They go to canter to improve the horse forward energy. While lengthening the frame is easy for him, Steffen wants the rider to work on collecting the canter. They go slightly forward and back in the canter to get the horse to briefly go forward. The second the horse gets too strong in the lengthening, the horse should come back to help keep him from coming against the bit.
Up Next in Fourth Level
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Improving Suppleness and Sensitivity ...
They continue in the canter work. Steffen wants the rider to do travers in canter. It is difficult for the horse, so they go back and do the same movement in walk before trying again in canter. This exercise will also help improve the canter half pass.
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Improving Suppleness and Sensitivity ...
The last part of the ride focuses on trot work. Steffen wants a higher level of collection in the trot so they work on doing a few half-steps. They come back briefly to the walk, but Steffen wants the horse to quickly go back to the trot all while still staying supple in the bridle. They work sli...
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Fourth Level Warm-up
In the warm-up, Laura suggests doing long diagonal lines with bending, making sure the horse is off the inside leg. The horse should feel equally soft and supple going straight as on a curved line. It is important to establish that suppleness on both sides at the beginning of the ride.
