Improving counter canter?

[Lucyann89]

I have never really tried or even thought about doing counter canter on my horse, until today. I have done it on other horses whilst having lessons etc. and seen many people do it but when I tried today I had great problems!!

Basically, I did a semi-circle a at one corner of the school, then did a 'tear-drop' shape reurn to the wall in counter canter, or leg-yielded over. The problem was that as soon as he got on a straight-line, or to the wall, he did a flying change, without me asking. I also did it so that we weren't by a wall but as soon as we got straight he changed legs.

Any help please..?

 

[carthorse]

Do shallow loops down the long side first, do not think of it as leg yielding or your horse will be crooked.Then start to go from quarter marker to centre line down centre line and turn to correct leading leg side , so the only time you are in counter canter is as you turn on centre line .Once you have mastered those then you can do a diagonal but aim for B or E and just do a few steps before trotting .Always keep the bend over the leading leg and make sure you keep your position ie. hip on leading leg side forward

 

[baloo]

I hope this helps. Keep the horse as straight as possible so NO leg yielding or half pass. A tear drop is good but make the loop as big as the school will permit and return to the track as near to E or B as you can so you get as much of the long side as you can. Do a few steps and then trot building up to more and more steps and once you get to the corners be as shallow as possible. The most important thing of all is do not move your leg position a mm as if your horse has learnt changes he will be looking for this as his aid to do it.