Collected Canter (Now)

Fun, fun, fun.

Three weeks ago, my riding instructor decided to have us school the collected canter.

A little background on The Bean's canter...

Right Lead: Like sitting in a La-Z-Boy recliner with a glass of wine and a copy of Cosmo...awesome. Just sit there and enjoy...in fact, the more I try to "fix" whatever it is that I think needs fixing, the uglier it becomes. Drop to your seat and let it flow.

Left Lead: Not so much...picture riding a 2x4 right off the rack at The Home Depot and taking corners to the checkout at 90 degree angles.

Chester tends to drop his inside shoulder at the canter on the left lead...badly. Therefore, trying to get him to pick up said shoulder, round himself out, and go in a frame is like asking a 14 year old boy to clean his room...pointless and frustrating, and he won't listen anyway. But, I digress...

My goal this winter is to soften that left lead and get my spotted boy to pick up that shoulder. He can do it, and does, but inconsistently. I want his left lead to be as uncomplicated as his right lead.

Our indoor arena is on the small side, which, at first glance, may seem like no fun. However, by the end of the winter, our horses are supple and soft to ride. The smallish indoor arena is a blessing in diguise. We WILL get that shoulder up.

Anyway, when my trainer asked us to collect the canter a few weeks ago, we started with the right lead. I dropped to my seat, softened my hands, and rode that pony to a wicked collected canter. Chester's ears were flicked back in my direction and, although he was by no means loving it, he was compliant and attentive. Down to the walk, stop, turn on the haunches to the right. No biggie.

Canter left lead...Oh, Kayeeeee. Chester got the transition up and I sat deeply into my seat. Chester gradually slowed, but decided that only camels canter that slowly on their left lead, and proceeded to travel around the arena accordingly - head up, hollowed out, and bouncing my kidneys into a dialysis-laden nightmare.

I made several futile attempts to soften The Bean...all denied. My instructor watched quietly, with that smirk that tells me that she has the answer and is just waiting for me to figure it out. I hate that smirk.

"Ugh. My kidneys..." I groaned, as my horse pogo-sticked around the arena.

"Uh huh," was the response. So helpful. That's why I pay her the Big Bucks.

I gritted my teeth. I tried to will my horse to collect, get on the damn bit, and quit (forgive the pun) horsing around. I'll admit...I got pretty heavy handed (not my style). Nothin' doin'. Finally, the Great and Powerful Oz spoke..."So. How's that power struggle with his face workin' for ya?"

I didn't answer, but, I'll tell you now, not so friggin' great. Then it clicked. What worked on the right lead? Deep seat, SOFT hands, and loooooong legs. So, if it worked then, why not now?

So, I tried it. Deep seat, soft hands, long legs. I got an ear flick. OK. Deeper seat, softer hands, longer legs. And a deeeeeep breath.

Chester softened, rolled to the bit, and cantered...balanced and soft all the way around the arena. Huh.

So, what did my spotted horse teach me THIS week? If it works for you, work it. Subscribe to the KISS method and Keep It Simple Stupid. Keep asking for the right thing the right way and you'll get it.