The trot-canter transition is one of the most difficult transitions to master. The transition requires perfect preparation, balance, timing and feel to be executed seamlessly. Many of my students struggle with their horse coming above the bit, rushing, and getting tense in the canter transition. Here are some tips if you’re struggling with this transition:
1. Preparation is everything! Before asking for the canter, make sure that the horse is in front of the leg, on the bit, and correctly positioned away from the inside leg and into the outside rein with flexion to the inside. If the preparation is not correct, wait, don’t ask for the transition until it is.
2. Have the horse a little bit “extra round” before asking for the canter transition and prioritize keeping the horse round in the transition over making the transition happen the exact instant that you ask for it.
3. Make sure that the horse is correctly bending and off of the inside leg and into the outside rein before asking for the transition. If the horse gets tense and starts to anticipate the canter transition, change directions, mix things up and wait for the horse to relax before asking for the canter transition.
4. Make sure that you, the rider stay relaxed and breathing in the transition. If the horse is getting tense, it is like the rider is too!
