The Education of Toti
want to see. As a result, the rider sits on the outside of the lead (as usual in canter) and naturally overloads the inside of the turn, thus unbalancing their horse. The poor horse ends up doing a sort of counter-shoulder-in in the coun- ter-canter (turning right while cantering and bending left) but without any way for the left front to reach forward comfortably. This translates into an increasingly shorter canter stride and a very uptight horse. There is absolutely no gymnastic benefit to such a form of counter-canter for a young horse, unless he can easily perform renvers in canter (half-passes haunches out) and is ready to canter in any bend, regardless of his direction or position. All young horses have an asymmetrical reach of their
front legs and engagement of their hind. To eventually produce a full extended trot, every horse has to learn to extend each shoulder and engage each hind leg sepa- rately until their range of motion is not only maximal (and relaxed) but, more importantly, symmetrical. Toti is no exception to the rule and his left shoulder has less reach than the other while his balance is more uphill on the left than the right (resulting in less suppleness of the haunch on that side). The method that follows is the best way that I know to free up the shoulder of the canter lead, while improving the verticality of the horse from side to side. Symmetry of the range of motion is the key to an even cadence while a relaxed topline and the correct loading of all four legs is the guarantor of long term soundness. We need to think of a training progression for the
counter-canter that produces all its benefits and none of its inherent problems. When a horse canters on a given lead, he engages the inside leg more than the outside and advances the inside shoulder more than the other
SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT WIDE REIN CONTACT:
It is easier for a young horse to be guided by a wide “funnel of the reins,” while trained horses can be ridden with a narrow funnel (eventually with reins in one hand). To be effective, the wide rein leading the shoulders must act sideways and forward and the wide rein displacing the quarters must act sideways and slightly backward. The aids are much clearer and less restrictive with wider hands at this stage.
52 March/April 2016
one. That is a benefit of the gait. When a horse turns, he also has to advance the outside legs more than the inside ones, another gymnastic benefit, which is only achieved if his axis stays vertical throughout the turn (no leaning). In a counter-canter that goes forward unrestricted, the advance of the outside pair (the benefit we are seeking) is doubled: once because of the canter asymmetry and once because the leading legs are moving on the outside of the turn. This creates a great freedom of movement, but it is worth repeating that it only works if the horse is vertical from side to side (not falling in on the turn) and goes forward without restrictions (the hand is not acting backward to force an uncomfortable bend). This means that the horse’s weight is on the shoulder outside the turn (the leading leg) and his nose is turned inward enough to balance him. If the rider is loading the stirrup outside of the turn
with every stride and ride with her hands forward, it will greatly help the horse remain vertical, balance himself and gain amplitude in his stride. Therein lays all the benefit of the early counter-canter. Because this form of the exercise is the most natural way for the horse to perform, it can be used early in the training to improve the balance and qual- ity of the canter. Perfecting the verticality of the horse in all turns is a pursuit that goes on for the life of the horse.
The Steps of Progression Toti has a great facility for the flying changes due to his natural jump in the canter. This makes teaching him coun- ter-canter a little more difficult than to a more flat-gaited horse. This is not because of a lack of natural balance but rather because of the duration of his suspension phase. To be successful, we need to teach the counter-canter from
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RIGHT LEG YIELD IN TROT. Cedar is pushing Toti to his left with her right leg and right hand. Her seat has slid a little too far to the left, but her lowered left stirrup is the reflection of Toti’s correct bend (right side of the back higher). She is leading him left with her left hand. END OF RIGHT LEG YIELD IN TROT. Cedar and Toti are perfectly vertical and she is now containing his displacement to the left to start back on the diagonal and re-establish complete forward thrust after the lateral exercise. SHALLOW LOOP IN RIGHT CANTER. Cedar is using her weight to get Toti’s shoulder away from the wall while keeping him bent left.
Indoor photos by Kim Taylor
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