Asking Your Horse to Lengthen their Stride in the Canter, Part 2

So, now that we have a better understanding of what our horse actually does when he lengthens and of what we should be doing while it is happening, let’s look at setting the transition up. When starting out first, it is often easier to lengthen after you have asked for a few shorter strides first.

Using your half halt, begin rebalancing your horse in the canter. Think about moving with him and following him in the canter, but also about how you want him to lengthen. If he lengthens correctly, his hind quarters will come further underneath him, which will in turn, lighten his front end a little more. So rather than your horse becoming all strung out with a downward trajectory, think of your horse as an airplane, his bum is low his front is higher. Keep this in mind as you ask for the half halts and also as you ask him to lengthen.

Once your canter is established and your horse is listening to you, you can begin asking with your seat for a ‘longer’ movement each stride. Keep in mind that your seat and hands are connected, so it is important to also allow for this ‘stretching’ with your contact as well. This does not mean throwing the reins at your horse; consistent contact is essential. Also, continue to use your leg with each stride, to ensure that energy is constantly being created behind to continue to push or propel your horse forward.

Pay close attention to the tempo; rather than speed up, it should either remain consistent or actually slow down a little as your horse covers more ground – so has more time between each footfall – with the longer stride.

If the tempo speeds up, it usually signals that your horse has excess tension in his body and is rather doing his best ‘pony’ impression than actually reaching for more length with each passing stride.

Also when you initially begin to lengthen think of each stride as reaching further than the last. It takes quite a bit of development and strength on your horses part to lengthen his body while continuing to work forward with impulsion. So rather than just pushing him faster, build each stride a few inches longer than the last. As he becomes stronger and more responsive to your aids, you can ask for a longer stride from the start, but think of it as an initial ‘building blocks’.

You may find that your horse can ‘hold’ this lengthened stride for only a few strides initially before he begins to lose the forwardness of the movement. This is to be expected initially at this point, half halt again and begin to shorten the stride. Often a small circle ridden in working canter can help to rebalance your horse, but remember to maintain the straightness throughout both your bodies all the time.

Lengthening and shortening of his strides in canter is a great suppling exercise to work into your schooling sessions and will help you to keep your horse fresh, responsive and agile regardless of what your chosen discipline is.

Happy Riding and Happy Thanksgiving!!