At the working canter, ride the long side. Divide it into thirds using letters as markers.
In the first third, collect the canter: shorter, more uphill strides.
In the second third, lengthen: bigger, more ground-covering strides without speeding up.
In the third third, collect again to prepare for the corner.
The transitions between collected and lengthened should be gradual, not sudden.
Repeat on both long sides and in both directions.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Speeding up instead of lengthening — the stride should get bigger, not faster.
The transitions being too abrupt, like hitting a gas pedal and brake.
Not enough difference between the collected and lengthened canter.
Losing straightness during the adjustability changes.
Variations & Progressions
Add a medium canter section between the collected and lengthened for three levels of adjustability.
Perform the exercise across the diagonal instead of the long side.
Count strides in each section to ensure you're hitting consistent targets.
Tip: Adjustability is the difference between a well-trained horse and a green one. The more range you have between shortest and longest stride, the more versatile your horse.
