C Working canter right 20m circle, MBF Working canter, F Working trot
Not enough people concentrate sufficiently on the quality of canter, so this is something that will help you pull up your % if you’re one of those.
We love to see a round, clear ‘3 beat’ canter with a moment of suspension between each stride. Your horse needs to be active and engaged and this demonstration of power to be carefully controlled through an elastic connection, with the frame of the horse being round (vertical head) and in self carriage. The circle should be accurate (no corners) and the horse showing a clear right bend through the body.
After the circle, you need to ride the corner CM properly and, maintaining right flexion, continue the canter smoothly up the long side MBF, ensuring straightness, self carriage and the same round connection as before. Then, exactly at F, perform a smooth well balance downward transition to trot and establish quality within the trot before making the corner.
We don’t want to see….
1. A ‘4 time’ flat canter
2. A lethargic and lazy canter
3. A long frame with weight propping onto shoulder each stride
4. Hurrying / tightening over the back
5. Hollowing /resistance
6. Breaking to trot
7. A circle with corners
8. The corner cut / missed after the circle
9. 1/4s in as travelling BF
10. The length of stride altering MBF
11. The frame lengthening MBF
12. The transition at F unbalanced / on forehand
Tips include…
- Think ‘roundness, energy and suspension’ on the circle. Get a good quality feeling of power coming from behind and use your seat to encourage the hocks to come under positively.
- Ensure a right bend through the body around your inside leg and an elastic contact in your outside hand, not leaning on it, but definitely there.
- Get the speed and tempo right, so not appearing lazy or hurried and maintain the rhythm throughout.
- Ensure the frame and outline is suitable to encourage ability to achieve self carriage. Too long a frame is ‘on the forehand, too short will appear ‘tight’.
- Ride the corner after circle deeply but without losing rhythm or balance.
- Don’t let the stride lengthen MBF
- Keep quarters straight BF!!
- Half halt effectively prior to F, and NAIL the transition exactly at the marker, keeping horse supple and in front of the leg so the transition appears well balanced and through. THIS IS RARE.
- Breathe, and establish a quality trot before the corner.
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