Some of you may have read about my post uming and ahing about whether to enter a Prelim dressage test when we are still struggling to pick up our right canter lead. I have since decided, I will be entering a prelim test before the end of the year (maybe sooner!) Therefore, Scottie and I are going to canter boot camp.
Boot camp will start once we are both at Uni, settled in and back in the swing of our Uni lifestyle. I have found that when we are jumping, he tends to pick up the right canter lead more often. I will therefore try and do more jumping as 1) we enjoy it and 2) it will help strengthen this side of his body. I will also see if he picks up the correct leg on the lunge. If he does, it might suggest that it is a rider error or it might be worth asking for canter in a cross country seat.
Exercises I have stumbled across to try while riding:
~ turn his head to outside
~ look over my outside shoulder
~ more lateral work in walk and trot
~ ask on a 10m circle
~ close my eyes before asking
~ ask over a pole
~ ask out the saddle
I will keep you up to date with our progress!
Last Updated on 14/01/2022
Don’t think I’d be brave enough to ask with my eyes shut!! Haha looking forward to seeing your progress
I know its very odd! But one of my instructors made me do it a few months ago and it does help. When your eyes are shut you have to feel more… so you can use your aids better!
Looking forward to hearing how you get on 🙂