Counter Canter Improves Both Horse & Rider

Brad Cutshall, Dressage Trainer

Softness, suppleness and understanding are the watchwords at Brad Cutshall's dressage training facility. An FEI rider, trainer and sought-after clinician, Brad runs Landmark Farms in Michigan. If you ask him what counter canter can do for horse and rider, he says, "It's funny. Everyone has a different idea of what counter canter should do. But counter canter is not just a trick to amaze loved ones and friends! It's a great tool for balancing the horse on his hind legs and for establishing strong collection.

"I introduce counter canter when I introduce collection. You first need three qualities: the horse must be straight, forward and relaxed. Then, when the horse finds his balance in counter canter, you have suppleness. You'll have a horse with great power from the hind end---power without tension.

"Let's specify that the horse is circling to the right. The counter canter will be his left lead. The object is to strengthen the horse's right hind leg, and to encourage him to engage. I'll turn with the inside rein on a circle and push with my inside leg to get the horse to use his inside hind leg. I want him to stand up evenly with both shoulder blades. He must learn to balance himself over his hind legs with his shoulders even on the circle in the counter canter.

"The majority of horses will first drop the left shoulder, drifting to the left and falling on their forehands. I need the horse to turn from my right rein. This tempts him to fall even more over the left shoulder. The horse must learn to step farther underneath himself while accepting the right turning rein to find his balance. Then and only then can I take the flexion back to the left.

"Eventually, I want the horse to maintain his balance flexed either left or right in counter canter. (Ultimately, in the show ring, the horse will be flexed left to ask for the left lead in counter canter.) When I can counter canter on either rein and the horse doesn't try to twist his shoulders, then he's in self-carriage. I have rideability.

"Still, I warn my riders about the first counter canter: 'it's going to feel horrible!' You are basically forcing the horse to lose and then find his balance, and it feels awful. But the light bulb will go on---click!---when the horse learns to step underneath himself. The rider may, in the beginning, try too hard to help the horse. You'll want to neck rein---the left rein, in our example---to put the horse back in balance or to control the left shoulder. Don't! The horse could come to rely upon the left rein. If he's not balanced on the right rein, he won't have to engage his hind end and stand up on his shoulders evenly. Keep asking with the right rein---let the horse find his own balance.

"I've seen a horse with a mediocre canter school at counter canter and developing power, balance and rideability within the gait gave him a whole different canter. Of course, the horse has to develop the musculature necessary to sit and maintain collection.

"Counter canter teaches the rider to feel how the horse becomes more balanced and more honest to the aids. It teaches the rider to sit and to use her seat more effectively. (I'll hear a lot of grunting and groaning at first from horse AND rider!)

"You need great rideability to work on flying changes. My work with the counter canter gives me control over the canter before, during and after the flying changes. Counter canter ensures that the horse is on the aids and is supple and can move his shoulders left or right without changing against my leg. If that rideability isn't established, the horse may interpret any correction as a cue for a flying change.

"In Sweden, I witnessed Olympic jumper rider Peter Eriksson working his horses. Every one of them does at least Fourth Level dressage. Such work in dressage gets the horses to turn more quickly, and strengthen the hind legs to give the horse more power at the jumps.

"Both dressage and jumping disciplines require tremendous athleticism and agility from the horse. Counter canter is a wonderful tool to build up the hind quarters and to make the horse more responsive, whether you're working up to pirouette and flying changes, or to a bigger jump. Anything you can do to make your horse a better, more balanced athlete is an advantage."

Wendy Hechler, Hunter/Jumper Trainer

Wendy Hechler is the horsewoman in charge at Greystone Equestrian Center in Florida. Wendy and her students attend schooling shows, the Ocala and West Palm Beach circuits, plus forays to Harrisburg and Devon. Wendy begins, "Counter canter improves the rider's communication with the horse. But think about it: it's natural for the horse to want to be on the correct lead. Watch horses running out in the field. Most will automatically switch to the more balanced, comfortable, correct lead.

"So, to counter canter, the rider must use her aids to ask the horse for something that isn't natural to him. The rider must communicate to the horse that she wants him to hold the counter canter. If the riders does the job properly, she sill make it easier for the horse to keep his balance through the straightaway and, eventually, the turn.

"The horse must trust that the rider is telling him to do the right thing. He must develop faith that the rider can improve his balance, especially through the turn when it's most difficult for him to hold the counter canter.

"I'd say that a rider could begin to work on counter canter when she can correctly execute leg yields and bending. of course, it's easiest of the young rider first tries counter canter on an experienced horse. And I'd say that a young horse is ready to attempt counter canter when he can execute proper, firm leg yields and bending. It's best if the young horse learns counter canter with an experienced rider.

"I suggest that riders first ask for the counter canter on the center line. The rider practices picking up a specific lead. You know the rider is using her aids correctly when she gets the lead she wants because the horse doesn't have the rail to clue him in. Next, the rider practices picking up the counter canter on the quarter line. then on the rail. Only when the rider gets the outside lead every time do I ask her to try to hold the counter canter through the turn.

"Will the horse swap to the correct lead when the rider tries to turn? Sure . . . especially a really made horse with automatic changes. Or the less experienced horse will probably swap if the rider doesn't keep her aids.

"If you go clockwise, the counter lead is the left lead. To counter canter, the rider executes her left leg on the girth and her right leg a little farther back to engage the horse's haunches. She asks for a slight bend to the left while keeping a feel with the right rein. Those aids should get you the counter lead on the straightaway. To hold the counter canter through the turn, keep the aids but open the inside rein so that the horse can fade in the turn. Fading into a turn is easier than trying to ride deep into the turn. It is more difficult to hold the counter canter through a sharp turn. So, if you round your corners---fade into the turn---your chances of holding the outside lead improve greatly.

"Some riders learn counter canter easily. Others can become frustrated, especially of the horse doesn't cooperate or is green. If horse or rider becomes frustrated, go back to the comfort zone: go back to picking up the outside lead on the quarter line, perhaps, and break to a trot to go through the turn until the rider can keep her horse comfortable in the counter canter through the turn.

"Most lesson ponies look uncomfortable when they're cantering around on the wrong lead. Others are as happy as a clam! It's a balance issue stemming from the rider's responsibility to maintain a balanced horse. When the rider is able to keep her horse on the outside lead through the turn, you'll know that the communication, trust and balance are there."

Reprinted from Hunter & Sport Horse Magazine

Mar/Apr 2005 Issue

To subscribe or to have fun on our website, visit www.HunterAndSportHorseMag.com

Toll-free subscription ordering: 800-554-7470