Use of Counter Bend, Part 1
16m
Lars Petersen helps this slightly tense pair warm up, and encourages the rider to ride him forward when he is looking at things rather than go for long and loose at this point. He asks them to do a little leg yield zig-zag to loosen him up behind the saddle. They move on to the canter, and when he throws his head Lars has the rider make herself a little heavier in the saddle rather than pulling, remembering to soften and become lighter when he responds correctly. They also ask for more of a collected, pirouette canter to get him to sit more and then move him forward. When they canter right Lars asks them to be a bit more even in the reins. He asks them to go back to the left canter and Lars points out that when the horse is asked to bend to the left he tosses his head, but in counter bend he ok. They work on finding the right amount of bend/counter-bend to keep him straight and soft.