Counter Canter What’s the Point

 Wrong lead reposition relaunch. Its the twostridesforward onestrideback process of learning leads for riders and their horses.  
Fast forward a year down the road to see the same rider who once dreaded hearing Wrong lead! from her coach now initiating the wrong lead on purpose. Why? Shes discovered the countercanter as an essential tool in building a solid training foundation for her horse.  
Whats the point of counter cantering? Here are five  
Rider education. In years of coaching Ive seen it over and over once a rider gets the hang of the countercanter a light bulb goes on. They graduate from elementary to high school in their grasp of leads and balance. You will too. Its a huge step toward developing that elusive horsemans term feel. Its the ability to distinguish one lead from another without looking an awareness for not only what feels right but what feels wrong. By mastering the countercanter youll become a whiz at controlling your horses hips and shoulders independently.

Horse education. Many horses are taught leads in relation to direction of travel routinely picking up the inside lead as they travel around the rail. Instead I want the horses I ride to know their leads in relation to the way I position their bodies. I should be able to strike off on either lead on a straight or curved line anywhere in the arenas geometry. The countercanter is a nifty balancing exercise the horse learns after a few sessions of awkwardness to develop straightness coordination and selfcarriage. Countercanter is a logical lowerstress step for your horse in his flying change education than defaulting to an abrupt change of direction to teach a lead change.
Preparation for the show ring. Countercanter is often asked for in a pattern or test.
Avoid score sheet penalties. Whatever your riding discipline a wrong lead is a big misstep. Under American Quarter Horse Association AQHA rules for instance merely one or two strides on the wrong lead will cost you a major fivepoint deduction in Horsemanship or Equitation. Another fivepoint penalty is assigned for noticeably looking down to check your lead. In Trail Western Riding and Ranch Riding classes even a hiccup onto the wrong lead is a threepoint penalty.
Warmup ring navigation. When my horse is balanced and confident whether on the inside or outside lead Im not depending on the direction of travel to practice cantering on my lead of choice