Riding tear drop in dressage test

[Maz55]

Hi I'm looking for some advice. In a dressage test I'm doing in a few weeks I need to ride a half 15m circle at F and a tear drop shape across the diagonal back to the track and a couple of strides of counter canter on track. I can do this fine on right rein but really struggle on the left. I find that unless I really exaggerate my position and keep outside leg back my horse changes canter lead before I get to the track. But when I achieve it she always speeds up the canter across the diagonal and it gets messy! Any attempt to steady her is either ignored or knocks her off balance and results in a lead change. I do have tight hips and realise I'm part of the problem as unless I really concentrate on what I'm doing I occasionally don't get the correct lead on the left rein on the first attempt.

Any advice please?

 

[frankster]

Sounds jolly tricky - which test is this?

 

[Micropony]

I did a few novice tests on my last horse and had a similar issue. We had two problems: one of them was me - I hadn't done any counter canter before so was a bit all over the place, but possibly the bigger challenge was the fact that his basic canter was very big and, shall we say, not the most balanced.

To improve the canter in general, my trainer had me working on lots of transitions on a circle, lots of on and back, large and on a circle, and cantering 15m circles. All helped getting him a bit more connected together.

My new horse has a much more balanced canter that is much easier to sit on, and so is finding it easier. We're still in the early stages of counter canter, and we're using the same exercises as well as walk to canter/canter to walk and canter leg yield. He also seems to 'get it' more easily cantering shallow loops. I like that as I can start with really shallow loops and make them gradually a bit more pronounced as he becomes more confident with it. At the moment we are good with shallow loops in a 20x40 school, but if I am trying for a 15m half circle return to the track, I'm finding that much easier in a 20x60, as it just gives us a bit more room and a bit more time to get ourselves organised.

If you're struggling more generally with the left canter and the challenge is the basic quality of the pace, you might not be able to completely nail it in a couple of weeks. But what my trainer would say is that it's only one movement in the test, if you don't push yourself you'll never progress and to go for it! She would also suggest being really picky about the quality of the downward transition to trot after the movement, so you don't sacrifice the mark for the following movement as well.

If your feel your horse is really struggling to understand what's required, there's no shame in asking a pro to ride a few times so the mare really gets it established and makes it easier for you to get a nice feel and relax.

I am certainly no expert, and I expect there will be someone more experienced along in a minute with some better advice, but as you've had no replies yet I thought I would try and help!

 

[Maz55]

I did a few novice tests on my last horse and had a similar issue. We had two problems: one of them was me - I hadn't done any counter canter before so was a bit all over the place, but possibly the bigger challenge was the fact that his basic canter was very big and, shall we say, not the most balanced.

To improve the canter in general, my trainer had me working on lots of transitions on a circle, lots of on and back, large and on a circle, and cantering 15m circles. All helped getting him a bit more connected together.

My new horse has a much more balanced canter that is much easier to sit on, and so is finding it easier. We're still in the early stages of counter canter, and we're using the same exercises as well as walk to canter/canter to walk and canter leg yield. He also seems to 'get it' more easily cantering shallow loops. I like that as I can start with really shallow loops and make them gradually a bit more pronounced as he becomes more confident with it. At the moment we are good with shallow loops in a 20x40 school, but if I am trying for a 15m half circle return to the track, I'm finding that much easier in a 20x60, as it just gives us a bit more room and a bit more time to get ourselves organised.

If you're struggling more generally with the left canter and the challenge is the basic quality of the pace, you might not be able to completely nail it in a couple of weeks. But what my trainer would say is that it's only one movement in the test, if you don't push yourself you'll never progress and to go for it! She would also suggest being really picky about the quality of the downward transition to trot after the movement, so you don't sacrifice the mark for the following movement as well.

If your feel your horse is really struggling to understand what's required, there's no shame in asking a pro to ride a few times so the mare really gets it established and makes it easier for you to get a nice feel and relax.

I am certainly no expert, and I expect there will be someone more experienced along in a minute with some better advice, but as you've had no replies yet I thought I would try and help!

Thanks for your advice I'll certainly give it a try!!