Notes on Canter

In schooling the canter, keeping my outside leg back and inside leg long with a deep inside heel and bumping Jazzy with my inside leg into the outside rein then letting my inside leg be dynamic by keeping it soft yet deep and available, are the bending aids that create engagement.  Especially in the counter canter, I must use activating half halts, (not holding him up nor pulling) by establishing his balance so that he can raise his withers and shoulders at the same time bringing the hindlegs by keeping the deep position of my seat and legs cuddling the fat (round) part of Jazzy's belly.

The activating half halts, where I keep Jazzy tall in front and bring the hindlegs with my strong position and maintaining correct inside and outside leg position, allow Jazzy to travel in self carriage and be lighter in front so that he can maintain the counter canter, and so that he can collect again after the medium canter lines.

As I am using activating half halts, remember the outside rein should be filled (inside leg to outside leg) but I must test that the inside rein is carried and even softened from moment to moment, so I can give a strong re-balancing half halt, but then give again (especially the inside rein) constantly and immediately so there is nothing to frustrate Jazzy nor hold him.  Once he is in a taller, more self carrying position with active hindlegs, I can them supple him in the contact within this taller carriage.  A key element is to carry and soften the inside rein, while maintaining a strong position (even think sit back at this stage) and accessing the hindlegs with my deep seat and deep heel with my inside leg correctly at the girth and dynamic, and outside leg back to establish and maintain the inside leg to outside leg connection.

In this photo example, my inside heel should be deep which would allow it to be more correctly forward at the girth, and my overall position should "sit in to him" with a deeper, more adherent seat.  The outside rein can be filled, while the inside rein should be carried.  Shortening my reins a bit in this photo example would help too, allowing me to keep my elbows in front of my waist and my hands carried.