Ride Notes: Counter Canter

In the outdoor, footing was good enough for trotting, but not for cantering as I found out through trial and error slipping multiple times. Wanted to run through both 2-2 and 2-3, but didn't think we could practice the canter enough to do 2-2 for the first time ever. Tried 2-3 instead. Good through the walk, trot, and lateral work, and then the counter canter broke.

• Counter Canter: Have spent so much time lately on getting the canter super ultra mega collected so that the simple changes are flawless, that as soon as we turned off the rail he wanted to walk. Booted him through that so he tried flying changes and breaking to the trot. Counter canter was straight broke. 
• Went into the indoor and made him pick up the CC from the walk and hold it down the long sides and short sides until it was in his head he didn't break, and then was able to do a couple serpentines while holding the lead, but had to work really, really hard at them--not like where we started in them this summer. Stayed round and collected though, just need to re-find the balance and obedience. 
• Medium trot: Able to sit his attempts with ease now across the diagonal. Not sure if this is because they suck so much or because his back is up now or I'm getting stronger or some combination, but I can tell he's trying. Still wants to get a bit quick instead of big, but he understands what he's supposed to be doing now. Still needs a lot more strength and relaxed collection at the trot to make these pop I think.