Dressage Pointers: No Rush Counter-Canter Exercise (3)

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In this episode, Jamaica and I will show you an exercise pattern that will help you if your horse is getting a bit anxious and tries to rush through your aids in the counter-canter.
As I mentioned before, the key to setting yourself and your horse up for success is to think about the 4 steps to help your horse overcome anxious or anticipating behaviors:
1. Slow things down. In this case, keep the canter on the slow, collected side, and use the walk circles to keep your horse calm before going into the counter-canter parts of the exercise.
2. Break things down into smaller pieces. In this situation, show the horse in smaller increments that just a few steps of counter-canter are nothing to worry about.
3. Fix holes in your and your horse’s education. Go back to the easier preparatory practices - such as the shallow and single loops in the canter and walk lateral work - until both of you feel at ease with these exercises. Then come back to the more advanced pattern again.
4. Use distraction to overcome undesired behavioral patterns. Find exercises that are different from the way your horse may have been initially trained to distract her/him from her/his anxious reactivity. If the horse is anxious because she/he has been taught the flying changes prior to learning the counter-canter, use lateral movements such as the walk haunches-in to set her/him up for just a few steps of canter or counter-canter to help the horse overcome her/his nervous anticipation.
Make sure to have a look (and maybe take a screenshot) at the arena pattern graphics at the end of the video to visualize exactly what you’re aiming to ride and where you will need to be in order to set yourself and your horse up for success. Happy riding! :)
Horse: Jamaica: 20 year-old mare, Oldenburg/paint. Background: Formerly trained and ridden in three-day-eventing; Health: careful management of stiffness in right hind hock; tension and occasional discomfort in the back. Temperament: (0 being extremely calm/laid-back, 10 being highly excitable/hot): 7. Personality: Alpha mare; herd-bound, highly excitable and extremely attached to her companion horse; Training: Careful training under saddle as well as on the ground (longlining) to help Jamaica with her excitable reactivity and her tendency to try to run through the rider’s aids. Sweet spot: Loves to be in charge and take over, so the sweet spot, the time of the most relaxed, joyful engagement with the rider/handler will have to be carefully navigated so that all involved parties feel heard and seen. Jamaica has three lovely gaits which, despite some of her age-related issues, are being revived and restored beautifully.
Note: Viewers should consult a professional before adopting any of the training techniques shown in this video. Any activity you do with your horse is at your own risk and may produce varied results.
Useful links:
Have a look at these videos:
Dressage Pointers: Preparing For Counter Canter By Riding Shallow Loops Down The Long Side Of The Arena - • Dressage Pointers: Pre...
Dressage Pointers: Preparing For Counter-Canter By Riding A Single Loop In The Canter - • Dressage Pointers: Pre...
Dressage Pointers: Getting Started and Having Fun With Counter-Canter Exercise (1) - • Dressage Pointers: Get...
Dressage Pointers: No Stress Counter-Canter Exercise (2) - • Dressage Pointer: No S...
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California-based Dressage trainer, instructor, clinician and life coach, Katja Elk, provides gentle training solutions for riders and horses of all backgrounds.
“Over the course of my life, I have been fortunate enough to learn from many amazing human and equine teachers. In my videos, I share tips and pointers with people interested in expanding their knowledge about foundational Dressage and different types of groundwork. You will see me work with horses of various breeds, levels and backgrounds, highlighting parts of the journey we call work-in-progress with our equine partners. None of the shown clips are flawless, but they are honest attempts to show you ways to nurture a kind, joyful and productive relationship with your horses as you are exploring the finer points of Dressage and groundwork.”
Katja applies the concept of a friendly, trust-based, two-way communication system to riding Dressage, work-in-hand as well as groundwork such as halter-work, longeing/lungeing and longlining.
Additionally, Katja, a Martha Beck certified master life coach, works with people who are looking for relief from anxiety, depression and/or other challenges in their lives.
www.katjaelk.com
Music by Lesfm from Pixabay.