What is cross canter?
For many riders, galloping across the meadows is the epitome of freedom. But if your horse suddenly falls into a so-called cross canter, you should try to find out why. But how do you even recognize gallop and what causes can this have?
What a normal canter looks like and what cross canter is
Gallop is one of the three basic gaits of the horse. It is a so-called 3-stroke gait. This means that a gallop has three "blows" on which the legs touch the ground one after the other.
- The normal sequence of steps of the gallop is as follows: First, one of the two rear legs touches down. In the case of right gallop, the left one. Then put two legs on at the same time: the other rear leg and the front leg located diagonally from it. In a right canter, right behind and left in front. Finally, the rest of the front leg is set forward in one wide step. This leg also gives the name for the canter - so when canter it is the right front leg. The subsequent floating phase, in which all four legs lift off the ground, is characteristic of the gallop.
- So a distinction is made between right and left canter. The so-called indoor gallop is mostly ridden on the riding arena. This means that the pair of legs directed towards the middle indicates the type of canter. ride So you turn clockwise, the right leg is inside. The horse should therefore run in a right gallop. Dressage horses are trained in such a way that they can also run outside canter and switch from inside to outside canter (so-called flying change).
- The two types of canter now mix in cross canter. So the horse goes with the front legs in a left canter, while the hind legs run in a right canter or vice versa. This is a strange feeling for the rider and it is also undesirable at tournaments.
What causes cross gallop can have
If your horse crosses gallop, you should try to find the cause, as the horse will be permanently damaged. This can lead to complaints in the back area, but also to hoof problems due to incorrect loading of the limbs.
Recognize outside canter - this is how it works
The gallop of a horse can, depending on which hand, i.e. in which direction ...
- One possible cause of the cross gallop is that the horse's back is tense. Blockages in the spine, especially in the neck area, also reduce the ability of the back to bend. As a result, the horse is restricted in its movement and tries to compensate for this with the cross canter.
- There are many reasons for these physical problems: Sometimes the saddle is not correctly adjusted, in other horses changes in the spine are responsible. Congenital physical inadequacies, such as a crooked pelvis, can also lead to cross canter.
- Some Horses have learned the cross canter from an early age and also show it when they gallop without a rider. Then it is often difficult to train the animals from this "vice" again.
- Even the rider is often not innocent when galloping cross. As an inexperienced rider, in particular, you can sometimes stab the horse in the back so that its balance is disturbed. So it has no chance of developing a normal canter.
What you can do about canter
Since gallop will harm both you and your horse in the long run, you should try to get into a normal gallop.
- First of all, you need to embark on a root cause investigation. You will be supported by your vet or an osteopath. You should also consult experienced riders from your stable, for example the trainer. They can give you tips on how to improve your riding style so that you support the horse.
- Your horse will be presented during the examination, possibly even under the saddle. The horse's back is examined manually in order to discover tension and misalignments. If there is a suspicion that the problem is in the spine, x-rays will be taken. In this way, bony changes can be recognized, for example adhesions of the spinous processes of the vertebrae.
- When it comes to tension in the back muscles, it is worthwhile to have a saddle fitted by the saddler. Physiotherapy and heat therapy also counteract muscle spasms.
- After possible physical causes have been eliminated, you can see when the cross canter occurs. With many horses this gait is only shown under the saddle. But if the horse goes cross-canter in the pasture, it becomes more difficult to get used to it.
- First practice the correct gait on the lunge. You should make sure that you also train step and trot. As the gait becomes clearer, you can slowly switch to riding. If you canter and your horse then jumps into cross gallop, you should stop and try again. You shouldn't be sparing with praise if it works.
