Flatwork / Dressage Advanced 25 min

Counter-Canter on a 20-Meter Circle

Focus: Balance, Collection, Straightness

Equipment: 4 cones or markers

Establish a balanced working canter on the true lead on a 20-meter circle.
Once balanced, ride out to the track and continue on the true lead past the short side.
As you reach the opposite 20-meter circle point, begin riding the circle in counter-canter (outside lead).
Maintain a very slight flexion to the lead — if on left lead, slight left flexion even though circling right.
Keep your lead-side leg at the girth and the other leg behind the girth, same as for true canter.
Ride 2-3 revolutions in counter-canter. If the horse tries to swap leads, half-halt and maintain your position.
Return to the original circle for true canter to reward balance. Walk and stretch.

Losing the lead as the horse swaps behind or does a flying change.
Over-bending the neck toward the lead instead of keeping the horse straight.
The canter becoming four-beat due to tension and loss of impulsion.
The rider gripping with the knees and locking the hip, blocking the canter motion.

Decrease the circle to 15 meters in counter-canter for advanced balance work.
Ride a full figure-eight maintaining the same lead throughout (true canter on one circle, counter on the other).
Add shallow loops in counter-canter along the long side.

Tip: Think of carrying a glass of water. In counter-canter, smoothness matters more than accuracy. Don't sacrifice quality for geometry.