How to Introduce the Counter Canter

[@southernhorseman2006]

Best not to over school anything, but this holds especially true when introducing the counter canter. Seen too many people asking for too much too soon. I've found that once or twice a week is a plenty in the beginning, and not to ask for more until the horse is relaxed and balanced on both leads. With patient, counter canter is a great gymnastic exercise for any discipline. Once again... another really good video!

[@barbaramartin8861]

I love your fun and gentle instruction. You so remind me of my amazing, terrific trainer! Thank you for sharing your wisdom!

[@flavyn1]

I'm a hunter/jumper rider and I'm finding all these videos so helpful. Thank you!

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

You're so welcome!

[@ciupino3658]

Grazie per il tuo video ,mi è stato di grande aiuto. ❤

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Do you need help with your position? Check out my FREE Rider Position Mini Course: Rider Position Mini Course: www.ameliasdressageacademy.com/riderpositionminicourse/

[@gabby3047]

Thanks Amelia! Great tips on how to go back to transitions to get good canter and counter canter.

[@falizianme5846]

One is left and 2 are right! ! We're working on mastering this girl 2nd level... my Billie B is trying 2-1 on Saturday! Our first show together! 🐎❤️

[@sliyverinthesky]

thanks really informative

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Glad it was helpful!

[@klente2013]

That was amazing! TY! Love the note that when he was snowing at the end he was reacting and processing 😀

[@teresagonzalezbreton9714]

Great tips, I’m doing it tomorrow🎉

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Let me know it goes!

[@teresagonzalezbreton9714]

@@AmeliaNewcombDressage Couldn’t do it. I have an 11 year old PRE mare, no one had ever ride her, she so green I have to start from cero

[@teresagonzalezbreton9714]

Improving!👍🏼

[@nazilahejazi8009]

I had a lesson by a great trainer to reach this goal. We started with nice balanced circles as you mention here, then counter bend circle walk followed by trot then canter. Then we moved ahead with your exercise of going from corner to quarter line. Thank you so much for these amazing videos.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Glad you liked them! Please consider subscribing so that you get notified of new videos.

[@norabrown1535]

Thank you a lot of helpful information

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

My pleasure

[@pkchateau8654]

This was SO helpful. I was just trying these canter-from-quarter-line to center exercises last week and my horse was so sensitive she kept cross cantering when I tried to take her back to the rail. Your video helped me understand how to use my legs properly to keep her on the lead I want. Thank you!

[@suebenbow6860]

Beautiful

[@alirawling2393]

Great step by step instruction. Loved it!

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Glad it was helpful! Please consider subscribing for more!

[@samchen1159]

Thanks. Nice video for everyone and step by step to train horses.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

You're welcome! Please consider subscribing!

[@jilldavis7204]

Thanks. This is a really helpful video. I like to see how you handle the mistakes and work through them. My horse also struggles to the right.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Glad it was helpful! Please consider subscribing for more videos.

[@reginaangele1083]

Amelia .. thanks for your tips. I'll applicate tomorrow when working ln the counter canter. Love your videos 👍😁

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

So glad you enjoyed it! Please consider subscribing for more videos

[@gtorell]

Oh man! I was always getting good dressage tests as a kid, and I really miss it. I was at least in the 70s for second level when I was kid. Which is pretty good. Then I outgrew my mom's tack and horse, which is like, I get it. You can't ride my horse. But man, do I miss it. I just want to get on a horse, but also can't afford my own horse, so,.. that's a whole thing.

[@amieperryman7421]

I have a horse just beginning this exercise. She is balanced on the left lead. Right lead is still difficult. Doing just the easiest asking her to canter off the rail onto the quarter line and straight is the best we can manage right now. Small circle and a few transitions to help her rebalance before asking again. Hoping to do a 1st level test 3 soon!

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Best of luck!

[@HH-uq6ft]

Bringing my 6 yr old along, intro level 2 years ago, training last year and now first level 1 test 1 with a 70 and 62 under my belt and next week first level test 2! I've been working on all this stuff needed for first level test 3 and the counter canter video is helpful! Pretty sure I can get it done, maybe by fall. We'll see! Working in a very short arena is not easy, hardly any space to do a shallow serpentine.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

That is awesome! Thanks for sharing

[@katiepritchard9507]

@amelianewcombedressage Hi Amelia! I'm rapidly becoming a big fan and replacing doom scrolling with your videos! I recently went through your shoulder in and haunches in videos and they were GAME CHANGING. Bravo 👏 ! Do you have exercises like that or your stair case step ones for collecting and slowing the canter down? We do lots of transitions and walk to canter and now shouler fore properly at the canter thanks to you! Are there more exercises we can be doing like this counter canter video? Many many thanks and massive appreciation for taking time to do these videos and respond, I'm so impressed. Not to look a gift horse in the mouth here. Are there categorizes or playlists that you organize your videos in? There are so many videos of awesomeness but I'm struggling to find them on KZbin and I lothe to keep bothering you! This whole library is so neat you have really reinvigorated my interest in dressage ❤. Thank you, thank you.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

So happy to hear you are enjoying the content! It sounds like you are doing all the right things to start developing the collected canter. Keep doing a lot of forward and back (transitions!) even within the canter gait. Shorten the canter stride and then lengthen the canter stride. Forward and back. Here is a video that might help you: amelianewcombdressage.com/dressage-training/develop-the-canter-lengthening-medium-canter/ I don't have a ton of playlists, but if you go into my KZbin Channel profile you can see the ones I do have. Hope this helps and thank you for the suggestions - I will add filming a collected canter video to my list!

[@financiallylitwithmargaret5118]

Great video can’t wait to try these exercises. I’m a hunter rider do you have suggestions for horses that want to do a lead change?

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

great question! You can both make the loop shallower, and be sure to keep your legs and hips in the canter lead position that you want to keep.

[@paulgilbert9558]

That was excellent but looked so hard!

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Little bits at a time!

[@cherylarelis1542]

My horse struggles more in her right lead canter. Working on improving our canter serpentines, and more engagement right hind.

[@christinesims8199]

Yes, my horse struggles with counter canter moving on to the left lead.

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Hope this video helped!

[@capsandy]

sad that you have to add the disclaimer,

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Just the way it is in today's day and age! I don't want it to hold me back from sharing great dressage training.

[@ptowey5298]

I’ve had half halt explained before, would like to have your explanation how to do half halt. Thanks

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/b36TZIptgbtnZ7s

[@KathleenLeVasseur]

We are starting counter canter work for our 2nd level test 1. I am riding an older PSG school master and she is sensitive to my leg and seat. My instructor is explaining very well but I am moving a bit too much in the saddle and perhaps too much leg contact and the horse swaps leads. Any suggestions for me as the rider?

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Awesome! It can take practice to find the secret sweet spot. Here's a video of some things to think about for your canter seat: amelianewcombdressage.com/dressage-training/the-canter-seat-too-loose-too-tight-or-just-right/

[@amandaburnham.8817]

My horse is so stubborn cantering right he'll counter canter instead lol We're doing groundwork so we're on the basics of verbal commands to walk, trot, canter, halt, and turn. We've started doing more transitions with the new side reins, trying to lower his head.

[@cherylarelis1542]

My horse sometimes does that in the left renvers.

[@amandaburnham.8817]

@@cherylarelis1542 at least it's not just me! Lol Every time we start progressing we have to go back to the beginning 😮‍💨 not sure we'll ever even get to leg yields at this rate....

[@cherylarelis1542]

@@amandaburnham.8817 you'll get there, slow and steady🙂

[@amandaburnham.8817]

@@cherylarelis1542 🥰 thank you!

[@nezaspruk114]

Could you explain more on how to use the reins correctly in the counter canter 🙏

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

That's a great question! I'll answer that tonight in my LIVE

[@paolap.safford3790]

My struggle is keeping my horse from rising his head

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Check out my new program. It will help you with this: www.amelianewcombdressage.com/30-days-to-round/

[@terriwallace5188]

No barely cantering and now my trainer wants me to wait another month before I start cantering him regularly. She doesn't think he is strong enough! 17 years old and has had lameness issues so he hasn't been in training regularly. He really does need to be more consistant before cantering. Ho Hum!!!

[@AmeliaNewcombDressage]

Sometimes you have to go slow to go fast! Don't worry, you'll get there!