Novice dressage: canter across diagonal to corner letter

[soloequestrian]

Any advice on how to approach this movement? Do I treat it as a teardrop rather than straight across the diagonal? It seems an extreme angle if I just go towards the corner letter (or just before the letter) as I would in trot. My alternative to the teardrop at the moment is to transition to trot before the letter, which will presumably be penalised, the instruction being to trot on the letter.
Thanks in advance

 

[kassieg]

Is it not just asking you to change rein across long diagonal in canter rather than trot? I would guess you trot when you reach the track again rather than commencing counter canter?

 

[npage123]

Could you perhaps type out the movement before, during and after the crossing of the diagonal so we can have a clearer idea of the test and how it should be ridden?

 

[be positive]

Is it not just asking you to change rein across long diagonal in canter rather than trot? I would guess you trot when you reach the track again rather than commencing counter canter?

I usually try to do one or two strides of cc before asking for trot, so aim to hit the track a little earlier but only on a horse that is well established, on something less ready I ride across the diagonal and ask for the transition just before reaching the track, it loses a mark or two for being early but you can make it up by having a better trot around the corner and for the next movement, if they fall in a heap you lose anyway so it really depends on what your horse is able to cope with best, it is not an easy movement to ride well unless the horse is really well balanced and on the aids.

 

[kc100]

I've never seen a judge mark down for trotting just before you reach the track - obviously if you are miles from the track then that's another issue, but because they are not asking for cc then I'd say you are fine to trot just before the letter to avoid cc. Just ensure the transition is smooth, competitors I see doing this movement at my venue always collapse into trot after the canter across the diagonal so it makes it far more obvious when they are not particularly close to the letter.

I presume you are talking about the change of rein across the diagonal in canter, with the transition to trot at the opposite end of the diagonal - in which case they are looking for straightness predominantly when going down the diagonal, they are wanting to see the horse remaining in the same rhythm and not anticipating cc or even a change (depending on what you have been working on at home) and overall balance as you approach the track at the end of the diagonal with a clean balanced transition down into trot.

Dont overthink it too much, I'd just simply see it as a straight canter down the diagonal and trot just as you get back to the track before you'd take a stride of cc. As long as the transition is good and you are not miles away from the letter you're not going to be penalised.

 

[soloequestrian]

I usually try to do one or two strides of cc before asking for trot, so aim to hit the track a little earlier but only on a horse that is well established, on something less ready I ride across the diagonal and ask for the transition just before reaching the track, it loses a mark or two for being early but you can make it up by having a better trot around the corner and for the next movement, if they fall in a heap you lose anyway so it really depends on what your horse is able to cope with best, it is not an easy movement to ride well unless the horse is really well balanced and on the aids.

Yes, that's what it is asking but as you've said in your answer, the last few strides have to be counter canter to ride the movement accurately. I think I might just avoid the issue by transitioning early and take the marks hit! Thank you

 

[soloequestrian]

I've never seen a judge mark down for trotting just before you reach the track - obviously if you are miles from the track then that's another issue, but because they are not asking for cc then I'd say you are fine to trot just before the letter to avoid cc. Just ensure the transition is smooth, competitors I see doing this movement at my venue always collapse into trot after the canter across the diagonal so it makes it far more obvious when they are not particularly close to the letter.

I presume you are talking about the change of rein across the diagonal in canter, with the transition to trot at the opposite end of the diagonal - in which case they are looking for straightness predominantly when going down the diagonal, they are wanting to see the horse remaining in the same rhythm and not anticipating cc or even a change (depending on what you have been working on at home) and overall balance as you approach the track at the end of the diagonal with a clean balanced transition down into trot.

Dont overthink it too much, I'd just simply see it as a straight canter down the diagonal and trot just as you get back to the track before you'd take a stride of cc. As long as the transition is good and you are not miles away from the letter you're not going to be penalised.

Thank you- very helpful and reassuring!