Hi Laura and Judy, >>>Laura, does Bjalla trot? Does she trot at liberty? under saddle? easily?
>>>Lateral horses sometimes have problems with the canter. Do you know if she's doing a three-beat or a four-beat canter when she does do a canter? Bjalla is out of a mare who is quite lateral and very smooth. Her trot was always very easy to get and she did trot in the pasture, so was tolt albeit depending on the rider could be towards pace, flying pace also comes very easily to her. I would say that under saddle canter is probably her weakest gait, or least gait of choice and so when speed becomes a factor then flying pace is easiest for her to keep up with. I wonder if you were to do some ring work using poles set quite wide apart 9"? - first on the straight and then gradually on the corners in a fan. Start with trotting her over the poles and see if you can get her trotting over the poles around the corners. Then work towards easing her into a canter and use the poles in the same way. I am not sure if it will work but might be worth a try. You could also try riding her with the promise wrap - an elastic bandage around her hindquarters - I will find some info and send it to you - to help keep her more connected. I am glad that Atli is your primary horse. He is such a nice boy and quite a sensitive being and really likes to feel a connection to a person. Bjalla is more easy going in her character as far as change of rider goes although I think that different riders who naturally give slightly different signals and are balanced differently make getting her gaits really clean, more difficult. Robyn Icelandic Horse Farm Robyn Hood & Phil Pretty Vernon BC Canada www.icefarm.com
