Transitions in dressage
The transition from walk to canter is best started near a corner of the arena. First walk the horse well into the hand, half-halt a little, then apply the canter aids, keeping the balance throughout the transition. The transition from canter to walk is a little more difficult, and at first can be progressive through trot. Before asking for the transition, several half-halts must be made, then ask for walk and allow it. Over a period of several weeks the horse will become progressively more balanced and able to perform the movement directly. After a time, you will be able to start on the simple change.
The simple change
This is a movement when you start in for example canter left, go from canter to walk, and in either one or three strides of walk, move forward directly into canter right. This is a simple change, and initiates the horse in some form of collection for both the upward and downward transitions. Sometimes you may encounter the problem of the horse tightening his back and resisting the downward transition by resisting the hand. This can often be overcome by doing the transition during a turn. Care must also be taken to stop the horse anticipating the movement, so sometimes the walk must be established for at least a 20 meter circle before asking for canter. At other times the horse may drop the bit and come behind the leg, so that you cannot ride forward without the horse coming behind or above the bit. This can be helped by riding forward into a strong working trot, or riding forward into a 10 meter circle as you go forward to canter, and then riding the horse with strong legs into a firmer contact before lightening to the correct contact again. One problem which may arise at this stage is that of the horse getting a four-time canter. This occurs when the second beat in the stride is slightly broken because the diagonal pair of legs are not touching the ground together. It is usually caused by lack of jump in the hind legs, and may be related to the horse being ridden with too much restriction in the rein and insufficient activation from the legs. If this happens, you must ride a horse more forward, asking for really strong, pushing strides from the hind legs. It is usually easier to activate the horse on a large circle, and a touch with the whip for a few strides will help to activate the hind legs. If the horse bucks or kicks at the whip, he must be reprimanded and taught that the hindlegs must come forward when touched with with, and not the reverse. Only when you have restored the canter to a true working canter can you think of slowing the speed a little once more, but, in doing so, make sure you ride the correct rhythm with your seat and legs. Slow down only for a short spell, then ride forward into medium canter and repeat this several times, so that the horse is expecting to be written forward, then the true canter will be restored.
Always remember to correct your own position and aids whenever you encounter a problem, for often these are caused simply by a lack of courage on the part of the rider. Once the working and medium canter are well established, the collected and extended pieces can be worked on.
Counter canter
Counter canter may be introduced once the horse has a good balance in his canter work, is able to increase and decrease the pace, and shows early collection. Accurate riding, using the corners to the full, is essential to gain the maximum benefit from the movement in the training of your horse.
Counter canter is taught in the early stages by means of canter loops in from the track. Initially a loop of 3 m in from the track over the marker E or B is sufficient. As the horse's balance improves, 5 m and 10 m loops may then be written. The rider should take the horse in a soft curve, making sure that he retains control of the horse through the outside rein as he leaves the track. Is outside rein control is lost, the rider's weight will fall onto the horse's outside shoulder, so that the horse will become unbalanced, and probably lapse into a disunited canter. When riding counter canter correctly the horse should have a very slight flexion in the leading leg. Once the horse can perform a canter loop of 5 m, a little more collection will be required to perform a balanced canter loop of 10 m. When this is established, the horse is ready to perform a true counter canter, in which she can canter right round the arena on both the left and the right rein. Riding true canter and counter counter with simple changes around the arena, and then on a 20 m circle, can be a useful preparation for teaching flying changes.
The simple change
This is a movement when you start in for example canter left, go from canter to walk, and in either one or three strides of walk, move forward directly into canter right. This is a simple change, and initiates the horse in some form of collection for both the upward and downward transitions. Sometimes you may encounter the problem of the horse tightening his back and resisting the downward transition by resisting the hand. This can often be overcome by doing the transition during a turn. Care must also be taken to stop the horse anticipating the movement, so sometimes the walk must be established for at least a 20 meter circle before asking for canter. At other times the horse may drop the bit and come behind the leg, so that you cannot ride forward without the horse coming behind or above the bit. This can be helped by riding forward into a strong working trot, or riding forward into a 10 meter circle as you go forward to canter, and then riding the horse with strong legs into a firmer contact before lightening to the correct contact again. One problem which may arise at this stage is that of the horse getting a four-time canter. This occurs when the second beat in the stride is slightly broken because the diagonal pair of legs are not touching the ground together. It is usually caused by lack of jump in the hind legs, and may be related to the horse being ridden with too much restriction in the rein and insufficient activation from the legs. If this happens, you must ride a horse more forward, asking for really strong, pushing strides from the hind legs. It is usually easier to activate the horse on a large circle, and a touch with the whip for a few strides will help to activate the hind legs. If the horse bucks or kicks at the whip, he must be reprimanded and taught that the hindlegs must come forward when touched with with, and not the reverse. Only when you have restored the canter to a true working canter can you think of slowing the speed a little once more, but, in doing so, make sure you ride the correct rhythm with your seat and legs. Slow down only for a short spell, then ride forward into medium canter and repeat this several times, so that the horse is expecting to be written forward, then the true canter will be restored.
Always remember to correct your own position and aids whenever you encounter a problem, for often these are caused simply by a lack of courage on the part of the rider. Once the working and medium canter are well established, the collected and extended pieces can be worked on.
Counter canter
Counter canter may be introduced once the horse has a good balance in his canter work, is able to increase and decrease the pace, and shows early collection. Accurate riding, using the corners to the full, is essential to gain the maximum benefit from the movement in the training of your horse.
Counter canter is taught in the early stages by means of canter loops in from the track. Initially a loop of 3 m in from the track over the marker E or B is sufficient. As the horse's balance improves, 5 m and 10 m loops may then be written. The rider should take the horse in a soft curve, making sure that he retains control of the horse through the outside rein as he leaves the track. Is outside rein control is lost, the rider's weight will fall onto the horse's outside shoulder, so that the horse will become unbalanced, and probably lapse into a disunited canter. When riding counter canter correctly the horse should have a very slight flexion in the leading leg. Once the horse can perform a canter loop of 5 m, a little more collection will be required to perform a balanced canter loop of 10 m. When this is established, the horse is ready to perform a true counter canter, in which she can canter right round the arena on both the left and the right rein. Riding true canter and counter counter with simple changes around the arena, and then on a 20 m circle, can be a useful preparation for teaching flying changes.
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