Groundwork
Intermediate
30 min
Canter Work on the Lunge at the Canter
Focus: Fitness, Balance, Lead Control
Equipment: Lunge line, Lunge whip
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Warm up at the canter and canter for 5-7 minutes on each rein.
- To ask for canter, use a sharp voice command ('canter!') and flick the whip toward the haunches with more energy.
- The horse should pick up the correct lead (inside lead for the direction of the circle).
- Allow 2-3 minutes of canter in each direction. The circle should remain consistent in size.
- Transition back to canter with a calming voice ('canter') and a gentle check on the lunge line.
- If the horse picks up the wrong lead, bring back to canter and try again with clearer aids.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- The horse picking up the wrong lead because the handler's body position isn't clear.
- The circle becoming very small at the canter because the horse is unbalanced.
- Not enough warm-up before canter work, risking strain.
- Cantering for too long on the lunge, which is very stressful on the inside legs.
Variations & Progressions
- Add canter-trot-canter transitions on the lunge.
- Place a single ground pole on the circle to canter over.
- Work toward lengthening and shortening the canter stride on the lunge line.
Tip: Limit canter work on the lunge to 3-4 minutes per direction maximum. The constant curve stresses the inside joints.
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