The Education of Toti
to be convinced that he can bend both ways when cantering on each lead. This is done in right canter with a little opening rein on the left and the weight on the right stirrup and vice versa. It will give him flexibility and afford Cedar some control of his weight distribution, making it easier to keep his weight on the outside shoulder when asked in his first counter-canter. Cantering down the side on the right lead in the right
direction, she brings his nose to the left while encourag- ing him to keep it down, so his right shoulder goes right, opening that way without falling to the right. If his head was up and left, he would lose his balance. It is useful to load the right stirrup away from his shoulder to help him understand the balance we want him to take and prevent any change of lead in front. This small counter-shoulder- in effect opens his shoulder both sideways and forward. When he masters that position in a fluid canter on the straight line without wanting to change lead, we ask him to do the same progressively around the corners (without going too deep). Toti must become comfortable in that work in all four corners and be able to return to the bend of the turn before Cedar attempts the next phase. After a corner, Cedar continues in the turn to go away
from the wall by three or four feet (that is enough the first time) at the beginning of the long side. She then returns to the wall at a smooth angle, asking Toti to follow the leading left rein. Toti is now describing a very shallow loop in canter. The rider’s right leg acting forward (stirrup loaded) is the dominant aid acting to now push the right shoulder forward (NOT sideways left against the horse, just nudging it from back to front and slightly left to extend its stride toward the wall). This loop must become progressively bigger with a smooth curve, but never setting Toti up to fail by using too sharp a turn (which will make him change leads). When Toti is comfortable with loops going from the K corner to X and back to the H corner, he is ready to
attempt a full counter-canter turn. As Cedar felt confident that she could influence Toti’s lateral balance easily and that he was no longer thinking of changing leads, she took a smooth turn down the centerline at A, aiming for B, on the right lead and then immediately secure a slight left bend in a left leg yield. Once she reached B, she started a very wide half-circle (avoiding to go deep in the corners). When reaching E after a half circle, she aimed toward A and turned right while changing the bend that way, letting Toti stretch down and rewarding him profusely for this big (mental) effort of sustained focus. The physical part was in fact not that difficult for him. Because horses are usually more loaded on the right shoulder, the right counter-canter is usually the best side to start on. Toti’s right counter-canter (turning left) is more upright than the other way, as the pictures will reveal.
Developing the Response to the Aids By now Toti understands the mechanics of counter- canter and he has done a few easy loops and figure eights, mostly taken forward by his own momentum. It is time to be sure Cedar can achieve counter-canter when- ever and wherever she wants it. When Cedar taught Toti his first canter departs from
trot, they were all asked on the inside lead, as he knew how to do it on the lunge line, making it easier for him to understand the signals. Now he has to respond correctly and obediently to the action of the leg, even if the movement requested is counter-intuitive to him. Horses are very attached to their habits—above all else—and dressage consists in developing habits, but also in being able to change them instantly as needed. For this purpose, Cedar asked Toti for some departs from trot into counter-canter by using the same loop exer- cise he already knows: take a very shallow diagonal at the beginning of the long side and when he is five or six
7
8
9
RIGHT COUNTER CANTER. Uphill to horizontal phase (rider still slightly forward) of the stride showing great extension of the right front and excellent verticality of the horse (left to right). Left leg supports the horse, right hand is forward, and topline is round and down to facilitate the use of the back. TRUE CANTER LEFT AFTER THE COUNTER-CANTER. Toti is in the horizontal phase of the stride (Cedar is vertical), showing the improvement of his reach in complete self-carriage. TRUE CANTER RIGHT AFTER THE COUNTER-CANTER. Toti is slightly more on the forehand than on the other rein at the same moment of the stride (Cedar is leaning back a little), but the amplitude of the stride is the same as in the left canter.
54 March/April 2016
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100