By SUSAN H LOHMANN, “R”
As we head into Indoors and the equitation finals, it’s always interesting to contemplate how the judges will choose to test the very best riders who make it to the testing phase. What will draw the distinction between the Champion and the rest? The level of riding, along with the quality of horses, has continued to rise over the last decade, which makes it that much harder to differentiate between the top equitation riders who have led in points all year long, and whose names are well known. Judges have to strategically choose what they ask of these riders in a test, because they all have ability, talent, and determination to win. What can they ask riders to execute that’s equally a challenge and a demonstration of good riding?
In many testing phases of major equitation finals, the answer is a counter canter. Riders have been extensively asked to demonstrate the counter canter as a means to weed out a winner. Two counter canter jumps were required in the final testing phases of the Dover Saddlery/USEF Medal Final 2021 and 2023, the 2021 ASPCA Maclay Final, and in the 2024 WEC Equitation Cup. The WEF Equitation Championship has also required a counter canter in the test for the past couple of years, and in 2023, Carlee McCutcheon set herself apart by being the only one to land, and hold the counter lead–resulting in her winning the class.
But why is the counter canter the deciding testing factor in an equitation final?
Our equitation division is intended to prepare riders for competing successfully in the jumper ring. It’s designed to be a pipeline for going on to represent our nation at the FEI level. There are many equitation finalists who have gone on to do that; however, they didn’t win 1.50 m or higher classes by doing a counter canter.
In the equitation ring, when asked in a test, is the only time a rider would ever intentionally approach a jump in a counter canter. In a hunter class, doing so would merit a score of 55-60. In the jumpers, a counter cantering horse is likely unbalanced and will probably take down rails. So, why is it asked for in practically every final testing phase at the major equitation finals?
Counter canter has its value, and should be mastered by equitation riders on the flat and over fences as a demonstration of using aids correctly and balancing their horse. Since a rider would not qualify for the finals without demonstrating capability of it in some of the many qualifying classes, it therefore seems unnecessary to use it in the finals testing phase. It wasn’t not used in the 2023 Maclay final, and that resulted in arguably one of the more agreeable placings.
Difficult counter canter turns and jump approaches are really more of a test of the horse’s experience, training, athleticism at that particular task, and even just luck. The 2021 Maclay and the 2022 Medal both featured very tricky back-to-back counter canter, over two jumps in a row, which resulted in a significant change in the order. This sort of testing becomes disadvantageous for a rider on a slightly less experienced horse, or one that is just not quite as balanced at the counter canter. Final testing should be a rider test, as much as it possibly can.
Back in the 70s, there was an overemphasis on riders’ position in equitation over fences classes and some called the winners “posers” who were ineffective. The pendulum has swung too far. The equitation winners are now highly effective, able to control every stride of their horse over a difficult course, but their position and release are often not textbook. Judges tend to overlook this and let counter canter be a main deciding factor in the final test, as was true in the 2021 and 2023 final Medal tests, where the order was shaken as a result of the counter canter.
Maybe this will be the year where the effective rider with a sympathetic release and a lovely seat will rise to the top, with some creative testing that does not feature the counter canter.
