Training Tip Tuesday - Trot-Canter transitions and walk-canter transitions

I remember riding in a clinic with Anne Gribbons probably 6 or 7 years ago and she was very clear that the trot-canter and canter-trot transitions were very important- saying even that when she tried horses it was one of the most important things she used to determine the horses training. I figured I would also speak on the walk-canter and canter-walk in this training tip as I think both are extremely vital to ensure the horses are truly quick and honest on the aids. Additionally, the transitions exist in all levels from intro to Grand Prix so even from a competitive consideration these are important to master. 
First and foremost, like with anything in dressage, it is essential to start with a quality gait. So, whether you are doing the transition from the walk or trot you want the horse moving freely forward- meaning you are not having to push every stride. From there is the horse reactive to a half-halt? You don't want the half halt to interrupt the flow of energy, instead you want the half halt to make the horse wait for your next aid. It is also important the horse is on the bit- meaning he/she is not resistant to the to the rein contact. Make sure you do have contact- that the rein is not slacking so the horse can adequately step to the bit. To do this you have to make sure your elbows are elastic. From there you want the horse bent around your inside leg and stepping to the outside rein without drifting. Then you can put the canter aid on- for me I use a outside leg back, inside leg at the girth and relax the aid once the horse is in the canter. Another pivotal piece is that you visualize the "airplane taking off" and really commit to the canter in your mind. 
When you go to make the downward transition, you still want to think the horse is moving forward- up and in front of you. Then I like to feel a little sitting on my pockets- visualize the horse taking more weight on the hindleg because of that and then settling into the trot. For the downward to the walk, I do the same thing but close more leg on both sides on the horse and close the outside rein a bit. I want the horse to think the stride keeps energy but jumps more up and down on the ground. Once I don't feel resistance to this aid/ when the horse softens to that "jump" then I will settle them to the walk. 
Common issues in these transitions:
I ask for the canter and my horse just runs off his feet, why is this?
This is likely because the horse is unclear on the forward driving aids. I would work quicker transitions in and out of the trot until the horse requires little leg to go. From there I would ensure I had adequate control of bend and ride a spiral in, spiral out on the circle. Once on the spiral out I would put the canter aid on. If the horse does not canter immediately, I would stick to it even if the transition is messy just to allow the horse to understand what I want. Once in the canter I would ride forward. Then I would once again repeat. 

My horse throws his head when going into the canter, why is this?
Often this is because of resistance to the rider's hand or seat in the transition. Firstly, you must make sure your elbows are elastic when riding this transition. Then you want to ride the horse from your legs, with a driving seat (on your pockets-airplane taking off) into the hand and then into the transitions. Most often this happens either if the horse has too much instability from the rider or the horse is struggling to get into the canter without throwing itself to it. It's important as a rider you help the horse push from the hind leg to the canter. 

My horse trots into the walk in the simple changes, how do I fix this?
Most often this either happens when the horse is first learning the canter to walk transition or if the horse has forehand balance into the downward transition. I like to use a 10m canter circle when teaching these transitions and I collect the canter and make my downward transition about 3 strides before the wall- this allows me to not have to use my hands to hold the horse so much into this transition. If the horse feels like he requires more hand to make this transition it is important that the rider uses more leg instead- if the horse runs from the leg aid then you know the problem. The leg aid is to add hindleg engagement- this is a vital step that the horse understands to teach the jump in the canter. Similarly, though, you can't have to kick every stride in the canter to keep it going. Once the horse is honest on the leg aid you want to ask for a shoulder fore positioning - stepping up to the outside rein, feel the jump without too much tension in the rein, and set into the walk. 

Watch some examples here

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