March 26, 2015 
Jack Le Goff told us (5,974 times by actual count) that in order to have an adjustable canter that “allows” the rider to be able to instantly lengthen, be able to instantly shorten, or be able to stay in the same stride and frame, while coming to the jump, the canter must combine two “incompatible” qualities: balance and impulsion.
Too much impulsion, the horse will go forward just fine, but he will probably go forward and down, thus losing balance. Now you can lengthen his stride, but you can’t shorten it.
Too much “check, check” for balance, the horse is up and light, but you have snuffed out the impulsion. Now you can shorten, but you can’t lengthen.
So, neither impulsion nor balance should gain ascendancy over the other. The good jumping canter must contain an equal measure of both, and this takes plenty of skill from the rider, because most horses don’t bring the perfect mix to the table.
Some horses bring car loads of impulsion. They “seek” the jump, and you have to add balance through the half halt.
Others are “under-powered” and you first must create impulsion, and then balance the impulsion that you created. In some ways, these are harder to see a distance on, the la-di-da canterers, because you have a double job—first go, then whoa, repeat, repeat.
Union is a “crotch rocket”. He always brings impulsion, more than you want.
If you don’t understand the nuances of what Le Goff preached, the “incompatibility” of balance and impulsion, and the need for INSTANT AVAILABILITY of both in the SAME CANTER, ask your instructor to explain it, maybe get on your horse and show it to you.
Good riders over jumps can do this, can create the right mix.
Victor Dakin was another heat seeking missile, right out of the starting gate.
York “gave” me the almost perfect canter, forward but uphill and light. This is what they pay the big bucks to get.
King Oscar was a pretty good blend of balance and impulsion.
Axcel “wanted” the jump, but was easy to set up.
Speed Axcel, “locked and loaded”.
About the Author
Named “One of the 50 most influential horsemen of the Twentieth Century” by The Chronicle of the Horse, Denny Emerson was elected to the USEA Hall of Fame in 2005. He is the only rider to have ever won both a gold medal in eventing and a Tevis Buckle in endurance. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College and author of How Good Riders Get Good, and continues to ride and train from his Tamarack Hill Farm in Vermont and Southern Pines, NC.
