Counter-canter is a wonderful 'test' to see if you have a truly balanced horse. A horse leaning into turns like a motorcycle, heavy on his forehand, unbalanced, or un-engaged from behind will not be able to counter-canter; in order to canter on turns on the wrong lead, the horse must be light and balanced in himself.

If you click here you can actually watch a lesson on a horse who's beginning countercanter as a way to improve the canter. They work him long and low and forward, to get his back end engaged, and in the second half, ask for short half-loops of counter canter to get the shoulders up.

Last Edited By: JDKdressage Aug 13 09 9:57 AM. Edited 1 times.