CIRCLES AND LEG-YIELD
Now that he’s warmed up a little I can see that Smokey is tight and short through the neck and drawing back from the contact. Lateral work will help with this, and once he’s suppler and more confident, he’ll start to open up.
Move on to a small circle and leg-yield in and out, but don’t ask for too much. Small circles will help him to switch off and relax. Stay on one rein until he’s yielding to the flexion and bend, then change. Keep everything slow and measured.
Once your horse is relaxed, ask for leg-yield in trot, encouraging him to stretch if he will. If he draws back again, release your hand to soften him. Go as slowly as you can as this will make it easier to carry out the movement.
Moving up to canter, I can see immediately that Smokey is good on the right rein, but on the left rein he throws his head about and is spooky too. He’s unbalanced and falls in. Counter-canter is a key exercise to help with this.
Always start this exercise on your horse’s best rein.
If you’re in a large area, such as a field, ride the counter-canter anywhere and keep it easy by riding large circles.
The simplest way to get into the movement is to ride in canter onto a diagonal line, then quietly change the rein to put him into counter-canter. Keep the loop onto the new rein as big as you can to help him balance.
Once in counter-canter, control the movement with your outside hand, and give with the inside hand to help him achieve the correct bend. Use the outside rein to half-halt for balance and to prevent him from falling in.
Your leg pushes him into the contact. If your horse is spooky like Smokey, ignore him — he’s just using it as a disobedience.