EXERCISE 1

Before attempting to ride a simple change, check that you can shorten your horse’s stride in canter. A good measurable way of doing this is to count the strides between two markers in your arena or schooling area, and then add in extra strides. For example, if you normally get 13 working canter strides along the long side of your arena between K and H, see if you can put 14, or even 15, strides into the same space.

1 To begin, once you have decided on the number of strides, the next step is to ask your horse to shorten his canter stride. To ask him to collect, ride forwards but into a slightly resisting hand, and perform a series of small half-halts with your outside rein.

2 During this transition, it’s really important that you keep your leg on. Think of your horse as a tube of toothpaste that is being squeezed from the bottom, not the middle.

You have to squeeze the energy to your hand and keep the lid on.

3 It also helps if you sit up a little at the same time and resist following the nod of the head with your hand. Your horse will learn these subtle adjustments and realise that this means he needs to take his weight behind more.