29 August 2008 09:36
My 14.3hh cob mare is 10 years old, and my problem is that she is a pacer. She has a dipped back, which affects her outline and performance, but I would like to reschool her so she can canter, then we can maybe start doing some dressage tests. I have tried lungeing her, but it makes her buck – are there any other exercises I can try?
Answer
By Your Horse
TTeam Practitioner Claire Marr replies:
Pacers have a tendency to be sore in the lumbar area, which ties in with your mare having a dipped back. If you haven’t already done so, I would ask a chiropractor to check her over and make sure all is well. I prefer to use a McTimoney-Corley practitioner – you should be able to find one through the internet.
Before you can reschool your mare to canter, you will have to spend a lot of time getting her walk and trot perfect. You could try using a TTEAM body wrap and do some in-hand work over poles. Make sure the poles are set far enough apart that she can’t pace over them.
● Raise alternate ends of your poles and ask her to walk slowly over each one, so she has to look where she’s going and move her hindquarters and shoulders.
● Using a single pole, ask her to first walk straight over it and then, one step at a time, back up over it.
● You could also try backing her up through an L shape. All this hindquarter work can help with canter transitions, and should also boost her balance, awareness and coordination. If you feel you need more help with these exercises, look at www.tilleyfarm.co.uk to find a TTEAM practitioner who might be able to come to you.
As far as your lunge work goes, it sounds as though your mare doesn’t understand what you’re asking her to do. She could also be in some discomfort from her teeth, so a thorough mouth check would be well worth it.
● For more TTEAM exercises see the articles on groundwork in Your Horse issues 304 and 305.