Opening the Stride?

[makebelieve]

In my lesson yesterday, I was asked to open up my canter stride.

What exactly does this mean? Since I didn't know what to do, I didn't really do anything. I should have asked.

[Kalypso]

would it be along the lines of 'lengthening' the stride? Not sure, though, it's just a guess...I'm sure someone else will know for sure! :)

[clurly_wurly]

My instructor sometimes tells us to open up the stride and by this he means going from a nice collected canter to one where you put your legs on more strongly to ask the horse to stretch out more and lengthen the stride. He sometimes tells us to sit in cross country position to do this. Im sure someone else will be able to give a better explanation!

[makebelieve]

Ah! That's probably it. :p Getting a more extended stride.

Is it almost like going into a gallop?

[Kalypso]

No, it shouldn't be. An extended stride shouldn't necessarily make you go any 'faster', but you will cover more ground, if that makes any sense? Your horse will extend his legs and reach, hence each stride will be longer. But you will not necessarily be in the next gait. A canter is still three beats, and a gallop is four beats, you aren't changing that! :) Ie: an extended trot is more 'floaty' (for lack of a better word) than a collected/posting trot...an extended canter is sort-of the same thing, but at a canter and not a trot...

Hope that made even the slightest bit of sense to you or to someone....:rolleyes:

[clurly_wurly]

Kalypso explained it much better than i could! Just make sure you gain some control back well before the corners, I sometimes have a bit of trouble with that and it scares the pants of my instructor :D

[makebelieve]

I get it now. Thanks Kalypso. :p

How would you ask for the horse to extend? By softening?

[casey]

Keep the same contact, as you dont want the horse to get longer. But more leg/seat. :)

[makebelieve]

Keep the same contact, as you dont want the horse to get longer. But more leg/seat. :)Okay. :p I'll be sure to retry this later.

Thanks for your help, everyone. :)