Masterclass Eventer Paul Tapner on developing the canter stride
The Australian event rider explains how to improve the horse’s ability to shorten and lengthen his canter using two poles
AIM
THIS exercise is great for both the horse and rider. For the jockey, it helps to develop the feel of a canter stride and the ability to influence the length of that stride.
For the horse, it teaches him to be aware of where his legs are, and improves his ability to shorten and lengthen his canter stride. As well as this, it enhances the quality of the canter through impulsion, straightness, balance and collection.
I use this exercise when training every rider on my yard, of all abilities and ages, and every horse on my yard. Even my own coach puts me through the exercise. The degree of expectation and achievement can be altered depending on the level of rider and horse.
THE EXERCISE
1 Place two poles about 60-72ft apart in the arena. Set the poles up in relation to the size of the arena, so you can turn the corner off the short side and get the horse straight in a good working canter before meeting the first pole. A younger horse is going to need more distance from the short side to the pole, to be able to turn and straighten up before the first pole. Set up the second pole a similar distance from the other end of the arena.
2 Now, canter along the short side, turn, get straight and aim for the centre of the first pole. Continue cantering down to the middle of the other pole, counting the number of strides your horse does. The next
‘It teaches the horse to be aware of where his legs are,
and improves his ability to shorten and lengthen’
time you canter through the poles, try to achieve the same number of strides, so if you did six the first time, try to achieve six again the second time.
Change direction regularly and repeat on the other rein.
3 Next, adjust the number of strides depending on your horse. With a forward-going horse, allow him to do five lengthened strides and, for a steadier horse, ask for seven shorter strides, so you are doing what the horse finds easiest first. When asking the steadier horse for more lengthened strides, put your leg on to coincide with the rhythm of the canter, in order to increase the size of the strides. So if you’re asking for five strides, use your leg gently on the horse’s sides for each of the five strides to indicate you want five lengthened movements. If you want seven short strides, do seven half-halts of the same severity.
4 Then ask the more forward horse for seven shorter strides by using seven half-halts. Do this twice in a row, then change direction and repeat. To increase the difficulty of both exercises further, alter the number of strides — for example, eight shortened strides or four lengthened strides. The maximum amount of flexibility I’ve ever achieved is four long strides and 10 short strides.