United States Eventing Association

VIDEO: Counter Canter for Better Balance with Kristin Bachman

Five-star eventer Kristin Bachman taught a show jumping clinic earlier this month at Milestone Sport Horses in Lovettsville, Virginia where she instructed riders on how to use the counter canter to improve balance and rhythm. Bachman explained to participants how the use of outside leg to inside rein to create the counter canter helps balance the horse and improve his rhythm by “standing him up” off the outside leg, giving him a better jump over the fence. Within the exercise, Bachman asked participants to alternate jumping out of the counter canter and the true canter to demonstrate how the counter canter affects the horse's jump overall, even from the true canter.

Originally from the West Coast, Kristin Bachman first came to the East Coast with her superstar event horse Gryffindor and decided to stay. Along the way they competed at the Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI4* three times. Now based in Virginia, Kristin enjoys teaching riders of all levels and showing them how to be successful at any level.

Thank you to Milestone Sport Horses for hosting the clinic and thank you to Event Clinics for connecting riders and organizers by simplifying the registration and payment processes for equestrian activities.