Random Counter-Canter Question?

Question

if your horse is on the right lead but they are turning to the left it is considerend a counter-canter...so do you keep the right bend or do you do a left bend?

Answer 1

Counter canter denotes asking for and sustaining the opposite lead of the direction travelled.  I don't know if different organizations define their criteria differently, but the way I learned and performed it was to maintain the bend for the lead direction, while travelling in the opposite direction.  A united canter is expected...not disunity between the front and back leads as one poster described.

Answer 2

keep the right one...

Answer 3

Yes, that is considered counter canter if you did it on purpose - otherwise it's the wrong lead. Counter canter is often used as a strenghtening and balancing exercise especially in dressage and is called for in some dressage tests. You keep the bend that corresponds with the lead which is the right bend in your example.

(Sue M has confused counter canter with cross canter.)

Answer 4

no.  a counter canter is when the horse is cantering on the one lead in the front and the other lead in the back.

if your horse is on the right lead, why would you bend the other way?

Answer 5

you keep the right bend, because it keeps the horse in frame and balanced. a horse has to have very good balance and listen well to accomplish a correct counter canter.