Collecting the canter

[Furry_footed_TB]

Hi,

I have a naturally very long striding horse, who finds extension easy but struggles with collection.

I'm doing a novice test which asks for a 15m circle in canter back to the track, and I consistently overshoot the centre line.

Does anybody have any tips or exercises to help me shorten him and get him underneath me more?

Anything would be appreciated.

 

[Roxylola]

Walk canter walk transitions, and aim for a 12m circle, that way if you drift it's the right size.
Also try riding quarter pirouette type feels

 

[HufflyPuffly]

A 15m circle should go beyond the CL from the track?

 

[milliepops]

A 15m circle should go beyond the CL from the track?

this
have you made a mistake with your arena geometry OP?

riding a 15m canter circle should be achievable for most horses with an established canter without needing much in the way of collection, so it's going to be about planning your line and not letting him slip out through the shoulder I think.

in the longer term i would start to think about how much your horse understands half halts, and whether you can apply them in canter, as a starting point - my current project has a naturally quite long canter (ROR) and that's where I have started with him, just teaching him to wait for me momentarily and develop his balance in a shorter stride for a few seconds at a time.

 

[Furry_footed_TB]

this
have you made a mistake with your arena geometry OP?

riding a 15m canter circle should be achievable for most horses with an established canter without needing much in the way of collection, so it's going to be about planning your line and not letting him slip out through the shoulder I think.

in the longer term i would start to think about how much your horse understands half halts, and whether you can apply them in canter, as a starting point - my current project has a naturally quite long canter (ROR) and that's where I have started with him, just teaching him to wait for me momentarily and develop his balance in a shorter stride for a few seconds at a time.

Sounds like there may have been some discrepancies with my measurements!

Thanks everyone for your feedback. Still appreciate the collection tips though.

 

[Roxylola]

Is it a half 15 back to the track? I got those confused til I looked at a test with a diagram
I thought it was this
Actually it's this

 

[Furry_footed_TB]

Is it a half 15 back to the track? I got those confused til I looked at a test with a diagram
I thought it was this View attachment 51475
Actually it's this
View attachment 51476

That's really helpful - thank you.

 

[Roxylola]

Glad you could understand my rubbish drawings ?

 

[Littlebear]

It would probably be handy to watch a few on youtube to see where they place this, but 15mtrs you are going touch the 2nd 1/4 line not the cl.

 

[Cloball]

Unless you're riding in a 40 X 30 arena in which case you'd need to mark out the 20 m line

 

[JFTDWS]

Dressage: it's just maths on horseback...