our first attempt at a simple change :)

[amandaco]

i always allow a stride of trot when trying to do them for the first few times as i find they 'nose dive' otherwise :) was pleased with her.
YouTube- (2)20100614-074530.mpg

[Teej]

Wow ! That looks very good and well controlled :)

[gem]

Very nice! Do you find they twig quicker if you do it on 2 half circles rather than across the diagonal? I'm getting very close with Saf but she does sometimes fall back onto the forehand if I ask in the corner of a diagonal.

[amandaco]

its much easier to keep them balanced and off the forehand if you do the downward trans at least from a 10m circle as they are naturally more collected to start with and have the inside hind beneath them.

whereas on the diagnal its very easy for the canter to get over-long and away from you- especially at the end of a diagnal.

i always ride a few 10m circles or half 10m circles and then down the C-line first to keep them thinking forward and check they are balanced on the smaller circle.
then just get the canter bouncing and just ask for the walk (i allow a stride or 2 of trot whilst they are learning so they dont tense and loose balance- its permissable to show a progressive downward trans in an elem test anway)

also it helps to practice cantering on a 10m circle spiralled in and out to 20m and then ask for trot then halt a few times- then ask for the canter to walk once they are really light in the mouth and listening to your seat with the trot to halts.