Numpty Question about canter.

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Fiorano

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I'm sorry to admit this but I don't have a clear idea of the difference between medium canter and extended canter. Having been in the realms of Prelim for many years I am venturing into the world of Novice tests but all the ones I would like to have a go at have medium canter and I'm just not sure!

Could someone please enlighten me?
 
Haven't competed for yonks, so someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but at novice level I think that if you can show balanced lengthened strides then you'll do well enough. If you can show a clear difference between working canter and medium then have a go.

Medium canter is basically the pace between collected and extended canter. It should be big and round, with plenty of forward movement, and driven by very active hindlegs. Your horse should slightly lengthen his frame and come a bit in front of the vertical as he stretches into a longer stride.

Extended canter covers as much ground as possible - it is very dramatic to watch! It requires a great deal of balance and impulsion and is usually only seen in horses trained to the higer levels of dressage (though some will show natural extension when loose). Extended canter goes hand in hand with collected canter, because the more impulsion you can create the more dramatic the extension will be.

I suggest having a look on Youtube for examples of both - I can't post links because I'm on my lunch break at work :) There should also be a definition somewhere on the BD website.
 
i am not very experianced at dressage but i would think that in extended canter the horse covers more ground than medium, when the canter is more elevated, bigger and the impulsion lifts the horse upwards instead of pushing it along the ground, as in extended. Hope that doesnt sound too silly.
 
Working canter is the horse's natural pace - ie showing no collection or extension. A good quality working canter should be active and balanced. A medium canter shows some extension; the stride is longer and has more 'jump' and impulsion than working canter while retaining balance and rhythm.

Hope that helps!
 
Thanks for the replies. Think I need to get some 'eyes on the ground' to help me to feel when I am getting the different types of strides. Just a bit concerned about my mare running rather than doing the required strides. :)
 
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