Cantering Squares Exercise

with Olivia MacCallum

Aim of this exercise

For the horse
- Improve check and rate of the cow horse at speed
- Horses learn to rate speed on the rider’s seat rather than on the hands
- Balance the canter and keep the hind end engaged
- Control foot placement at speed
- Broken at the poll with less weight on the rein
- Teaches the horse to understand pressure and release

For the rider
- Riders rely more on the seat than using hand pressure
- Helps cues become clear based on leg placement
- To feel for the correct time to pressure and release
- Using weight to manipulate the horse’s body into the correct positions and staying supple

Requirements

No set-up is required for this exercise; you can do it in an arena or just out in the paddock!

The Exercise

• Once the horse is warmed up, begin cantering on a circle. Make sure you’re maintaining a slow, controlled, collected canter by using your feet to lift the rib cage and giving a release every time the horse gives to the bridle. Remember to always reward the slightest change or smallest try. The more releases you give at the correct time, the more light the horse will become in your hands and the more correct your collection will be by lifting the ribcage.

• Begin riding in a straight line, tensing the seat, not the legs, to encourage more speed. When reaching the corner, soften the body and guide the horse to break in speed, ideally with no added pressure to the rein, just the horse listening to your body soften. This is called a “check.” It is almost as if a car is idling back gears, waiting for your next shift. 

• Once you are cantering at a slower speed, the next component comes into play. Pick up the outside shoulder with your outside rein and outside leg, maintaining a slight pressure on the inside rein to bring both shoulders at the same time. This is called “cornering” which is a great button to have on your horse when working a challenge/reining pattern, or when chasing cattle, as it can help you move efficiently to cover a peg or get you and your horse out of a dangerous situation.

• Once you have “cornered,” begin to tense your seat and add this speed in again. Repeat the same process of speed, soften, cheque and corner, as many times as you would like. You will find you and your horse beginning to form a rhythm. I find this a great trigger to make the horse think about you. It is a great schooling exercise, and you can use it even in warm-up rings to bring a worried horse’s mind back to you in pressured environments.

• Make sure to do an equal amount of squares in each direction so your horse stays even in suppleness on each side!

Liv’s tips:

• Reward the slightest change or smallest try

• Always stay slow, calm and controlled

• The lighter the hands, the softer the horse!

Olivia is 16 years old and makes her home in Walcha, New South Wales, where she assists in the daily training of horses alongside her family at MacCallum Performance. Competing in cutting and campdrafting, she has been lucky to learn from great competitors and coaches from many walks of life. She recently won the NCHA National Rookie of the Year title and has had great success in NCHA Aged Events. Through representing Australia as the cutting representative on the AQHA Youth World Cup Team, Olivia has expanded her knowledge and skills across a range of disciplines.