THE HORSE GAZETTE
training
Training without force
the counter canter revisited
By Mary Rose, FBHS © 2010
Question for Mary: through from back to front. In-
asking an unnatural thing from for the canter lead correctly the and make sure that your horse does not mean a bend of the
I’m schooling my horse clude transitions within the gait,
the horse. horse may change leads anyway remains perfectly calm and horse’s neck in the direction of
at 3
rd
level but I’m having collected trot to medium trot
The counter-canter during the counter-canter loop. relaxed throughout the work. the rein aid. This distinction is
some trouble with the counter to collected trot, going around
is primarily a straightening If he does, do not punish him. A It is very natural for a horse to important. Your horse should ul-
canter. My horse doesn’t seem your arena, or on large circles.
and suppling exercise. Before little later in his training you will become excited at the start of timately be able to bend around
to understand the exercises The trot warm-up should also
learning the flying changes the be asking him for flying changes this work and to try speeding up your inside leg while maintain-
and I have trouble not getting include work in shoulder-in,
horse needs to be confirmed and if you punish him now for or rushing in the canter. Bring- ing the counter-canter and a
frustrated. haunches-in, and half pass.
in maintaining the canter lead giving them to you he will re- ing him back to a quiet walk flexion of the jaw to the opposite
Before starting spe- being asked of him. The rider
member that and be unwilling
and waiting until he is relaxed direction, that of the canter lead.
Response: cific exercises for the counter-
has the responsibility to be able to risk it again. Simply return and calm before repeating the This is demanding a very great
In our schooling we canter it is a good idea to work
to sit correctly and quietly and to walk, walk for a few minutes exercise is crucial. deal and will only be achieved
must always pay attention to the some trot to canter to trot transi-
to fully understand the aids re- until he is completely calm, and It is important to un- with much time, patience and
basics. The horse must move tions, large circles in canter, and
quired and how to apply them. I repeat the exercise. derstand that to gain the full hard work. Like everything
freely forward, relaxed (that is a little collection and extension
like to start by cantering around When you and your benefit of the suppling exercises else in the training of the horse,
without undue tension) in good in the canter.
the arena on the true lead in a horse are comfortable perform- in counter-canter, the horse must it cannot be achieved by force
rhythm and tempo. Rhythm is Having completed a
fairly collected canter and, at the ing this loop in counter canter remain ‘flexed’ to the leading - the horse, when ready, will
the regularity of the beat of thorough warm-up and made
beginning of the long side, mak- go to the next step. Develop the leg, but must allow his body give it to you freely.
the footfalls and tempo is the certain that your horse is for-
ing a long shallow loop towards loop exercise until the curves to conform to the track of the You can contact Mary
speed at which this rhythm is ward, attentive, calm and bal-
the center line and then back to become more marked and even- movement. Flexion means a by calling 512-589-3796 (Cell)
repeated. anced you can start on specific
the track before the corner to tually form a broad, sallow relaxation of the horse’s jaw or 512-894-4536 (Home) or
A correct and effec- exercises to help develop the
the short end. Maintain the aids serpentine. Do not change leads to the action of the rein and a visit her online at www.mary-
tive warm-up is very important. counter-canter. This work will
for the canter lead consistently during the serpentine, so that ‘tendency’ in that direction. It rosedressage.com.
Walking is an essential part of ensure that your horse never
throughout the exercise, and your horse will be cantering
any warm-up. Walking exer- changes his leading leg in canter
to return to the track TURN alternately in a true canter and
cises, such as, walk-halt-walk except upon his rider’s specific
ONLY YOUR HEAD in that in a counter-canter. Later still
transitions, counter shoulder command. It is indispensable
direction. develop the serpentines into
in, half circle and leg yield, and as a preparation for the flying
This work is not dif- large circles and figures of eight
exercises on the perimeter of a changes that the horse should
Where Quality Service, and Customer Satisfaction are Always First
ficult but to some extent it does without changes of lead.
20m circle, are a very good way understand this. Most horses
involve asking the horse to give These exercises in
to stretch your horse’s muscles will change leads in the air of
up his own natural wishes and counter-caner will take time,
at the start of your work. their own accord when chang-
balance in favor of an artificial patience and practice to perfect.
Warm-up exercises ing direction – this is a natural
balance which we teach him. Do not be in a hurry and do
in trot should include lots of thing for them to do to maintain
This requires tact and careful not punish your horse for any
transitions, to ensure that your their balance, so work at coun-
explanation from the rider. Even misunderstanding of your expla-
horse is engaged and working ter-canter is, to some extent,
when you maintain your aids nations. Remain calm yourself
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Cattlemen of Iowa; Independent Sovereignty International; Stop
group coalition sent letters to slaughterhouse, while NAIS
Cattlemen of Nebraska; Inde- Real ID Coalition; Sustainable
Congress and the U.S. Depart- tracking ends at the time of
pendent Beef Assn. of North Food Center (Texas); Texas Horse Trailers, and All-Purpose Utility Trailers
ment of Agriculture urging that slaughter.
Dakota; Innovative Farmers Landowners Council; Texas
the National Animal Identifica- 2. USDA has made
of Ohio; International Texas Organic Farmers and Gardeners
Goosenecks or Flat Beds
tion System (NAIS) be halted. unsupported assertions that our
Longhorn Assn.; Iowa Citizens Assn.; US Boer Goat Assn.; Vir-
The groups urged Congress country needs 48-hour trace-
for Community Improvement; ginia Independent Consumers &
and the USDA to “support the back of all animal movements
Kansas Cattlemen’s Assn.; Land Farmers Assn.; Virginia Land Portable Buildings
limited use of NAIS funding to for disease control, yet has
Stewardship Project (Minn.); Rights Coalition; Western Orga-
shut down the program, and to failed to provide any scientific
Local Harvest; Main Alterna- nization of Resource Councils;
refocus the agency on measures basis support this claim.
tive Agriculture Assn.; Main Weston A. Price Foundation;
Ph. 830-997-9969 • Fax 830-997-6918
that truly improve animal health 3. Unfair reporting
Organic Farmers and Gardeners and, Wintergarden Sustainable
Fredericksburg, Texas
and that respect the interests and paperwork burdens would
Assn.; Marshall County Citizens Agriculture Coalition (Texas).
of both livestock owners and be placed on family farms and
for Property Rights (Ala.); F M I v i s i t w w w. 5 Miles East of Fredericksburg on Hwy 290
consumers.” sustainable livestock opera-
Massachusetts Smallholders
farmandranchfreedom.org
In the 2010 Agricul- tions.
Alliance; Michigan Farmers
ture Appropriations Bill, Con- The costs of comply-
Union; Michigan Land Trust-
Training • Boarding • Breeding
gress reduced NAIS funding to ing with NAIS will be unrea-
ees; Michigan Organic Food
$5.3 million, but did not specify sonably burdensome for small
and Farm Alliance; Missis- • Assist you to find the right horse
how those funds were to be al- farmers and many other animal
sippi Livestock Markets Assn.; • Training both you and your horse
located. owners.
Missouri Rural Crisis Center; • Trailer Loading
“We respectfully re- The letters are post-
Missourians for Local Con- • Developing confidence
quest that the USDA recognize ed at http://farmandranchfree-
trol; Monroe/LaCrosse County
Stockdale, Texas
• Enhancing your showing skills
the fundamental flaws in NAIS dom.org/content/federal-up-
Farmers Union (Wis.); Montana • Boarding (pasture & stalls)
and the public opposition to the dates
Cattlemen’s Assn.; Montana • Fitting for both showing & sales
program, and not use the $5.3 The letters were co-
Farmer s Union; National Asso-
AI and Collection Services
• Friendly, Fun Atmosphere
million appropriated for NAIS ordinated by the Farm and
ciation of Farm Animal Welfare; • Hay (both Coastal & Alfalfa)
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National Family Farm Coali-
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tion; Nat’l. Latino Farmers &
Receiving station for cooled
to Agriculture Secretary Tom Adopt a Farm Family; Ameri-
Ranchers Trade Assn.; Nebraska
and frozen semen
Vilsack. can Goat Society; American
Sustainable Agriculture Society;
Instead, the 100 Grassfed Assn.; American In-
North Carolina Contract Poultry
groups recommend that USDA dian Horse Registry; American
Growers Assn.; Northeast Or-
expressly limit the use of the Policy Center; American Raw
ganic Farming Assn.--Conn.;
funds to pay the costs associated Milk Producers Pricing Assn.;
Northeast Organic Farming
with winding down the program, Arkansas Animal Producers
Assn.--Mass.; Northeast Or-
including formally withdrawing Assn.; Bluebonnet Equine
ganic Farming Assn.—New
all pending rulemaking initiated Human Society; California
Hampshire; Northeast Organic
by the agency to advance NAIS Farmers Union; Carolina Farm
Farming Assn.—New York;
and satisfying existing contrac- Stewardship Assn.; Cattlemen’s
Northeast Organic Farming
tual obligations. Texas Longhorn Registry; Chez
Assn. -- Vermont; Northeast Or- Standing at
“We urge this course Panisse; Citizens for Private
ganic Farming Assn. Interstate
Rainbow 1 for 2010
of action because, contrary to its Property Rights (Mo.); Colo-
Council; Northern Illinois Draft
• Peppy Sol Anson
stated purposes, NAIS will not rado Independent CattleGrow-
Horse and Mule Assn.; North-
address animal disease or food ers Assn.; Community Farm
ern New Mexico Stockman’s Dave, Susan or Nita Fuqua
• Red ID Surprise
safety problems,” the letter to Alliance (Ky.); Constitutional
Assn.; Northern Plains Resource
Congress states. “Instead, NAIS Alliance; The Cornucopia Insti-
Council (Mont.); Ohio Farmers
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Union; Oregon Livestock Pro-
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work burdens on family farm- Dakota Rural Action; Davis
ducers Assn.; Oregon Rural Ac-
ers and creates incentives for Mountain Trans Pecos Heritage
tion; Organic Consumers Assn.;
corporate-controlled confined Assn. (Texas); Edible Austin;
Organization for Competitive
animal feeding operations (CA- Edible San Marcos (Texas); Em-
Markets; Ozarks Property
FOs) and vertically integrated pire State Family Farm Alliance
Rights Congress (Mo.); Paso
systems. This ill-conceived and (N.Y.); Equus Survival Trust;
Fino Horse Assn.; Powder River
badly implemented program Fair Food Matters (Mich.);
Basin Resource Council (Wyo.);
should be halted.” Family Farm Defenders; Farm
Progressive Agriculture Orga-
The letter to Congress Aid; Farm and Ranch Freedom
nization (Pa.); Property Rights
outlined several reasons why the Alliance; Farm-to-Consumer
Congress; R-CALF USA; Re-
JMK Superwoman
program will not address animal Legal Defense Fund; Farmers
gional Farm and Food Project
• 2008 AQHA/PHBA Filly
disease or food safety problems Union of Adams County (N.D.);
(N.Y.); Rocky Mountain Farm-
• 2008 Go for the Gold
including: Food & Water Watch; Food for
er s Union; Secure Arkansas;
Futurity winner
• 2009 AQHA Grand
1. NAIS will not pre- Maine’s Future; Freedom 21;
Small Farmer’s Journal; Small
Champion
vent foodborne illnesses from Gun Owners of America; Idaho
Farms Conservancy; South
• 2009 Dixie National Class
e. coli or salmonella, because Rural Council; Independent
Dakota Stockgrowers Assn.;
winner
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continues through March 13,
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