medium canter?

[abi]

What are judges looking for in medium canter?

also, how is best to get a good medium trot/canter? x

[maximum]

they are looking for a 'bigger' canter - the stride is longer than in working - the horse needs to be rounder and the canter has to be full of impulsion - not faster just bigger. the horse must be more engaged than in working canter.

Think of not going any faster but taking less strides to get there.

practice cantering in working canter and count how many strides you take between say - K and H along the long side ( or 2 cones if you are not in an arena) then to work towards medium you need to increase the length of the stride so you take less strides.

you need to get a nice forward working canter and when you have a good connection think of sitting and allowing the horse to take the canter forward - you are lengthning the horses frame and encouraging it to take larger strides.

Be aware that you dont want the horse to gallop off so dont just lean back and kick! also its very easy to get on the forehand so think 'up' into the medium not forward- keep the connection using seat,leg and hand and dont allow the horse to let all this energy out the front door. almost think of doing it as a tiny bit of shoulder in to keep the straightness.

this website is great - I use it lot and shows the biomechanics of the canter which might help.

nicholnl.wcp.muohio.edu/DingosBreakfastClub/BioMech/BioMechCanter3.html