Training


Connecting the canter


In the third part of her new series, grand prix dressage rider, Elder Klatzko, discusses ways to improve the different canters required at the lower levels of dressage.


Photos by Julia Nest Photography


Elder Klatzko and Dior


OUR MODELS Elder Klatzko


Elder is a grand prix dressage rider based near Bath in Somerset. She trains horses and riders from the lowest levels up to grand prix and her own trainers are top dressage riders Carl Hester and Trish Gardiner.


Dior VIII


Dior is a seven year old with unknown breeding, having been rescued as a rising three year old from a stud yard that had gone bankrupt. He is currently competing at medium level, but Elder says he has all the attributes to make a successful grand prix horse one day.


the movements become more challenging. When schooling, it’s all too easy to get stuck in a rut and simply incorporate a bit of walk, trot and canter into your sessions, but Elder advises riders to introduce some of the more challenging movements early on in their horse’s training.


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“Ride plenty of transitions between the paces and within the paces, such as working canter to medium canter and working canter to collected canter,” she recommends. “Practise giving and retaking the reins, perfect your circle sizes and when the canter feels more balanced, start to introduce some steps of counter-canter.”


Read on to discover what’s 18 DECEMBER 2019 | For advertising telephone 01380 734373


anter movements begin at prelim level and as you progress up the levels,


Dior has an impressive natural canter and finds it easy to stay balanced


required at what level and what the judges are looking for in the different canters. Then, take your horse into the arena and have a go at some of Elder’s canter exercises that are suitable for all levels.


What’s required when?


Prelim level – working canter, 15 and 20-metre canter circles.


Novice level – working and medium canter, 15 and 10-metre canter circles, give and retake the reins on a 20-metre circle, counter canter on a straight line.


Elementary level – collected, working, medium canter, 10, 15 and 20-metre circles, give and retake both reins, and just the inside rein, on a 20-metre circle, 5-8-metre loops, simple


changes, canter stretch on a 20-metre circle, counter canter on a straight line.


THE DIFFERENT CANTERS


Working canter


In working canter, which is the first canter you will ride, your horse should show a clear three-beat rhythm followed by a moment of suspension when all four legs are off the ground. He should be forward thinking but not running, be soft over the back and neck and show a good amount of ‘jump’. The canter should stay balanced with a good connection between horse and rider. In all the canters, the sequence is outside hind, inside hind and outside foreleg together, followed by the inside foreleg.


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