Finding Balance and Confidence in the Canter - Part Two

In my Part One of this series, we talked about how the canter isn't nearly as easy and straight forward as it should be.

Take a look at that post, if you haven't already! We talk about how to establish your canter aid and what do to if your horse doesn't respond to your aid for canter.

Once we have our canter aid established and our horse is responding to it, it's time to start trying to do "more things" while cantering!

Sooo... what's next? What does "more things" look like?

At the most basic level, once we've mastered "Trot, Canter, Go!" from Part One of this series, we then need to think about steering or aiding in other patterns and figures while cantering.

EXERCISE 1

Circle - Change - Circle

1) Start on a 20 meter circle at trot. Ask for canter, following the instructions from Part One. We want to ask for the canter on a circle or a bending line (like the short side of the arena) to help set our horse up to pick up the correct lead successfully.

2) Give your horse time to get established in the canter. You could stay on the circle a few times, or you could go straight down the long side and circle again on the next short side. In the diagram below, we'll go straight down the long side and then circle again.

3) After you finish the circle and have re-established your canter rhythm, ride across the diagonal to change direction.

4) Ask for trot somewhere near the center of the arena. Stay in the trot until you finish changing direction and are balanced going the new direction.

5) Ask for canter on the short side of the arena (or on the circle if you need longer to rebalance) and stay on the twenty meter circle until you have a solid canter going the new direction!

What this exercise teaches the horse:

1) "There's more, my friend!" Our horses are creatures of habit and routine. They LOVE routine and predictability! Walk into any barn at feeding time... I'll bet the horses know what time it is before you need to even pull out your phone or look at your watch!

Buuutttt... when we're riding, there are a lot of unpredictable things! Some things are outside of our control. But sometimes, we change the routine because we simply want or need to do something different - and we need our horse to be ready to respond!

This is why it is so important to "mix things up" every so often! Change the routine!

For example, How many of us canter a little in one direction and then immediately take a walk break?

In this exercise, we break up the routine. We canter one direction, but then we trot and pretty quickly ask for canter in the new direction! This keeps our horse thinking and listening. It keeps him interested and asking, "What's next?"

2) Transitions between gaits really encourage us, as riders, and our horses to focus on RHYTHM.

Rhythm is the base of the dressage training scale. Without steady rhythm, we have nothing to work with or build with. Riding transitions fairly close together will challenge you and your horse to really lock into a steady rhythm at each gait!

Trouble-Shooting:

Problem #1

My horse doesn't keep cantering. He quits before I can even think about changing direction!

Solution:

Re-visit "Trot - Canter - GO!" from Part One. Make sure your horse is clear on your canter aid and that he understands he needs to stay in canter until YOU tell him to trot. He doesn't just get to fall into the trot when he gets a little tired or when things get harder.

Problem #2

My horse picks up the wrong lead when I change direction.

Solution:

It's OK! Let him make the mistake. Let him start that circle in the new direction on the wrong lead. He'll probably find that pretty uncomfortable! And then he'll break to trot. At that point you'll immediately ask for canter again. He'll most likely correct himself and pick up the correct lead. Pat him and tell him what a good boy he is! Then repeat the exercise. My guess is... he'll figure out the "game!"

It is really important that we allow our horses to make mistakes. Mistakes are not a bad thing. They are opportunities for us as riders to be teachers for our horses!

Give this one a try and let me know how it goes!

If you'd like more specific helped tailored to YOUR horse, shoot me a message! I'd love to work with you and create a custom plan for you and your horse to get to where you want be with your riding! Message me HERE!

What are some exercises you like to ride in canter to keep your horse's brain engaged?

How does your horse respond?

Tell me in the comments!