#18 Slow Corners
Appropriate gaits: Walk, Trot, Canter
Instructions:
Ride around the ring. Before the short side corner, down-shift to a lower gait (or halt for 3 seconds if walking). After turning onto the long side, transition up. If your arena is large, down-shift in each corner.
Repeat: 3 times around the ring per direction.
Focus: Start half-halting early so that you get an instant transition when you ask.
Focus: Forward down-transitions.
Focus: Forward up-transitions.
Tip: Some horses will get strong during this exercise or ignore your half-halts. Perform down transitions earlier, or even halt and change direction, if needed to reinforce your aids.
Good for: Forwardness, half-halts, responsiveness.