Trot-to-Canter Transitions: a VERY good exercise
If there is one exercise you should always have in your toolbox, it is trot-to-canter transitions. I call this routine my Monday Morning Exercise because it is such an effective tune-up for the horse’s movement mechanics and posture. Asking the horse to alternate between trotting and cantering every 20 strides or so accomplishes a number of gains in how the horse uses his hindquarter muscles as I will explain below. First, let me answer a few questions students often have.
Since the purpose of these transitions is strictly gymnastic, we care more about fulfilling the exercise itself rather than performing them perfectly as if you were being judged at a show. Keep this in mind. Stay committed to performing the transitions back and forth from trot to canter and vice versa; don’t get hung up waiting to make each transition until you have your horse moving and looking perfectly in each gait. If you do this, you will miss the quickness and coordination challenges that deliver the conditioning results we are after.
Next, students often ask if they can do these transitions on a longe line rather than under saddle. For various reasons, this might be a good option for many of you and, yes, the exercise still has value when done this way. How many transitions you decide to do depends on factors such as age, fitness, and excitement levels but a general rule is to do at least 6 in each direction. For seasoned horses, I frequently ride 10 to 12 in each direction and I like to ride them in posting— not sitting— trot. This helps me stay looser and more in sync with the horse if he bobbles out of balance. Again, remember that the goal is not to make these transitions look like a dressage test, so no need to add pressure to the back muscles by sitting the trot.
Now let’s review the purpose of these transitions. During trot, the spine and muscles alongside it firm up to serve as a balancing rod for the diagonal movement of limbs. In canter, meanwhile, the back muscles fire powerfully and then release as the hind legs swing forward and energy rolls through the spine like a wave. Alternating between these two functions of the topline creates good activity in the back and gluteal muscles without rigidity or the tension that comes from holding a static position.
Additionally, the horse’s hip serves as a primary hinge point for the hind limb at trot whereas the sacrum is the primary movement joint at canter. Alternating between the two gaits therefore encourages a full activation of the hindquarters. In sum, we are able to activate all the muscles but without them bracing or over-tightening.
I cannot recall a time when riding trot-to-canter transitions that the quality of the horse’s gaits under me did not feel vastly improved. Sometimes, I have needed a coach to push me to ride more of these transitions, especially when they have been messy or unbalanced, but afterwards I am always grateful for that push. The Classical Dressage texts wrote about unlocking the horse’s loin with this exercise, and that is indeed the feeling the rider receives. It is as though the horse’s hind joints feel well lubricated and fully functioning and his muscles are newly flexible. So, how about riding a few today? Or perhaps join me next Monday for this Monday Morning Exercise?