How to Train Collected Canter: Episode 15 | Setbacks & Solutions with Mik

RSVP for the Webinar: https://amelianewcombdressage.com/fre... Free Canter with Confidence PDF Mini-Course: https://bit.ly/4cWNfzg Free Flying Changes Webinar: https://bit.ly/3zF81F6 Free Training Scale PDF Guide: https://amelianewcombdressage.com/pla... #dressagehorse #canter #horsetraining Welcome back to Setbacks & Solutions with Mik! This episode feels like a full circle moment. If you've been following Mik's journey from the beginning, you'll remember just how big, powerful, and unbalanced his canter used to feel. And how much I struggled for months and months with the flying changes! Fast forward to today (a year and change later), and things are starting to come together. Mik is beginning to sit behind, we're working on pirouettes, and we've even ridden our first line of four tempi changes. It didn't happen overnight. It came from patiently building the right foundation, one ride at a time. Training is hard, and thinking back, I remember wondering if I would ever be able to teach Mik the flying changes. If you're feeling stuck, or like you're not making progress, don't give up. Stay patient, stay consistent, and you will get there with your horse! Collection is one of those concepts that can feel confusing because so many riders think it means slowing the horse down or pulling them together. In reality, collection is all about balance. It's about teaching your horse to carry more weight on the hindquarters while staying active, relaxed, and in rhythm. In this episode, I break down exactly how I teach collection and the five steps that helped transform Mik's canter. So in this episode, we're diving into: What collection really means - Why collection is about rebalancing, not slowing your horse down or pulling on the reins. Keeping the canter active - How "shorter and quicker" creates true collection while preserving rhythm. Rider position matters - The simple position change that helped Mik rebalance onto his hindquarters. The power of transitions - Why thousands of transitions, especially walk to canter, built the strength Mik needed. Straightness before collection - How keeping the hind legs aligned creates the balance needed for advanced work. Half halts with perfect timing - When to apply the half halt so your horse rebalances instead of falling onto the forehand. Building strength over time - Why collection is a long-term process and how every ride contributes to the bigger picture. One of the biggest lessons Mik has taught me is that there aren't any shortcuts. Every pirouette, every flying change, and every moment of collection is built on hundreds of rides spent improving the basics. It's also a reminder that the Training Scale really works. Rhythm, suppleness, connection, impulsion, and straightness all come before collection for a reason. When you patiently improve each layer, the advanced movements start to feel much more natural. Whether you're riding Training Level or working toward Grand Prix, the process is exactly the same. Focus on helping your horse become stronger, more balanced, and more confident, and the collection will continue to develop over time. Happy Riding! Amelia 0:00 Intro, Recapping Mik's Journey 0:59 What is Collection? 2:28 Forward for Collection 3:00 Rider Position for Collection 4:22 Transitions for Collection 7:48 Straightness for Collection 9:14 Half-Halts for Collection 10:45 Final Tips for Collection