The Canter Transition

[@ananyasajitharidas1755]

I'm a Intermediate rider.. and I was having a lil trouble with canter. This video helped enormously! Thank yous sooo much!!!

[@dancing.with.adagio]

Once again, thanks so much for these videos!! I’m a first time owner working on producing my first dressage horse... evidently my coach can’t always be around but you have been a HUGE help!! I couldn’t figure out so many things about our canter, that you answered right here!!!

[@jeanmcclun2133]

The biggest ah ha moment for me was to slow down the trot before asking for the canter. Thanks so much!

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Glad it helped!

[@KimH11]

My horse breaks from canter to trot and I am now sure my outside leg isn’t staying slightly behind the girth !! Thanks for the wake up call

[@michelekanefsky7511]

Excellent vid! It really helped me to watch your cues & the timing of your cues in slow motion! One take away for me was to get that good trot going. I think I’ve watch this a million times, lol! Thank you 😊

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Glad it helped!

[@celiaallpress5010]

I found this video so detailed and helpful! I watched it over and over :) Thank you!

[@2002ambi]

Great that you explain so much and well! For the canter transition though I 'd like to mention 2 points:1) before a canter-transition a horse should first be flexed - or another word for it: positioned - in the lead the horse will canter,but this positioning needs to be released with the transition,while the outside rein Half-Halts into the transition. 2) even when the outside leg goes back,it is the "guarding-leg" while the inside leg together with the inside seat-bone initiates the canter - the reason: most horses anyway bring the haunches to the inside in the canter-transition - so if the outside-leg is dominant,they do this even more! - If you see real masters as WILLI SCHULTHEIS or RUDOLF ZEILINGER then they often only use the inside-seat-bone for the transition,specially from the walk,halt or the rein-back.

[@caitlinlanier5081]

Let me start by saying THANK YOU !!! You have been blessed with such a beautiful gift of riding and horsemanship ! On top of that gift your blessing those who seek the “ah ha” moments in their riding clarity and success ! Thank you again and keep it up. The challenge with the horse I’m riding (Clyde/TB mare “Blue”) Is that she listens more to inside leg and it’s driving me bonkers and on top of that she selective so there are times she listens to the “correct outside” leg and times she won’t. And mainly left lead. Your tip for making extra round and without me as well as bringing back to self carriage nice round trot if she brings to just break apart and run !! 😆 Thank you for you time reading this comment and again your time and effort in making these wonderful videos that have helped me tremendously! Blessings and happy Riding

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Glad to hear the videos are helpful! Just keep on working at it! It will get better!

[@lvpisias]

As usual, you did an excellent job explaining how to ride and train. I appreciate that you take the time to share your knowledge with all of us. Of course, my dream is to one day take lessons with you if we ever get back to CA... military life.

[@debbiejohnson4737]

Thank you Amelia. Your sharing of the timing for giving the canter depart aid from the trot is genius! Thank you for yr attention to these valuable details! I appreciate yr shoulder in videos but would live some timing tips there...do I ask for outside shoulder to move 1st, or start with aid from inside leg to outside rein, half halt then outside leg back and shoulder bends in? I'd so appreciate this.

[@danielepayen-jaekel8104]

Thanks Amelia, great video. I found your comments about putting more weight on the inside seat bone, and asking for the canter when the outside fore leg is on the ground, particularly useful for me. Thank you.

[@DonnaVarno]

Thank you for the clear teaching on this topic. It was so helpful for you to show exactly where the outside leg should be. My question is when you transition from the walk to the canter, you said to scoop up the horse to help him? Does that mean that you try to lift him up with your inside leg? Thank you again. I love your channel ❤

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Yes! Inside leg and a little seat.

[@luciemarinov9909]

Very helpful video on the canter . I've been afraid to canter on one of my energetic horses since my surgeries except with my coach but she is expensive and I cant have her more than weekly but I want to canter every day when I ride. Thank u so very much!

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Glad it was helpful!

[@teebrown3666]

You make it look so effortless 🤗. My horse is really falling in on her left shoulder so when we’re trying to do a left lead canter after a trot circle it’s a hot mess trying to push her out to the go into the canter 🥴

[@debbiejohnson4737]

Also, I'd asked for a video on the halt, but you already did some. Very helpful.

[@Mi55Jessica]

Thank you for this video, my young horse canters beautifully on the left and I feel I can put these tips into action to make it better. But he often struggles to pick up right lead on the right rein and gives me left lead canter. So a video on this or any tips would be fabulous please.

[@annjune4032]

Watching from Poland. Thanks for this video, its very helpful. Love your channel ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@hillbillylivestock4162]

Thank you , best canter explanation ever!

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Glad it was helpful!

[@brookelynnespegard2565]

Can you talk more about the half halt on the side that you’re asking. You mentioned it in the beginning I believe during your trot-canter transition picking up the left lead.

[@evelyneshun]

Thank you very much ... super helpful and well explained ... especially when you explain the 'moment' that the aid has to be applied ..which leads me to a flying change and he tecnhical explanation for that transition .. perhaps you could do that next as a follow up to this great video...

[@helenchoi8361]

could you do a video on the downward transition from canter to trot? my horse always either transitions into a very speedy trot or it takes a long time for me to get her into a trot.. or just downward transitions in general would be helpful too lol

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

I have one already!!

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/a6DclqeDqNeAgLc

[@helenchoi8361]

Amelia Newcomb Dressage oh thank you so much :)

[@yvonnekiwior9633]

Thank-you, so grateful for your videos🇨🇦🙏

[@marianagb9305]

thank you Amelia for those great tips!

[@lisamosley2482]

Do you slow down the trot before asking for the canter? And do you need to shorten up the reins to canter?

[@vroni75]

Hallo Amelia. Entschuldige bitte, dass ich auf deutsch schreibe, aber ich bin sehr schlecht in Englisch. Zum Glück verstehe ich einen Großteil, aber selber schreiben ist überhaupt nicht meins. 🙈 Ich finde dein Video gut. Meine Reitschüler lasse ich vor jedem Übergang in den Galopp erst einmal einen Übergang in den Schritt oder sogar zum Halten reiten. Sie sollen somit lernen, ihr Pferd vorher etwas aufzunehmen (zu parieren), damit dieses Last auf die Hinterhand aufnehmen kann. Nach zwei bis drei Übungen lasse ich sie dann angoloppieren. Dabei sollen sie das gleiche machen, nur dann die Galopphilfe geben, wenn das Pferd eigentlich in die nächst niedrigere Gangart fallen möchte. Somit gewährleiste ich, dass sie das Pferd vor ihre treibenden Hilfen bekommen und dieses dann geschlossen angaloppieren können. Bei jungen Pferden frage ich zudem vorher zwei- bis dreimal mit meinem Schenkel nach und finde so heraus, ob sie auch tatsächlich auf meine Hilfe reagieren würden, wenn ich dann den Impuls zum Galopp gebe. Ich hoffe du kannst mein Deutsch etwas verstehen. Mach weiter so.

[@Mara-fv8lg]

10:57 *and how exactly do you do that? I'm sorry my mare is like that ALL THE TIME and I don't know how to change that* 😥

[@lindacarter4726]

I can usually get a good trot to canter transition, but please do a video on the canter to trot. My horse either anticipates when I want the trot, and/or he lifts his head, or gets strung out. I want that lovely float into trot. How do I get that?

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Hey Linda! This video could help!! I know the feeling, that transition can get so sticky! kzbin.info/www/bejne/a6DclqeDqNeAgLc Thanks for watching!

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Also, if you’d like me to send more dressage tips into your email inbox every Wednesday, you can sign up to my mailing list www.ameliasdressageacademy.com/subscribe/ (If you’re already familiar with all this and have received this before, apology for the unnecessary message, I’m being super thorough today!) I’m also on FB and IG facebook.com/amelianewcombdressage & instagram.com/amelianewcombdressage/ Also, and this is super helpful too, join Amelia’s Dressage Club on Facebook, it’s a really active and engaged community of riders and no question goes unanswered! facebook.com/groups/ameliasdressageclub/ And finally, there’s my website (for when all the social media goes down again 🤣) www.amelianewcombdressage.com/ Ok that’s the lot I promise. Have an awesome day! 🐴

[@michellehovanek3441]

Excellent information and video!, Thank you

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@robinfisherdressage3076]

Excellent video! Thanks for sharing your experience with us. Any tips on getting the correct lead when your horse prefers to favor one? My mare always goes into right lead, even on a tight circle left. She's the queen of counter canter apparently! lol

[@evecory8946]

Hi Amelia, thank you again for a fabulous video! I was pleased to see a horse that anticipates and almost wants to take charge with the transition. My mare is very much like this and often what she will do is bunch up in the trot and as soon as I ask for a big trot she canters! She's very clever and often I find it hard to get a good cadence in the trot once we've cantered. Any advice would be great. Thank you! Eve and Ruby from the UK

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

If she canters when you want a big trot rider really forward in the canter to make it difficult, then yield her sideways until she trots again. The second she trots praise her. She's probably doing this because she is a little bit behind the leg...

[@evecory8946]

@@AmeliaNewcombDressage thank you very much! It's like riding 2 different horses with her. One minute she will be forward and responsive, the next she drops back behind the contact and bunches up into a shuffle. It's quite tricky to get consistency and rhythm.

[@KimHarrisRBV]

Hi...Thank you for all your videos...they are super helpful and really appreciated!! I do have a weird question....Have you ever heard of dressage riders asking for canter with the inside heel (legs in the exact same place, outside behind and inside at the girth) but instead of closing the outside leg to aid for canter...inside heel is used??? I was told this by one of my instructors. I grew up riding hunter/ jumper and always aided with outside leg...but wondering if this was common practice? Thank you for your time:)

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Hi Kim, When asking for the canter, your outside leg swings back as you put your inside leg on at the girth to ask for more energy. You might have to use your inside heel if your horse doesn't respond to a light aid from your inside leg. Your outside leg is just there for support and indicates which lead you want your horse to take. Hope that helps! Amelia

[@bronwynberman7401]

Isn’t the reason for giving the canter aid with the outside leg because the horse’s footfalls at canter are outside hind, diagonal pair, inside leading leg so to get the correct lead you control the outside hind leg.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Yes! For sure that and putting the outside leg back also helps to get the weight more on the inside seat bone.

[@ellaabarrelracing]

I love your videos even tho I don’t have a horse but I will soon! Thank you

[@belencentenera1288]

Thanks for the video Amelia you are so wonderful! When i ask for canter my horse does it but tends to go down and pull while doing it, how can i fix it? Thanks!

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Be proactive! Try to have him a bit more up before you ask!

[@cynthiajodis2337]

Such a struggle right now. I have an ex racehorse that has a beautiful round trot (finally), but the walk-canter transitions are super tough. EAsier to the left than the right, but all of my aids have to come together like the stars aligning so she picks up the canter and not just a big trot. Leaning back and a big exhale help.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Keep it up! You will get to the point that you learn the feeling before you ask for when the transition can happen!

[@cynthiajodis2337]

Thank you! I told my trainer that when the stars all align, it's the most beautiful thing in the world. Feels and looks great. Just not consistent yet. I also learned from your video yesterday about quieting down the other aids so she can hear my aids for the transition. If I'm still fussing with her to move forward off my leg, get softer and rounder, not fall in on the right shoulder so that I have to yield out to the left to stay on the circle...that's too much noise going on just seconds before the ask.

[@tlsyoutube8914]

My horse gets antsy and does this weird wringing up of her nose when I ask for a canter. She's young and a bit head strong, then gets all uptight when I ask for a transition up. Trying to work on lots of walk trot and getting her calm at those then going to work on the canter again. It does take lots of patience and practice. Thanks for the video, very helpful keeps me inspired.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Yes. You're on the right track. Just be pacient!

[@gracesmith4083]

this video was very helpful. I understand how to use my leg aids now, but as far as using my reins, do i need to pull on the inside rein also as i ask for the canter?

[@CDN_Bookmouse]

When I go to ask for the canter with my outside leg, I'm able to keep my heel down. But any time I go to kick or apply firm pressure when he doesn't pick it up, my heel pops up and I lose my stirrup. Does anyone have any tips for being able to use a strong outside leg without losing my stirrup? I instinctively seem to lift my heel up and backwards when I need more strength :S

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

When you lift your heel, your toe has to go down so that you can keep weight in the stirrup. You don't have to shorten and contract your leg to give a kick with it!!

[@CDN_Bookmouse]

@@AmeliaNewcombDressage I'll keep trying!

[@AG-sp9zt]

I have a very hard time sitting deep into the saddle. I feel as if no matter how relaxed I am, I can't sit super deep. Should I be sitting in the center of my legs, on my tailbone, etc? Keeping my heels down also seems go make me tense in the legs. How do I keep my heels down without becoming stiff?

[@Miss-Laine]

Super! Very informative. I can’t make my horses head to go down or lift her back. How can I do that, do you have any advice? Thx

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

It's a process! I actually have a course coming out soon about it. Keep an eye out for it. Until then, this might help kzbin.info9J1ufXAruR0?feature=share

[@siritariya152]

Thank you so much for such a great detailed video! 😊 May I ask a question..Do we put both legs in the positons (at & behind the girth) at the same time? Or is there an order? When I try to apply both at the same time I often end up loosing my balance and start to grip and leaning forward! 😣

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

You leg should already be in position before you ask. Then just apply pressure and if needed a little kick for the transition.

[@siritariya152]

Thank you so much. That makes sense. I will try this next time 😊❤️

[@kmiklaszewski]

I do you see a lot of riders( beginners or lower level riders) bend the knee to swing the lower leg with the heel back and up to give the outside leg aid rather than really moving the outside leg from the hip back to give the leg aid. Bending the knee to bring the lower leg back and the heel up doesn’t change the weight in the seat bones enough and I think it changes the leg position and the way the rider is using their leg too much in an incorrect way.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Good point! Thanks for pointing this out

[@oliviamae3281]

Its funny, even riders that weren't born in the saddle know the logistics of how the canter works, unfortunately for the majority of what you refer to as beginners or lower level riders don't always have schoolmaster horses to train on, they are possibly riding horses who don't easily go into canter or are having problems with the gait, that is both horse and rider. Perhaps it would be more helpful and less patronizing not to mention where people are at in their riding journey and just give the advice,. Thanks.

[@CDN_Bookmouse]

I didn't come here for these personal attacks, Kathy. XD

[@oliviamae3281]

@@CDN_Bookmouse kathy mik, kathy XD. 🤣🤣🤣

[@blanca2301]

I do that!!! Ohhhhhhhh, that explains my problem! Genius! Thanks for the clarification!

[@JirinaPirklova-fs5eb]

Thank you, the BEST video ❤! So helpful 🙏😘

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Glad it was helpful!

[@wengkeonglo4711]

This videos is very nice, but I have a big problem for me. I cannot get the right timing when I ask my horse canter from sitting trot. Because I don’t precisely feel the horse outside front leg stepping on grounds.Could you give some recommendation to me, thank Amelia.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

What is your biggest issue in the canter transition?

[@janemontgomery5821]

Keeping my horse round; as you addressed. Thanks! I'm working on my seat in the downward transition as well as teaching my horse to respond to the downward aid. I think that now I know to keep my outside leg behind the girth; I'll have an additional cue to help her know I want the trot. I need to work on my timing down to the trot because I tend to get left behind and then bump against her. Ugly and I'm sure uncomfortable for her. I think I'm not using my seat properly to ask for the transition. I also think you've done a video on this before and I need to go find it. lol And we are still trying to find rhythm in the trot and canter. Getting better as she gains strength over her back.

[@marilynwilkinson9595]

Any tips for the canter-walk downward transition? That's what I find hardest!

[@sylviawong2292]

For me it's lack of consistency in asking for the transition. When I have a good trot or walk and my timing is correct it's great. Jealous of those have muscle memory they don't have to think about it anymore.

[@falizianme5846]

I have a bad habit of tipping just slight forward! Drives me crazy! My horse still canters off, but it puts him a bit down hill! I have to really concentrate to keep my butt down !🙃 great video!

[@evecory8946]

Tension!

[@Carolek71]

Hi Amelia! How must we use the wip?

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

HI Carlos, have a look at this video it should help you! kzbin.info/www/bejne/h3fWqZ-Zrr2GjKM

[@joannpelliccio-lindgren2969]

I don't understand why you need to specify left or right canter?

[@lauradelorenzi4795]

I love youuuuuuuuuuuu!!! thanks for share!!!

[@laureradloff3804]

No half halt before asking for canter?

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Yes! That too!! So much to think about!!

[@luciemarinov9909]

She did say half halt in the canter video, but not in all of the canter videos!

[@Dylan-ez5qx]

I have a ottb only canters unless I throw my outside leg way back. Because he’s so hot in the transitions as well it sometimes throws off my balance and we get a bad transition. Any tips?

[@dianaimpossible7196]

Do I have to push the horse with my hips? My trainer say yass, but I don't see you doing that 🤔

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

No!! The legs are the driving aids. The hips are only to follow the motion of the horse!

[@dianaimpossible7196]

@@AmeliaNewcombDressage Thank you do much for answer ❤️❤️ I won't do that again 😂

[@jenniferjones3027]

Is this horse an Iberian of some type?