counter-canter: need help for tomorrow's lesson!

[stormchaser]

Last week RI had me and Chizh do counter-canter... and I feel that my Russian is starting to fail me, I don't quite understand how to do it! :o

I mean, I read about these arena-exercises where you canter on the right lead, then change direction or go in shallow loop--we can do that, no problem, but RI has thrown us a challenge... get Chizh to start cantering on the other lead right from walk. And the thing is anything less than that "isn't quite a counter-canter".

Now if she helps me by placing my hands and legs where they should be... inside leg slides back, reins placing his head slightly to the inside, and calls for canter, he does it beautifully.

So I try to do this, did this a couple of times--even managed a flying change for the first time!! RI was impressed.:D

Then everything went to pot and there, couldn't get Chizh to counter-canter and I think it was just a bit of communication breakdown there... or tired legs, I don't know.

Then RI suggested I tried counter-canter without stirrups, but I was too worn out for it! ::o

Ok here's a bit of background:
-we usually do walk-canter transition, because his trot is a bit bouncy to sit to.
-canter aid I usually give is indirect rein and outside leg behind the girth--recently he has been very responsive to this (and most other things to me in general)
-I was wondring was Chizh starting to associate the indirect rein as an aid to canter?
-lessons are all in my 3rd language... how did I ever manage to cope? Well let's say horsey language is more or less international, but then again everyone has different ways of doing things.

Question:
What is the proper way to ask for a counter-canter? (From walk)
And flying-change? I somehow managed this by putting a bit of pressure on the reins and moving the inside leg behind the girth and nudging the leg constantly. I can't imagine this is really correct, however.:confused:

[Kate F.]

Question:
What is the proper way to ask for a counter-canter? (From walk)
And flying-change? I somehow managed this by putting a bit of pressure on the reins and moving the inside leg behind the girth and nudging the leg constantly. I can't imagine this is really correct, however.:confused:

I think the first thing is to realize that the horse doesn't know what "counter canter" is - the horse just takes the lead that is obvious and comfortable - which will usually be the lead that matches the direction the horse is curving towards. ie - you want counter canter on the left rein. Bend the horse to the right, and establish that for a few strides of walk/trot (easiest to do on the straight of the school), and make sure you are LOOKING to the right. Then put your left leg back, and ask for right canter, just as you would if you were going to the right.

Usually, the horse will pick up the counter canter quite easily - the difficult bit is going around the corners. That's when you need to exaggerate the outside bend a bit, and make sure your seat stays in the outside canter position. Most horses need a bit of practise to get this - and some are naturally more balanced than others (rather like people!) and will find it easier. I usually start them off just doing the long side of the school in counter canter, then just to A or C, and gradually build up to doing the whole curve.

There's also a school of thought that says establish the regular canter, then change the rein and keep the same position to keep the same lead in the other direction. This works too - but personally I find doing it though the bend easier.

Flying change is another kettle of fish. All horses can do flying changes, unless they have some sort of serious physical problem - they can do them from the time they are a couple of days old - just watch foals out in a field! What they find difficult is doing it when we ask, with the weight on top. One way to help them is to set up a pole at X on the E-B line. Canter a large circle in one direction, then change direction over the pole, making sure your position changes to match the new lead a stride before the pole. Most horses will change automatically over the pole. Another way is to set up the canter on a large circle, drop down to trot for a couple of strides at the middle, change the bend, then pick up the other canter. Gradually shorten the amount of trot until the horse knows what is happening and changes as soon as it feels your position change.

A lot of people will give you long instructions of "this leg here, that rein there" - but at the end of the day, the horse makes itself comfortable. RIDE the other lead, and the horse will match itself to it - it's own instincts tell it to canter on the lead appropriate to the curve in its body - and that curve is suggested by the rider's position and "feel".

Cheers!

[kelsey]

If you know how to do a leg yield, just turn down the long side and then leg yield away from the wall for a couple of steps before asking. This will set your horse up with the correct flexion. It is even easier if you ask out a slight head to wall leg yield/shoulder in. Basically, you are curling your horse around your inside leg and his whole body will be bent iin the right direction for the counter canter. Eventually, you will need to do less and less until you can position then ask immediately. (I always ask for canter from inside leg at girth and inside seat bone, with the outside leg just guarding behind the girth, as I find horses can start to get confused and anticipate canter when you are doing lateral work.) It also helps to have the feel of where the horse's legs are at all times so that you can ask when the strike off leg is on the ground.

[SupaTania]

hehe i'm working on the canter, and very often end up counter-cantering.

I told my instructor who shouted what are you doing, "I'm not on the wrong lead, I'm counter-cantering!" She burst into fits of laughter. I read that somewhere and remembered it, and couldn't help but say it.

Sorry no real help, just thought I'd share that funny little story.