Modified counter canter loop in a counter pattern.
In order to improve your horse athletically, we must always ask our horse to perform at a higher level, without going past his limits physically, mentally or emotionally. For to do so would only result in pain, fear, loss of trust, and perhaps most importantly, loss of confidence in himself, the rider, and the work. With this in mind, since our ends goal is a 20m circle at the counter canter that is relaxed, rhythmic, balanced and cadenced, somehow we need to go from a simple loop to that 20m circle in stages.
Assuming that you were able to ride the counter canter simple loop counter pattern, the next step is to add a few more counter canter strides to the pattern. Prepare by riding a counter canter simple loop in counter pattern on the right lead to refresh both horse and rider. Now, when it is good, and it should only take one or maybe two loops to feel “good”. If it takes more than two or three, then you are not ready to move on yet! from the simple loop ride across the short side at C and make a 10m circle in the corner by M. Now ride straight across the quarter school in counter canter from the 1/4 line to the 3/4 line and continue your counter canter to E and then back into the corner by K (as you did the simple loop earlier) as illustrated.
At first it may not feel wonderful but that is okay. Remember how the simple loop felt at first? You can always ride the simple loop after this “modified” loop to refresh your horse, and you, on how easy that is. Soon enough, this will become “easy” as well.
Try it on the other rein.
Once you have this modified counter counter canter loop nicely balanced, as before, it is time to up the difficulty a little.
Read More Pages in this Dressage Training Article.
- The Simple Counter Canter Loop
- Developing the 20 meter Counter Canter Demi Circle
- Developing the 20 meter Counter Canter 3/4 Circle
- The 20 meter Counter Canter Circle