uncomfortable even to watch. and do these animals perform this same movement without a rider? say at liberty in an arena or pasture? if not how is it a natural gait?
horsebabyhehe 10 months ago
I will honestly state that this is a very natural and "relaxed" movement. A TWH naturally uses their head and neck in greater counterbalance at all gaits, which enables them to stride bigger and deeper with their hindquarters, adding balance and brilliance. They quite simply use their head and neck to assist the forehand lightness and a reaching hind. Like us swinging our arms as we walk its a natural counterbalance, relaxed and effortless. Once learned, they *prefer* the balanced RC canter.
howetheywalk 10 months ago
My horse does this gait by itself. He is not as yet been ridden and loves cantering and does it collected. Greetings from Germany.
MsChiefJoseph 1 year ago
It's actually a blast to ride, and my horses love this gear. Once they learn the balance to execute this collected and controlled canter it becomes very effortless and they readily go into it. Much easier on them than the fast and flat gallopy canters.
howetheywalk 1 year ago
am i the only one who thinks the rocking chair canter looks not only uncomfortable but unnantural? I know its a natural gait but it still throws me off...
HavvahartKL 1 year ago
Just 2 weeks ago I did that kind of canter :)
Boy, its so much fun!
It's as easy to sit as the walk!
superdeelite 1 year ago
I know, I LOVE this ride. Its a sweet way to move... really fun. The horse, once he learns, finds it very effortless to do.
howetheywalk 1 year ago
@howetheywalk
Yeah, the horse I was riding did it when I just wanted him to canter!
lol.. it took some effort to get the long stride...lol.....
superdeelite 1 year ago
Beautiful! I cannot get mine to canter that slow. What would you advise?
monette570 1 year ago
@monette570 Train the deliberate, slow takeoff using a 10 meter circle and keep the tempo slow. If the horse tries to throw themself forward they will loose their balance and get strungout, pacey and 4 beat rather than the upward lifting of the correct 3 beat canter. I ask my guys to drop their head just before I ask for the canter. This helps put them into correct posture.
raprhowe 1 year ago
Comment removed
razrbladefaerie 1 year ago
@razrbladefaerie
Actually, collected means to gather from back to front for upward and brilliant lightness as well as balanced forward impulsion. It is very common for Walking horses to use their head and necks very effectively to assist in their upward lifting. The more collected, the slower the tempo the easier it becomes to utilize their head and neck to lighten and lift.
I would rather see this type of head and neck use rather than severely restrained, rolkur type bitting and framing.
raprhowe 1 year ago
Comment removed
razrbladefaerie 1 year ago
First off, there are multiple horses in this clip. The rider is NOT lifting anything... the elbows stay fixed and the hands low, the reins making light, if any, contact.
I see that you are a stock horse person. TWH are not stock horses. Twice their stride and reach allows them to reach under and lift higher.
There are degrees of collection. If a TWH is not collected somewhat he will pace/gallop in a fast, flat 4 beat gait. This is a balanced, deliberate "3 beat" canter.
raprhowe 1 year ago
wow, very nice canter on all of these. very rare to see this type of canter which they are known for!!
barnbeeful 1 year ago
nice =]
CynaRed 2 years ago