September 2025 Issue

EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN September 2025 45 to being hauled pell-mell, chances are your horse has not achieved their ideal rhythm! Building on the Basics Once you feel like your horse is exhibiting confidence balancing themselves through the can- ter on the serpentine, you can progress to a smaller oval arena and work on the rail. Ask for the counter canter down the long sides of the ring first, transitioning through the walk as well as the trot. Just as with any canter work, you want to keep the horse between your aids. For in- stance, if you’re tracking to the eft, use a strong right leg to bring the horse through to the left rein. Clear, correct aids, applied appropriately, are the cornerstone to every gait and the counter can- ter is no exception. The most demanding exercise, and one that should not be attempted until you have achieved complete and simultaneous control of your horse’s forehand and haunches, is to counter canter on 20-meter circles. Unlike a straight track down the side of the ring, the circle will require the horse to shift more weight to its haunches. Every Horse Is Different There is no one answer to how soon, or how willingly, your horse will pick up the counter can- ter. Some of the smartest jumpers are particular- ly hard to correct – it’s been ingrained in them to switch leads at every diagonal, and like the old ad- age, they won’t “swap in midstream.” On the other hand, some are naturally well balanced and get the changes almost immediately. These talented athletes effortlessly flow from the normal canter to the counter canter or the flying change. Lucky you if you own one of them. Either way, the counter canter is not a one-step process, nor one that operates on autopilot. These exercises are a constant process of thinking about what you’re doing and “cleaning it up” as you go along. Cross cantering, swapping leads, or losing straightness are some of the ways a horse can chat; the counter canter, like the regular canter, requires riding every stride. Why the Counter Canter is Necessary All riders at one point or another talk about controlling both sides of their horse, and the counter canter does that, for every discipline and most situations. Whether you’re crossing the diagonal in a dressage ring, turning on a cross country course after a few “galloping jumps,” or following a show jumping course, it’s important to be able to turn correctly. The balance and control established through counter canter exercises will make that objective easier for both you and your horse. Additionally, anyone who has ever experienced muscular pain or cramping from prolonged use of one limb or side of the body knows the degree of fa- tigue that can set in. A horse who works equally well on either lead is also a horse less prone to experience disproportionate stress (and places less stress on your wallet over veterinary expenses). It all comes back to ambidexterity – showing an equal facility for working from the right or left might be all it takes to give your performance that competitive edge. After all, your horse is an athlete, just like Mickey Mantle. It’s up to you to decide whether they stay on the bench in the minor leagues, or take you over the plate for a home run. (Continued from page 9) Bend into the left lead courtesy of LA Berry J. Michael Plumb courtesy of LA Berry At the Fleet Jumper Classic in Hamilton, MA courtesy of LA Berry Training with Mike Plumb