Get Enrolled for as little as €75/month!

2024 ENROLLMENT OPEN UNTIL Friday, August 2, 2024!!!

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The 2024 Total Canter Transformation Training Program begins on August 2, 2024.

Get the canter you actually WANT to ride...

GET THE CANTER
OF YOUR DREAMS
(the good dreams, not those awkward walking through the halls of your high school naked kind of dreams)
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I know how frustrating and overwhelming it can be

to want to change something in your horse's canter but not know how to do it..

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WE HAVE ALL HEARD IT BEFORE...

“It’s all about the canter, my dear.”

You know how trainers are commonly quoted as saying things like (insert big name trainer voice here), "There IS no FEI for this horse if there is no canter," or “It was so sad, the horse simply had no canter,” or “You can train the trot, but you need to BUY the canter.”

But what if you can't just go out and BUY a new horse with the coveted ideal canter?

What if you don't WANT a different horse; you want to help your horse be the best he can be?

(Isn't that the point of Dressage, anyway?)

 
ignored and begging for attention
YOUR CANTER WORK NEEDS HELP.

It has been ignored for too long.

It is calling out to you. not only calling. It is "hanging itself out the stable window, twisting its nose into funny shapes and salivating slightly embarrassingly" begging you for attention. But at the same time, you're avoiding it because you have no clue how to fix it. Maybe it scares you. It certainly maybe frustrates you. (And perhaps this makes you slump into a wimpering ball of mortified misery. "It shouldn't be this way, right?!? This is supposed to be FUN... right?!?!")

overwhelmingly frustrating
IT FEELS LIKE THERE IS NOT ENOUGH MONEY OR TIME

in the world ...

to take all the lessons and training it will take get you and your horse from HERE to THERE. It feels insurmountable and crushingly overwhelming. Where do you even start? And how? (and it feels like surely no rider has ever had to deal with this set of problems EVER. I mean, everyone else seems to have an easier time of it. "Why can't that be ME?")

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PERHAPS YOU EVEN FEEL LIKE TIME IS RUNNING OUT

and you'll hobbling to the barn in a walker before you make it up the levels.

I know how it can feel as you watch the weeks, months, and years roll by while you're fumbling with the same canter problems, over and over again. It can feel like, at this rate, you are NEVER going to get "there". ("I should just take up something like Origami instead.")

YOUR CANTER WORK  NEEDS HELP.

It has been ignored for too long.

It is calling out to you. not only calling. It is "hanging itself out the stable window, twisting its nose into funny shapes and salivating slightly embarrassingly" begging you for attention. But at the same time, you're avoiding it because you have no clue how to fix it. Maybe it scares you. It certainly maybe frustrates you. (And perhaps this makes you slump into a wimpering ball of mortified misery. "It shouldn't be this way, right?!? This is supposed to be FUN... right?!?!")

 

IT FEELS LIKE THERE IS NOT ENOUGH MONEY OR TIME

in the world ...

to take all the lessons and training it will take get you and your horse from HERE to THERE. It feels insurmountable and crushingly overwhelming. Where do you even start? And how? (and it feels like surely no rider has ever had to deal with this set of problems EVER. I mean, everyone else seems to have an easier time of it. "Why can't that be ME?")

 

PERHAPS YOU EVEN FEEL LIKE TIME IS RUNNING OUT

and you'll hobbling to the barn in a walker before you make it up the levels.

I know how it can feel as you watch the weeks, months, and years roll by while you're fumbling with the same canter problems, over and over again. It can feel like, at this rate, you are NEVER going to get "there". ("I should just take up something like Origami instead.")

 

and the thing is

YOU WON'T

("Wait. WHAT?")

Simply put: You won't "get" the canter and make it up the levels if you keep doing the same things that aren't working. 

IF YOU WANT DIFFERENT RESULTS, YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT !

IF YOU ARE READING THIS

I am sure...

 

You love your horse and you want what is best for him/her.

You put the well-being of your horse first and foremost.

You've tried everything you know, but it still isn't working.

You may be frustrated with your riding, your horse, and yourself.

You don't have access to a trainer right now. Or perhaps you do, but...

You feel stuck, at a plateau, or unable to make progress.

You know there has to be a better way.

IF YOU ARE READING THIS

I am sure...

 

You love your horse and you want what is best for him/her.

You put the well-being of your horse first and foremost.

You've tried everything you know, but it still isn't working.

You may be frustrated with your riding, your horse, and yourself.

You don't have access to a trainer right now. Or perhaps you do, but...

You feel stuck, at a plateau, or unable to make progress.

You know there has to be a better way.

If so, you are not alone. We hear from riders all the time who tell us that this is the #1 issue that they struggle with. In fact, honestly... canter issues plague most - if not ALL - riders at some point in their riding journey.

Every type of work should aim at improving the horse.

"Every interaction with the horse, every aid we apply, every exercise or movement we ride is a learning experience and makes the horse either better or worse. There is no neutral ground in this respect. That's why it is important that all the parts of a training session complement each other and build on each other in a meaningful way. Every type of work should aim at improving the horse." - Dr. Thomas Ritter, Dressage Principles Based on Biomechanics

It is true. Everything you do with your seat, your aids, and the exercises and movements you ride with the horse can either hinder or help the horse. But it isn't always easy to help the horse, even when you want to. It isn't always easy to know HOW to help the horse. And that is especially true for the canter work.

 

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If so, you are not alone. We hear from riders all the time who tell us that this is the #1 issue that they struggle with. In fact, honestly... canter issues plague most - if not ALL - riders at some point in their riding journey.

Every type of work should aim at improving the horse.

"Every interaction with the horse, every aid we apply, every exercise or movement we ride is a learning experience and makes the horse either better or worse. There is no neutral ground in this respect. That's why it is important that all the parts of a training session complement each other and build on each other in a meaningful way. Every type of work should aim at improving the horse." - Dr. Thomas Ritter, Dressage Principles Based on Biomechanics

It is true. Everything you do with your seat, your aids, and the exercises and movements you ride with the horse can either hinder or help the horse. But it isn't always easy to help the horse, even when you want to. It isn't always easy to know HOW to help the horse. And that is especially true for the canter work.

 

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Hello! We are Thomas and Shana Ritter.

We have taught clinics and instructors training workshops all over the United States, Canada, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands and we hear it time and time again: Riders everywhere struggle with the canter.

They learn a bit here and a bit there, and they try to piece it together but it becomes a bit of a mish-mash of tips and techniques that might, or might not work well together, and might, or might not, even be working for that horse-rider team. They tell us how much they struggle with the canter. And how long (often for years) they have been struggling to move beyond the same issues. They want to move forward in their riding. They want to do what is best for their horse. But they are really at a loss when it comes to creating lasting change and actually improving their canter work.

I know how frustrating and overwhelming it can be to want to change something in your horse's canter but not know how to do it.  I also know that once you have the tools, understanding, resources, and support, that you can do this.

Hello! We are Thomas and Shana Ritter.

We have taught clinics and instructors training workshops all over the United States, Canada, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands and we hear it time and time again: Riders everywhere struggle with the canter.

They learn a bit here and a bit there, and they try to piece it together but it becomes a bit of a mish-mash of tips and techniques that might, or might not work well together, and might, or might not, even be working for that horse-rider team. They tell us how much they struggle with the canter. And how long (often for years) they have been struggling to move beyond the same issues. They want to move forward in their riding. They want to do what is best for their horse. But they are really at a loss when it comes to creating lasting change and actually improving their canter work.

I know how frustrating and overwhelming it can be to want to change something in your horse's canter but not know how to do it.  I also know that once you have the tools, understanding, resources, and support, that you can do this.

AS SEEN ON...

 
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You'd love to be able to get to the FUN stuff in the canter. But there's just one problem. You don't know how to get there.

Great canter work doesn’t happen by accident. It is not a mystery. It is a science (and a bit of an art). Everything builds upon the work before it. The quality of the canter work depends on the quality of the transition. And the quality of the transition depends upon the quality of the work BEFORE the transition.

Creating a good canter comes from strategically setting up a staircase of lessons for the horse to follow, which progressively develop his confidence, understanding, and abilities. Following this formula ensures that the horse does not become frightened, tense, or insecure from being asked to do work he cannot accommodate, too soon. You build the skills FIRST so that when you make the next request of the horse, he has the ability. In this way you can completely bypass problems, resistance, and arguments because you never confuse the horse.

Let us introduce you to...

THE TOTAL CANTER TRANSFORMATION TRAINING PROGRAM

A Step-by-Step process that takes you (with your horse)  from “OMG, no,  please, NOT the canter!” to “Yes, thank you, my horse does have an AMAZING canter”

From mindfully laying the foundation of what YOU need to know and what essential skills your horse needs to have in place before the canter work can even begin… to cultivating the SOLID foundational basics every horse needs in order to produce consistently, high quality transitions.

Then you move into improving the quality of the canter itself through carefully constructed exercises that build upon the previous week’s exercises to build your horse’s understanding, confidence, strength, agility, and throughness.

Then you will move into the next level artistic work of “shaping the canter” with interesting and fun stirrup-stepping and aid sequences designed to transform the canter and enable him to collect, extend, turn (which eventually leads to pirouettes), move sideways (half pass), and counter-canter, which sets him up for easy, fluid flying changes. (Note: flying changes are not covered in this course, but this course will give you everything you need before you begin flying changes. If your horse already does them, then this course will make all of that work even better quality.)

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August 2, 2024- January 23, 2025

🐴 The Total 25-week Canter Transformation Program     (Value €3000)
Includes:
   ⭐️ Pre-Canter Preparation
   ⭐️ Main Canter Development Program
   ⭐️ The Counter-Canter finishing course
🐴 Guided, Proven Process
🐴 Gymnastic Exercises for the Horse
🐴 Canter Course Completion Certificate     (Value priceless!)
🐴 Lifetime access with upgrades to future runs of the Canter Transformation Program course for a small admin fee

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE PROGRAM
 

THE SECRET SAUCE

THE PRE-CANTER COURSE (WEEKS 1-3)

August 2-August 29, 2024. The most important part is the foundation. In weeks 1-3, you will lay the fundamental pillars through the pre-canter preparatory work. The process you will work through in these weeks underpins your success in the entire rest of the course.
10 horse training exercises

CATCH-UP WEEK (WEEK 4)
August 30-September 5, 2024. Assimilation and Catch-up week.

Shana demonstrating the canter on a young Lipizzan stallion, sitting lightly and releasing the inside rein

UNDERSTANDING THE FOOTFALLS AND BIOMECHANICS

CANTER TRANSFORMATION  MODULE 1  (WEEK 5)

September 6-12, 2024. This is where we begin the main course. You will spend this week working through the contents of Module 1. You will begin Module 1 with 19 minutes of theory lessons where you will watch us break down the canter with slow-motion video so you can understand the footfalls and biomechanics of the canter.
- 5 horse training exercises
- 1 Feldenkrais lesson to explore the ‘sensations of balance’ that let you know when you’re a little in front of, behind, to the right, or to the left of vertical.
- 1 rider imagery seat exercise to help you absorb and enhance the upward and downward movement of the horse.
- 2 yoga recommendations

TIMING OF THE AIDS IN THE CANTER

CANTER TRANSFORMATION  MODULE 2  (WEEK 6)

September 13-19, 2024. We build upon Module 1 with further understanding of the footfall sequence and how your timing of your aids synchronizes with them biomechanically.
- 5 horse training exercises
- 1 Feldenkrais lesson to explore your sensory perception of the relationships between the pelvis, ribs, spine, and head. Also to use these movements to bring these parts of you into a more symmetrical balance. 
- 1 rider imagery seat exercise to help you control the integrity of your torso without collapsing forward or arching backward, particularly in canter departs.
- 3 yoga recommendations

PRE-REQUISITES AND STRATEGIES

CANTER TRANSFORMATION  MODULE 3  (WEEK 7)

September 20-26, 2024. What needs to be in place before you proceed any further? We break it down and explain the canter training strategy with a 20 minute theory-building video.
- 4 horse training exercises
- 1 rider imagery exercise to help you keep your horse aligned on curved lines without leaning to the inside.
- 1 Feldenkrais lesson to explore being able to move your pelvis in all possible directions with equal ease. 
- 1 yoga recommendation

UP TRANSITIONS

CANTER TRANSFORMATION  MODULE 4  (WEEK 8)

September 27-October 3, 2024. 12 minutes of theory videos explaining the trot to canter and walk to canter transitions, with slow motion video demonstration.
- 4 horse training exercises
- 1 Feldenkrais lesson to explore oscillatory movements of the feet and ankles which help to undo long held tensions that chain your spine into its customary asymmetry.
- 1 rider imagery seat exercise to help you absorb and transform the forward-backward motion of the horse into more of an upward-downward motion that facilitates development of balance and collection.
- 2 yoga recommendations

CATCH-UP WEEK (WEEK 9)
October 4-10, 2024. Assimilation and Catch-up week.

WHEN TO CANTER (AND WHEN NOT TO)

CANTER TRANSFORMATION  MODULE 5  (WEEK 10)

October 11-17, 2024. 10.5 minutes of theory videos covering the big questions of how to know when the horse is ready for the canter, and how to know it is NOT the right time to canter, particularly with young horses.
- 4 horse training exercises
- 1 Feldenkrais lesson to explore pelvis rotation and the ability to rotate your pelvis with ease. 
- 1 rider imagery seat exercise to help you develop a deeper seat with stretched legs that can aid subtly and enable the horse to lift his back easier.
- 2 yoga recommendations

Shana demonstrating the canter out in a field with a young Lipizzan stallion

THE GOOD CANTER

CANTER TRANSFORMATION  MODULE 6  (WEEK 11)

October 18-24, 2024. 29 minutes of theory videos defining the “Good Canter”. How can you tell the difference between a good canter and a bad canter? How can you spot it visually? How can you feel it when you are on the horse? What are the various faults of the canter and where do they come from?
- 4 horse training exercises
- 1 Feldenkrais lesson to explore spiraling movements which help you to keep one side of yourself relatively quiet and stable whilst we rotate the other side backward or forwards. 
- 1 rider imagery seat exercise to help you minimize the amount of hand/arm muscles you use and increase the effectiveness of your core muscles so that you can more effectively ride your horse “back-to-front”.
- 2 yoga recommendations

DOWN TRANSITIONS

CANTER TRANSFORMATION  MODULE 7  (WEEK 12)

October 25-31, 2024. 26 minutes of theory videos teaching how to ride high quality down transitions from the canter to the trot, walk, and halt. How to tell the difference between a good quality down transition and a poor quality down transition, and how to improve and fix the common mistakes that occur in down transitions.
- 4 horse training exercises
- 1 Feldenkrais lesson to explore the parts of your spine where you’re either overly extended or overly flexed. The result is a sense of length and an upright posture that is effortless.
- 1 rider imagery seat exercise to help you use your entire lower body to give your horse more space to lift the back and come through from behind.
- 2 yoga recommendations

WORKING IN THE CANTER

CANTER TRANSFORMATION  MODULE 8  (WEEK 13)

November 1-7, 2024. 21 minutes of theory videos. First you will learn how to recover from a “bad canter” and how to determine when it is best to stay in the canter and when it is best to return to the trot and start over. You will also begin to learn to ride gymnastic lengthening and shortening of the stride in the canter to develop your horse’s resilience and strength. You will also begin to learn thinking rider’s strategies for fixing a faulty canter.
- 5 horse training exercises
- 1 Feldenkrais lesson to explore the concept of the torso as a hydraulic cylinder which will enable you to discover how you can internally shift your weight to aid and communicate with your horse in an even quieter and more subtle way. 
- 1 rider imagery seat exercise to help you ride your horse more effectively from “back to font” and also prevent rounding of the shoulders.
- 2 yoga recommendations

CATCH-UP WEEK (WEEK 14)

November 8-14, 2024. Assimilation and Catch-up week.

Thomas showing how the seat and aids can help the rider to shape the canter

SHAPING THE CANTER

CANTER TRANSFORMATION  MODULE 9  (WEEK 15)

November 15-21, 2024. This is a big module, but also where it really gets FUN. 40.5 minutes of theory videos demonstrating how you can SHAPE the horse’s canter with your seat and aids. You will learn what seat and aids you need to neutrally maintain the canter, and what seat and aids you can use to influence the way the horse canters. You will learn what you should feel in the canter (and what you shouldn’t feel) at this stage. We will also cover common rider mistakes in the canter and how to fix them.
- 5 horse training exercises
- 1 Feldenkrais lesson to explore further the concept of the torso as a hydraulic cylinder and how the healthy function of the pelvic floor is related to the capacity to move your pelvis in all its possible directions with equal ease. 
- 1 rider imagery seat exercise to help you stop slouching or arching your back excessively. It can also help you shape the horse’s canter into a more uphill balance.
- 2 yoga recommendations

DEVELOPING THE CANTER FURTHER

CANTER TRANSFORMATION  MODULE 10  (WEEK 16)

November 22-28, 2024. 13 minutes of theory videos on working longer reprises in the canter by combining exercises and their elements. You will also learn to construct your own gymnastic exercises at this point, taking what you have learned from the previous modules and exercises, and putting them together to build exercises that specifically address your horse’s current needs.
- 5 horse training exercises
- 1 rider imagery seat exercise to help you connect your entire circle of aids, particularly when “enlarging”or riding lateral movements.
- 1 Feldenkrais lesson to explore how the muscles around the pelvis can both support and interfere with the ability to use your centre for both powerful movements and subtle direction changes. The movements in the lesson clarify the small details of how to organise the lowest part of your pelvis for transitions, lateral aids, weight shifts as well as finding a refined sense of your and your horse's middle. 
- 1 yoga recommendation

CATCH-UP WEEK (WEEK 17)

November 29-December 5, 2024. Assimilation and Catch-up week.

THE POLISHING

COUNTER-CANTER COURSE (WEEKS 18-24)

December 6, 2024 - January 16, 2025. Next up is to develop the canter further with the counter canter. You will learn when is the right time to introduce the counter canter to your horse. You learn all the pitfalls and problems that occur in the counter canter. And you learn 11 training exercises that help you introduce it, develop it, and polish it. You will also learn how to use your seat and how to use your aids in the counter canter.

- 5 Modules with 11 horse training exercises

Week 18 - Counter-Canter Starts December 6, 2024
Week 19 - Counter Canter Module 1 - Dec 6
Week 20 - Counter Canter Module 2 - Dec 13
Week 21 - December 20-26 Break
Week 22 - Counter Canter Module 3 - Dec 27
Week 23 - Counter Canter Module 4 - Jan 3, 2025
Week 24 - Counter Canter Module 5 - Jan 10, 2025

WRAPPING IT ALL UP

FINAL CATCH-UP AND ASSIMILATION WEEK
(WEEK 25)

January 17-23, 2025. This is the final Assimilation and Catch-up week. Course completion certificates issued!

 

IN THIS COURSE, YOU WILL LEARN:

- WHAT to do
- WHY to do it
- WHY it works
- HOW to do it.

Enroll Now >>

when

THE CANTER IS TRANSFORMED

amazing opportunities are possible

when

The Canter is Transformed

amazing opportunities are possible

COMPETITION ASPIRATIONS

Moving up the levels becomes easy

No longer are you held back by what you and your horse cannot do in the canter. But it's not only the canter! You will experience first-hand how your horse's quality of work will improve - ACROSS THE BOARD.

SO MUCH FUN

Riding the movements

There is so much fun that opens up in being able to incorporate previously elusive movements, like the canter half pass, canter pirouettes, and flying changes into your daily riding.

CONFIDENCE AND SECURITY

The canter is no longer the boogeyman

Rather that avoiding or dreading the canter, you look forward to the canter and enjoy working in it. And so does your horse!

SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF

The pride that comes from something you "earned"

You didn't just go "buy" a horse with a trained and well-bred canter, you CREATED it on your own, with your own work. You INVESTED in the process, and therefore, you have EARNED the respect that comes from achieving such success.

“Every horse has his own, unique walk, trot, and canter, as well as his own, unique piaffe and passage, which the trainer has to find and bring out, by eliminating everything that prevents the horse from moving optimally in his own, unique manner.”
Thomas Ritter
 

 BONUSES!

IN THE 2024 CANTER TRANSFORMATION PROGRAM, YOU WILL ALSO RECEIVE SOME SPECIAL BONUSES

 

 BONUSES!

IN THE 2024 CANTER TRANSFORMATION PROGRAM, YOU WILL ALSO RECEIVE SOME SPECIAL BONUSES

 
 
 

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CHALLENGE RECORDINGS

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HOURS OF LISTENING ON THE GO

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Downloadable recordings from the 2024 Canter Seat Challenge.

€250 value

Downloadable recordings of many teaching topics, including crookedness issues in the canter, dealing with a "disunited" canter, how the rider's seat blocks the horse in the canter, training your horse to FEI, and so many more.

€250 value

CHALLENGE RECORDINGS

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Downloadable recordings from the 2024 Canter Seat Challenge.

priceless

HOURS OF LISTENING ON THE GO

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Downloadable recordings of many teaching topics, including crookedness issues in the canter, dealing with a "disunited" canter, how the rider's seat blocks the horse in the canter, training your horse to FEI, and so many more.

€100 value

A series of conversations with Catherine McCrum and Thomas Ritter on a selection of topics about the continual development of the rider. Fully downloadable recordings. Access to any upcoming/new sessions.

€150 value

Downloadable recordings from the 2021 Canter Seat Challenge, the 2021 Simple Changes Challenge, and the 2023 Canter Blueprint Challenge.

priceless

Downloadable recordings of many teaching topics, including crookedness issues in the canter, dealing with a "disunited" canter, how the rider's seat blocks the horse in the canter, training your horse to FEI, and so many more.

€100 value

Beginning August 2, 2024

 

THE TOTAL CANTER TRANSFORMATION TRAINING PROGRAM

the All-in-One Canter Training Solution

Biomechanics for Intelligent Riders. The theory broken down into bite-sized chunks which build upon each other, week after week so that you learn some, implement some, learn more, implement more.

The Canter Creation Gymnastic Training Method - 2-5 new exercises to try each week which prepare your horse by building the prerequisites for the canter, prepare for the canter transition itself, polish the quality of the transition, strengthen the canter once you are in it, develop the horse’s agility and strength, and eventually develop the counter canter. Each step builds upon the step before so it is systematic and logical for both you and the horse. 

Step-by-step videos of the what, why, how explanation of our gymnastic exercises designed to take you and your horse from “OMG, no, please, not the canter!” to “yes, thank you, my horse does have an amazing canter”

Visual learner’s support - library of demo riders riding the exercises for those who learn best by watching others do it. (periodically updated with new videos)

Print it and take it to the arena - All exercises are downloadable and printable so you can stick them on your phone digitally or print them to take to the barn in a binder, so you always have them at your fingertips. Never again will you be at a loss for what to do!

Worksheets and assignments that help you develop your eye and understanding of the canter

No Seat, No Canter - 10 Rider Imagery Lessons to help you achieve a better seat to help your horse’s canter- all using the power of your mind which means you can do them (and continue to improve) even when you can’t ride because of weather, illness, injury, etc.

The Real Deal - no BS, straight answers to your questions from Thomas and Shana themselves. Additional support from several Ritter assistant instructors with years of proven experience working with the Ritter method.

No Questions Left Behind - Multiple ways to get your questions answered, no matter how silly you think they might be (and even if you hate Facebook)

Feedback on your videos - If you participate in the Facebook Group, you can get feedback on your videos in there from Thomas and the team of Ritter assistant trainers. Find out if you're doing it correctly, get help for when you're stuck, or tips to make it better.

“Mobility for All" Feldenkrais Lessons for your seat. 10 Feldenkrais Lessons to help you achieve a better seat to help your horse's canter. When you can sit the canter better, balance better, and coordinate your seat and aids better, you are in a much better position to be able to positively influence your horse. 

Weekly Yoga Recommendations curated choices by Shana and Catherine to help you develop your core, balance, and suppleness.

Unlimited Access  to the course and Facebook Group. You won't lose access when the course is over. It's all yours to keep.

Certificate of completion.  When you complete the Canter Transformation course, this is something to celebrate and deserves recognition. When you finish the completion process, we will send you a personalised Completion Certificate, signed by Thomas and Shana.

Lifetime Access  - Lifetime access with upgrades to future runs of the Canter Transformation Program course for a small admin fee (including all of the Q&As).

 
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🐴 The Total 25-week Canter Transformation Program     (Value €3700)
Includes:
   ⭐️ Pre-Canter Preparation
   ⭐️ Main Canter Development Program
   ⭐️ The Counter-Canter finishing course
🐴 Guided, Proven Process
🐴 Gymnastic Exercises for the Horse
🐴 Classical Training, Biomechanics-based principles
🐴 Canter Course Completion Certificate     (Value priceless!)
🐴 Lifetime access with upgrades to future runs of the Canter Transformation Program course for a small admin fee

🐴 "Mobility for All" Feldenkrais Lessons for your seat     (Value €250)
🐴 Rider Imagery Lessons to help develop your seat further    (Value €250)
🐴 Curated weekly yoga lessons to help your seat even more (priceless)
🐴 Additional Demonstration Videos from our Demo Rider Team (Value €500)
🐴 Feedback on your videos all the way through (€1000)

🐴 Support & Feedback from Thomas Ritter and the team of Ritter teachers (Value €500)
 🐴 ALL your questions answered along the way - even questions not related to the canter (Value €500)
🐴 "Come one, come all" Office hours Q&A coaching program     (Value €1000) 

🐴 Lifetime Access to the Amazing Canter Transformation community  (Value €250)

TOTAL VALUE = 7950 ($8495 USD)

 
Today's Price = €750  ($805 USD)*
 
Yes! I'm Ready to Transform my Canter

This comes down to only €30 ($32.53 USD) per week for all the videos, instruction, PDFs, Q&As,  support, and feedback. Not to mention lifetime access! You will not find a better deal. It's like putting yourself and your horse into training for 6 months at €125 per month. You will NEVER find training and support this good for anywhere near that price.  

STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSE OWNER'S MOUTH

"An unbelievable course. totally outstanding."

An unbelievable course. Totally outstanding. I have learnt a phenomenal amount and can see a huge difference in how my horse moves. I was nervous at the start of the course that I would be the numpty of the students, but you can learn/study at your own pace and Shana and Thomas were always happy to answer any of my questions.

- Fran Griffith (Ceredigion, UK)

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WE HOPE YOU WILL LOVE THIS COURSE AS MUCH AS WE DO.

 
The Ritter Guarantee


If you’re not 100% satisfied with our Canter Transformation Training Program, the training exercises and strategies, or our extensive support after 30 days, we will offer you a full refund, rider’s honor!

That means you can enroll today, and you don’t even have to decide if you’re in for good! Take the full 30 days to explore the materials, bonuses, and the life-changing experience of the Hot Seat Video coaching sessions and, and make your decision then. That enables you to make the decision then based on the experience you have first-hand in the course materials, rather than making the decision based on what you don’t yet know.

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CHECK OUT WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT THE CANTER TRANSFORMATION PROGRAM

 
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STRAIGHT FROM OUR HAPPY COURSE MEMBERS

"Their classes have been the absolute best thing for me."

The Ritter courses—ALL of them—have done so much to improve my horse and my riding.  I came to their classes with anxiety out the kazoo because of my steed. My horse and I had a lot of opposing views that often ended up with me taking unplanned visits to the ground.  I have owned, ridden and shown several different horses and been actively taking dressage lessons and clinics since 1984.  I have read tons of books and magazines through the years and viewed all the DVD’s and digital content I could get ahold of.  The comprehensively organized, yet laid back, approach that the Ritters offer is just the ticket.  I can go along at my own pace and partake at whatever speed I choose plus keep all of the course material!  Their classes have been the absolute best thing for me.  Shana and Thomas are both exceedingly generous with their extensive knowledge. They are patient and very open-minded.  Never once have I seen any students shamed and no question is left unanswered.   We are made to feel we are on a gentle ship--exploring new and old territory with our horses. Our riding skills are honed so that we become much more humane and efficient trainers all due to their exceptional coaching.

- Ingrid Edisen (LA, USA)

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STRAIGHT FROM OUR HAPPY COURSE MEMBERS

"For the very first time we have a canter which feels as though we really could do things."

"To be completely honest, I didn’t really believe that I could ever get my pony’s canter good enough to be able to train flying changes. Bella is a Dales Pony, bred for trotting not cantering, and although I’ve got her over her violent dislike of cantering I never thought I would ever get a canter I could really do anything with. She is also 16 years old now and I’ve had her since she was a year old so I didn’t really think we were capable of a profound change now.
Although I have managed to train nice canter transitions she always wanted to drop out of canter at the first possible opportunity. I’ve always been told I need to push her on, to get her thinking forward more but whenever I did it just unbalanced her more and reinforced her (and my) belief that we couldn’t ‘do’ canter. I could always get a nice strike off and usually a few nice strides but that was it, and that’s where we’ve been for YEARS now!!!
I’ve been playing about with the exercises on here recently…  and in the last few days she has suddenly and completely blown my socks off!!!
She has suddenly found this huge, slow, powerful canter. The first time I was so shocked and taken by surprise I nearly pulled her up! It felt as though I was sitting on a different horse and just didn’t feel like Bella at all. I almost wanted to stop her because I wasn’t sure I was ready or even knew how to ride a canter that powerful! If you’d told me even last week that could ever happen with Bella I’d have laughed out loud!!!
For the very first time we have a canter which feels as though we really could do things and I really, really had more or less given up on that ever happening.”

- Helen Whitaker (Dunstable, UK)

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How to

CREATE A CANTER THAT OTHERS WILL THINK YOU PAID TOP DOLLARS FOR

with the Canter Transformation Program

I resigned myself to never having a horse with a great canter. I can’t afford the expensive horse and probably never will, and yet I want to continue to ride dressage to the best of my ability, but I was stuck. Until the day I decided to just do the best I could with what I had. I accepted that I might never ride in the Olympic Games with this horse (frankly, I am ok with that), but I refused to accept that the canter we had was stuck in stone. I decided to do what I could with what we had, even if it was incremental step by step. Even if it never looked like a miracle. I remembered that the true magic is in the unspectacular work, and so I set to work. I learned the prerequisite skills my horse needed to acquire that would enable him to have HIS best canter (that’s all I ask for), and I set about developing those skills through gymnastic exercises. As each skill improved, I was encouraged to keep going. Even though I didn’t work on the canter itself for awhile, I focused on developing my horse’s preparation for the canter through carefully crafted exercises that are designed to set the horse’s body and mind up for the canter in the best way possible. As those improved and then became easy, I did the exercises designed to set the horse up for a canter transition. My horse’s transitions had always been hard to get, and when I did get them, they were embarrassing. But something had changed! My horse offered the canter before I even asked just from doing the preparatory exercise, and it was decent! I was gobsmacked. What the?! This really works. I was so encouraged I could barely contain myself. So I did the rest of the preparatory exercises and realized that I was no longer dreading the canter transition, but even looking forward to it because it was becoming easy. Then I tried the exercises designed to further improve the transition. It was already sometimes good, but the other times there was still a hiccup or the horse would invert right in the transition. Sure enough, pretty soon those transitions were smooth and round… and EASY! I could do them anywhere, anytime, and they were reliably very nice. Now my horse had gained the strength to canter for longer stretches, and I could start to ride the exercises designed to build the horse’s strength IN the canter. What a long way we had come! A short time later, I realized we were riding canter voltes and they were GOOD. I just put my head down and diligently focused on the gymnastic exercises and loved how each one built on the others, even if it wasn’t immediately apparent how they did so! In fact, the skills and strength gained in one set of exercises carried over to the next set of exercises, so like building blocks… my horse developed incrementally and so did I. I found that my own balance, coordination and timing had become so much better, without really obsessing about them. They improved through the riding of the exercises. Before I knew it, I was daring to ride the counter-canter and half pass exercises in preparation for the flying changes. If I had not experienced it myself, I would not have thought it possible that my little horse could be doing these and with ONLY me riding him! No one else sat on my horse. I wasn’t even taking lessons with my trainer during that time because I couldn’t haul into her facility with the lockdown. I was, in effect, somewhat forced to do it on my own, but I did it! I really did it!

No longer

A VICTIM TO THE CANTER

because of the Canter Transformation Program

I did all the things. I bought the expensive horse with a top notch canter, but I found that I still had no idea how to take that horse’s canter from green and talented, but unbalanced and frankly, scary… to the canter I had in my mind’s eye. I knew the horse had the ability, but unfortunately I was at a loss. It was such a big, different canter from the little Quarter Horse canter my previous horse had. I thought if I just BOUGHT the good canter, it would be easy. Boy, was that an unpleasant wake-up call. I realized I could buy the talent but I still had to… gulp… do the work. And this horse’s canter was Big and felt unsafe. I was not only unskilled, I was intimidated. Until I decided to start not with the canter itself, but with the preparatory exercises that build the strength and body control I needed for a good canter. I started with exercises in the walk and trot, I also worked on improving my own timing and balance, because I realized my clumsiness and insecurity were making my horse’s unbalanced canter even worse and that is why it would spiral out of control so quickly. I learned to be patient and trust in the process, realizing that skipping ahead to the canter too soon would just confirm our bad habits and perhaps make matters even worse. So I stayed with the walk and trot exercises. As I did so, I felt my horse changing. I felt myself changing! My horse became more malleable and straighter. I could turn more easily, ride smaller figures with more control, and I could more effectively catch his right shoulder when it slid out of alignment. I could feel when he was escaping with the hind leg on his hollow side and I could better keep it engaged, and I noticed how this greatly affected his balance. When I get the hind leg engaged, he stayed better balanced. Once he lost his engagement, he fell against my hand and became rigid and harder to control in his body. I felt like a fly on his back with his powerful movement. But that was becoming a thing of the past, more and more. I then dared to begin the exercises to prepare the canter transition, and to my utter amazement we got an easy and balanced canter transition. I was so shocked that first time that I brought him back to the trot. I so was not expecting that! But the next time I was better prepared mentally so that when he just lifted into an easy uphill canter, I could go with it. At first he couldn’t hold that Über-balanced canter for very long, so we worked in short reprises in the canter. I wanted to focus on quality rather than quantity. But at that point I was able to finally include the canter into our daily work again, albeit in small doses. That enabled me to begin some of the exercises that help you to improve the canter, working IN the canter itself. I did these all in the trot at first, but then started cantering portions of the exercises until pretty soon I found we could canter through the entire exercise. One day my friend came in when I was riding and she asked me why I said his canter was scary to ride. I laughed. I told her it used to be but now it was FUN. She said she wished her horse cantered so well. With such encouragement and obvious improvement, I stuck with the program. I incorporated other exercises along the way, of course, I didn’t only ever ride canter exercises, but I made a point to never stray too far from them. I found I could easily ride a different exercise and Segway it into one of the canter exercises. One day I thought, what the hay, I am going to canter across the diagonal and try counter canter through the short side. Three months before that, I could not have even remotely imagined doing such an outlandish thing with this horse. To my utter amazement, we did it. I then dared to start incorporating the counter canter exercises (I realized then that I had skipped ahead with a harder exercise, but wow- he was able to do it anyway!). I really really wanted to do canter halfpasses, so I started playing with these. Initially he could do a few strides on one side, but would fall out of the canter when I asked on the other side, so I went back to the gymnastic exercises and found ones that helped build his straightness and suppleness so that the half passes became easy. Next up are the flying changes! 

Beginning August 2, 2024

 

THE TOTAL CANTER TRANSFORMATION TRAINING PROGRAM

the All-in-One Canter Training Solution

Biomechanics for Intelligent Riders. The theory broken down into bite-sized chunks which build upon each other, week after week so that you learn some, implement some, learn more, implement more.

The Canter Creation Gymnastic Training Method - 2-5 new exercises to try each week which prepare your horse by building the prerequisites for the canter, prepare for the canter transition itself, polish the quality of the transition, strengthen the canter once you are in it, develop the horse’s agility and strength, and eventually develop the counter canter. Each step builds upon the step before so it is systematic and logical for both you and the horse. 

Step-by-step videos of the what, why, how explanation of our gymnastic exercises designed to take you and your horse from “OMG, no, please, not the canter!” to “yes, thank you, my horse does have an amazing canter”

Visual learner’s support - library of demo riders riding the exercises for those who learn best by watching others do it. (periodically updated with new videos)

Print it and take it to the arena - All exercises are downloadable and printable so you can stick them on your phone digitally or print them to take to the barn in a binder, so you always have them at your fingertips. Never again will you be at a loss for what to do!

Worksheets and assignments that help you develop your eye and understanding of the canter

No Seat, No Canter - 10 Rider Imagery Lessons to help you achieve a better seat to help your horse’s canter- all using the power of your mind which means you can do them (and continue to improve) even when you can’t ride because of weather, illness, injury, etc.

The Real Deal - no BS, straight answers to your questions from Thomas and Shana themselves. Additional support from several Ritter assistant instructors with years of proven experience working with the Ritter method.

No Questions Left Behind - Multiple ways to get your questions answered, no matter how silly you think they might be (and even if you hate Facebook)

Feedback on your videos - If you participate in the Facebook Group, you can get feedback on your videos in there from Thomas and the team of Ritter assistant trainers. Find out if you're doing it correctly, get help for when you're stuck, or tips to make it better.

“Mobility for All" Feldenkrais Lessons for your seat. 10 Feldenkrais Lessons to help you achieve a better seat to help your horse's canter. When you can sit the canter better, balance better, and coordinate your seat and aids better, you are in a much better position to be able to positively influence your horse. 

Weekly Yoga Recommendations curated choices by Shana and Catherine to help you develop your core, balance, and suppleness.

Unlimited Access  to the course and Facebook Group. You won't lose access when the course is over. It's all yours to keep.

Certificate of completion.  When you complete the Canter Transformation course, this is something to celebrate and deserves recognition. When you finish the completion process, we will send you a personalised Completion Certificate, signed by Thomas and Shana.

Lifetime Access  - Lifetime access with upgrades to future runs of the Canter Transformation Program course for a small admin fee (including all of the Q&As).

 
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🐴 The Total 25-week Canter Transformation Program     (Value €3700)
Includes:
   ⭐️ Pre-Canter Preparation
   ⭐️ Main Canter Development Program
   ⭐️ The Counter-Canter finishing course
🐴 Guided, Proven Process
🐴 Gymnastic Exercises for the Horse
🐴 Classical Training, Biomechanics-based principles
🐴 Canter Course Completion Certificate     (Value priceless!)
🐴 Lifetime access with upgrades to future runs of the Canter Transformation Program course for a small admin fee

🐴 "Mobility for All" Feldenkrais Lessons for your seat     (Value €250)
🐴 Rider Imagery Lessons to help develop your seat further    (Value €250)
🐴 Curated weekly yoga lessons to help your seat even more (priceless)
🐴 Additional Demonstration Videos from our Demo Rider Team (Value €500)
🐴 Feedback on your videos all the way through (€1000)

🐴 Support & Feedback from Thomas Ritter and the team of Ritter teachers (Value €500)
 🐴 ALL your questions answered along the way - even questions not related to the canter (Value €500)
🐴 "Come one, come all" Office hours Q&A coaching program     (Value €1000) 

🐴 Lifetime Access to the Amazing Canter Transformation community  (Value €250)

 

TOTAL VALUE = 7950 ($8495 USD)

 
Today's Price = €750  ($805 USD)*
 
Yes! I'm Ready to Transform my Canter

This comes down to only €30 ($32.53 USD) per week for all the videos, instruction, PDFs, Q&As,  support, and feedback. Not to mention lifetime access! You will not find a better deal. It's like putting yourself and your horse into training for 6 months at €125 per month. You will NEVER find training and support this good for anywhere near that price.  

STRAIGHT FROM OUR HAPPY COURSE MEMBERS

"Yesterday we managed to do 2-tempi changes around the whole arena."

"The horse has begun to find his balance, and understand that it is a good thing for him, so on good days, he tries to seek it himself in periods.


We are currently also playing with changes, and yesterday we managed to to 2-tempichanges around the whole arena (it is an old type portuguese arena, 15x35 metres I think), and we have begun preparing for pirouettes and half-passes. Something that would be untinkable for me when I started the Ritter-courses in February!

Those wonderful moments, where the horse and I are both in balance, and I feel that I can use my body as a joystick to shape him and move him around, in a relaxed, but energetic way means the world to me."

 

- Renate Skeie (Portugal)

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STRAIGHT FROM OUR HAPPY COURSE MEMBERS

"The canter course is more about diagnosing and solving these issues."

"Last July I was working on all the many things I had learned in the What, Why, How Beta Course when I was lucky enough to get a spot in the Canter Course. Then I panicked. Tuxedo bucked when I put him to the canter on the lunge. I was afraid to try to ride that! Gabriella raced around like a train and yes, I was afraid of that too! My other horses were too young.I had seen some of the other course members riding these lovely canters and I felt at a complete loss.

Once in the course, I immediately discovered that what I was seeing with Tux and Gabriellla were symptoms and the Canter Course is more about diagnosing and solving these issues than it was riding a more finished horse. Throughout the course, I learned to recognize biomechanical issues and how to develop a horse in order that the issue will go away."

- Carole Cox (WV, USA)

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The

STEP-BY-STEP SYSTEM

that gives you more opportunities for learning than any in-person lessons ever could.

I did not think it was possible to learn RIDING from an online course. I thought, sure, you can learn some things online but riding is just one of those things you MUST learn in person. You need an instructor in front of you who can see you in real time and tell you what to do. I believed that all the way until we went into lockdown in Spring of 2020. Suddenly, I couldn’t get lessons. I keep my horse at home, so I was lucky to be able to still ride, but I was on my own. The first few weeks were okay, but then I found myself getting bored with riding the same things my instructor had last taught me. I was looking for some inspiration and bought some books, but I had questions and I had no one to go to with my questions. Then I saw a FB Live with Thomas Ritter and it made sense. He was offering an online course, and honestly I would not have tried it if he wasn’t offering a money-back guarantee. I thought, “I’ll try it for the 30 days.” That first 30 days was the biggest learning period of my entire riding life. I had no idea what I did not know. I had no idea how much I could learn simply by studying the slow motion videos of the canter provided in the course. I wanted feedback, too. This was super important to me, so I got Pixio camera and figured out how to get it set up so I could send in my videos for the bi-weekly hot seats. I was so thrilled Thomas selected my video first on the first one. In those 15 minutes where he analyzed my video, he nailed not just the problems I was having but was able to identify where they were coming from which no one else had ever done. Armed with that information, I asked him on that hot seat session for tips on how to fix that. He gave me detailed step-by-step explanation of how to fix it and some exercises to ride (that were not even included in the course content) that would specifically address the problem. Not only did those exercises work, they improved everything else in my riding. I realized that these problems were what had been holding me back for a long time, but no one ever told me. Because he was able to take the time to break my video down into slow motion with me watching with him (during my hot seat), I got more information than I had ever hoped for. I have since tried to submit video for every hot seat session because that first one was so instrumental in changing the course of progress in my riding. Each time, Thomas is able to identify something new (and sometimes he even remarks on the progress that he sees!) that I am able to put to use immediately that day or the next day. It is brilliant, and honestly, even after the pandemic is over, I will continue taking my lessons online with Thomas.

The path to

GETTING THE EXPERIENCE YOU NEED

to improve your horse’s canter

I am ashamed to admit that I used to not believe in myself or my ability to learn to train my own horse. When I began riding dressage, I happily bought into the “white polo wraps and white saddle pad” dream. Along with that sparkly vision of what it is like to be a “real” dressage rider, I also bought into the story that you have to be riding with a big-name trainer weekly or in regular clinics. And if you were really serious, you put your horse in training so that your trainer could install the movements on your horse and you could learn to “ride them right”. I actually thought that was the best way! Really! I defended it, but that story started to lose grip on me when I became disillusioned with what I saw happening around me. I moved out of the “fancy” barn and into a more “backyard” barn partially to save money when my husband was in a job transition, but also to get some separation from the drama at that barn. Long story, but I had a disagreement with another boarder who replaced her horse every 9 months with another one, following her trainer’s advice that the new one would be the answer to all her problems (spoiler alert: it never was). But that move left me with a new problem, I was no longer riding in weekly lessons and no longer depending on my trainer to ride my horse twice a week to “tune him up and keep him going”. I was on my own for the first time. I went to a few clinics but felt like that was just “more of the same,” so I decided to try something radically different. I bought an online course. The whole 30-week course cost just what one month of training cost me before (not counting the board which was on top), so I really figured like I was saving myself a bunch of money. And although I was not sure I was able to do the instructions, I found them easy to follow and they worked. In fact, they made a heck of a lot more sense (and were more fun, I was shocked to discover) than the uninspired exercises I was bored of riding with my trainer. And did I mention that they worked?! I was just looking for some direction in my riding now that I was on my own, I figured that if it actually improved the canter, that would just be icing on the cake.  Previously I was able to canter my horse, and the canter was okay, but I always felt like a bit of a passenger up there. With these exercises, I instantly had more variety and fun in my riding and I started to even understand how they worked, which blew my mind. In a short time, I was counting strides and able to apply differentiated half halts into individual legs and I found that these techniques not only improved my own feel and influence, but they improved my horse’s canter. Because I was no longer just trying to sit still and not ruin my horse’s canter (which made me a bit rigid and frankly, afraid to do anything new), I started to have a conversation with my horse and wow- my head exploded with the possibilities that opened up. I could actually change the way my horse cantered just by using my seat, half halts, and stirrup stepping. I really honestly thought the good riders just sat there and steered the horse through the movements. I did not know that good riders were actually sculpting the movement like a sculptor shapes the clay (an analogy I borrowed from Thomas and Shana). I am working my way through the rest of the exercises in the course now, and currently exploring how to use canter lengthening to build power that you can then direct upward to make the canter become more expressive. I am having the best time, and I have discovered the canter is FUN to ride.

IT'S NOW OR NEVER

So how are you going to spend the next 25 weeks? How are you going to finally fix your canter issues? At the end of this 25 weeks (in January 2025), do you want to still be where you are using the same ineffective solutions for the same problems OR do you want to be able to look back at these 25 weeks as hugely transformative for you, your horse, and your canter?

 

It is time to decide how important this is to you.

 

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

QUESTION 1

Will this course work for me?

This course is suitable for you:
- whether you are a novice or professional trainer.
- whether you are a dressage rider, a jumper, a western rider, or anything else in between.
- whether you have taken every online course out there, or have never taken even one.
- regardless of the breed or kind of horse you ride.
- regardless of the kind of tack you use, or whether you use no tack at all
- regardless of whether you primarily ride or do work from the ground (most exercises are adaptable to work-in-hand and at the long-rein)
- whether you are ambitious or want to take your time

 

QUESTION 2

What level is this course appropriate for?

If you currently do work in the canter, are ready to begin work in the canter, or even if you WANT to canter but there are big problems getting into the canter so you avoid the canter work, then it is appropriate. The entire first half of the course concentrates on the preparation for the canter, and this is mostly work you can do at the walk and trot. The latter half of the course picks up from there and explores developing the canter, fixing problems at the canter, upper level canter work, and preparation for the Flying Changes.

 

QUESTION 3

What type of tack / equipment do I need?

A horse to ride, relatively level space to ride in (arena with adequate footing is recommended but our course members have had success even without a standard "arena" to ride in). Not required but recommended: cones or other arena markers, a video camera to record your rides. You also need an internet connection and a computer or other device with which to access the course materials and Facebook group. The Facebook Group is optional. All of the Q&A sessions are held on Zoom (which is a free software).

 

QUESTION 5

What is my obligation in this course? What if I can't keep up? What if I am not riding right now? What if my riding is interrupted by illness or injury part way through the course?

You can do this course however it suits you. You do NOT need to participate in the Q&As or accountability pods, but you are welcome to do so. You do NOT need to post video of yourself for feedback, but you are welcome to do so. You are under no obligation to keep up with the course. You have lifetime access to the materials and the Facebook group, so you can work through the materials at your own pace. You can come back to it at any time. We have instructors who no longer ride take the courses and they use the exercises with their students. We have had people recovering from injuries, etc. take the courses. We have had people stop partway through and pick it back up again later. It is not a problem. These are your materials to do with as you wish - work through them at a pace that works for you. Learn the theory first and apply the riding exercises later, etc.

 

QUESTION 6

When are the Q&A sessions? Will there be some that work for me in MY timezone?

We have students from all around the world and we want to make sure no one is excluded from the possibility to attend the Q&A sessions. Of course, you are not obligated to attend, but the more you DO attend, the more you will learn and benefit from the course. We juggle the times between our morning, afternoon,  and evening so that people in other timezones have more opportunities to attend at a time that works for them. These times are listed in our timezone - we are located in Lagos, Portugal which is the same timezone as London, UK (BST). Here is the 2024 Schedule:

PRE-CANTER Q&A SCHEDULE:
#1 - Pre-Canter Welcome Call - Friday, August 2, 2024 at 7:00pm GMT+1
#2 - Q&A - Thursday, August 8, 2024 at 3:00pm GMT+1
#3 - Q&A - Thursday, August 22, 2024 at 6:00pm GMT+1
#4 - Q&A - Thursday, September 5, 2024 at 6:00pm GMT+1

CANTER COURSE Q&A SCHEDULE:
#1 - Canter Transformation Welcome Call - Friday, September 6, 2024 at 8:00pm GMT+1
#2 - Q&A - Thursday, September 12, 2024 at 6:00pm GMT+1
#3 - Q&A - Thursday, October 3, 2024 at 10:30am GMT+1
#4 - Q&A - Monday, October 14, 2024 at 6:00pm GMT+1
#5 - Q&A - Thursday, October 24, 2024 at 1:00pm GMT+1
#6 - Q&A - Thursday, November 7, 2024 at 6:00pm GMT
#7 - Q&A- Wednesday, November 20, 2024 at 10:00am GMT
#8 - Q&A - Thursday, December 5, 2024 at 6:00pm GMT

COUNTER CANTER Q&A SCHEDULE:
#1 - Counter-Canter Welcome Call - Friday, December 6, 2024 at 6:00pm GMT
#2 - Q&A - Thursday, December 19, 2024 at 6:00pm GMT
#3 - Q&A - Thursday, January 2, 2025 at 1:00pm GMT
#4 - Q&A - Thursday, January 16, 2025 at 6:00pm GMT
 

QUESTION 7

How do I join? What if I have trouble enrolling or with the payment process?

Click the "Enroll Now" button. Select your payment plan - you can pay in full, spread it out over 3 monthly payments, or even spread it out over 12 monthly payments.  Please NOTE that the best deal is to pay in full with one single payment.
Enter your details and payment info. If you have trouble, email us at [email protected] .
You will receive an email with your login information and a link to the course platform where you will find further instructions.
The course begins on August 2nd. You will get immediate access to the bonuses, so you do not have to wait to get started.

 
ENROLL NOW

The secret sauce method to

REALIZING YOUR WORTH AS A RIDER

You are fully capable. You just need to be taught in a way that is compatible with how you learn.


 I believed I was untalented. I watched the other riders around me progress more quickly while I felt stuck at the most basic of concepts. Every little bit of progress I have made has been hard earned because I had to research what to do, why, and how. Because my trainer would just roll her eyes at me when I asked questions, I started to look elsewhere for the info. That is when I discovered the Ritters. They spoke my language. They didn’t mind going into the intricacies and breaking it down. But my biggest struggle was with the canter. I felt clumsy and incapable. But I wanted to try, so I joined the Ritter’s Canter course. They started at the super stupid basic beginning which I really really needed. They explained the canter gait and I loved breaking my own horse’s canter videos down into slow motion so the I could understand his canter better (and what I was doing with my own body). That exercise alone was extremely illuminating, but that was just the beginning. I was hugely relieved to discover that the initial exercises in the course didn’t involve the canter at all. They used the walk and trot and the exercises made so much sense to me. The way Thomas would explain what to do, why, and then in detail how to do each part of it, including how to sit and shift my weight was so eye-opening. Exercises that previously would have made me feel like a pretzel soon flowed. I felt like my horse and I were on the same plane of communication, and we were no longer on two separate planets. But the day I tried my first canter transition ON PURPOSE is a day I will never forget. I had ridden all the exercises religiously but I was partially hopeful and partially skeptical that it would make a huge difference. I mean, I had enrolled in the course so I did it all by the book because I figured I had nothing to lose, and besides, the exercises were good for other reasons obviously, but I think I still retained some doubt that it would actually work for ME. Until I did that first transition on purpose. What? It was good. I mean, it was very good. Me! Me?? Yes, me. If I had not been a believer before that, I was soon a full believer. Because that one transition was not a fluke (of course, I thought it perhaps could be, so we repeated it again and it was even better because my horse realized we were no longer sticking to only walk and trot now!). Within a few weeks, we were cantering every ride and riding the exercises that develop the canter. I am so grateful I took the time to invest in developing the coordination and feel in the initial preparatory exercises. I made sure I understood each part before progressing to the next. I appreciated that I could not only do this, but that the course was set up to do it like that. It felt custom-designed for my need to understand every detail before proceeding to the next. Once I had that strong foundation built, the canter work progressed very quickly. My understanding and skills developed exponentially and, therefore, so did our progress. I am now in the flying changes courses and we are beginning our first flying changes. Me! With no trainer. I am doing this all myself.

The fail-proof system to

LEARN, LEARN WELL, AND LEARN EFFECTIVELY

so that you actually achieve further progress, for less money.


I have worked hard for every thing I have. I love my job and what I do, but it was never something I would become rich doing, and I am okay with that because I would rather spend my life doing something that feels worthwhile and helps others than doing something that felt empty but made me rich. I am really okay with that, but it means I have to be very very careful with my money. I budget carefully. I never buy things that are not necessary. I weigh my options carefully because I cannot afford to spend my money indiscriminately. But I wasn’t feeling like the money I was spending on lessons was getting me very far, and when my trainer’s barn implemented a new haul-in fee that would make it so I could only afford one lesson every two weeks, I decided to research other options. I started with just learning with YouTube videos and found some great people to follow. I got some tips here and there, but found that they didn’t always apply so well when I was actually on my horse. They looked great on video, but in practice I was left stumped. I did this for several months, setting aside my budgeted lesson money into an account so it could accrue. Then I came across some canter videos on YouTube with Thomas Ritter and really loved how he explained the canter footfalls and how to apply your aids in the different phases of the canter stride, so I considered joining one of his courses for awhile. When enrollment opened for his canter course, I considered it very carefully. I was scared to spend that much money for an online program, but because the free videos had been so incredibly helpful (and for this I was so grateful), I signed up. I had to use their payment plan, because the money I had set aside just covered part of the few. But I decided it was well worth the money once I did the math. Between the theory lessons, exercises, support, Q&As and the opportunity to submit my own videos for feedback, I calculated the cost and made the decision to enroll. Because I study everything very closely, I have been watching the videos more than once. I take notes. I use the worksheets in the course. I submit my videos for feedback and attend as many of the hot seats as I can (the others I watch the replays afterwards). I take notes on what Thomas tells the others in the hotspots and the Q&As, and I participate in the discussions in the Facebook Group as much as I can. Honestly, the course has changed my entire outlook on my riding. Where I was previously stuck and frustrated, I have overcome quickly. We are now working on exercises I couldn’t imagine doing 4 months ago. I have gotten so much more out of the course than I paid. In fact, it is the best investment I have ever made in my personal riding education. Not only that, but my horse is happier, sounder, and even my farrier says his feet are wearing more evenly which means he is better balanced. I haven’t needed the vet out even once this year for “unexplained swellings or unsoundness” so I call that a win-win (except maybe for my vet!).

 

This program will most likely be offered again in the future, however, we do not have the next course dates scheduled. It will not be until sometime in 2025 or possibly 2026. Because of the tough economic climate this year, we did not raise the price on this course - it is the same as our 2020 price, but we cannot guarantee that you will be able to enroll next time at this low price. And don't forget, when you enroll now - you can participate in the course every time we offer it for only a small admin fee for the upgrade (including the Q&As).

ENROLL NOW TO GET THIS PROGRAM BEFORE THE PRICE GOES UP

Beginning August 2, 2024

 

THE TOTAL CANTER TRANSFORMATION TRAINING PROGRAM

the All-in-One Canter Training Solution

Biomechanics for Intelligent Riders. The theory broken down into bite-sized chunks which build upon each other, week after week so that you learn some, implement some, learn more, implement more.

The Canter Creation Gymnastic Training Method - 2-5 new exercises to try each week which prepare your horse by building the prerequisites for the canter, prepare for the canter transition itself, polish the quality of the transition, strengthen the canter once you are in it, develop the horse’s agility and strength, and eventually develop the counter canter. Each step builds upon the step before so it is systematic and logical for both you and the horse. 

Step-by-step videos of the what, why, how explanation of our gymnastic exercises designed to take you and your horse from “OMG, no, please, not the canter!” to “yes, thank you, my horse does have an amazing canter”

Visual learner’s support - library of demo riders riding the exercises for those who learn best by watching others do it. (periodically updated with new videos)

Print it and take it to the arena - All exercises are downloadable and printable so you can stick them on your phone digitally or print them to take to the barn in a binder, so you always have them at your fingertips. Never again will you be at a loss for what to do!

Worksheets and assignments that help you develop your eye and understanding of the canter

No Seat, No Canter - 10 Rider Imagery Lessons to help you achieve a better seat to help your horse’s canter- all using the power of your mind which means you can do them (and continue to improve) even when you can’t ride because of weather, illness, injury, etc.

The Real Deal - no BS, straight answers to your questions from Thomas and Shana themselves. Additional support from several Ritter assistant instructors with years of proven experience working with the Ritter method.

No Questions Left Behind - Multiple ways to get your questions answered, no matter how silly you think they might be (and even if you hate Facebook)

Feedback on your videos - If you participate in the Facebook Group, you can get feedback on your videos in there from Thomas and the team of Ritter assistant trainers. Find out if you're doing it correctly, get help for when you're stuck, or tips to make it better.

“Mobility for All" Feldenkrais Lessons for your seat. 10 Feldenkrais Lessons to help you achieve a better seat to help your horse's canter. When you can sit the canter better, balance better, and coordinate your seat and aids better, you are in a much better position to be able to positively influence your horse. 

Weekly Yoga Recommendations curated choices by Shana and Catherine to help you develop your core, balance, and suppleness.

Unlimited Access  to the course and Facebook Group. You won't lose access when the course is over. It's all yours to keep.

Certificate of completion.  When you complete the Canter Transformation course, this is something to celebrate and deserves recognition. When you finish the completion process, we will send you a personalised Completion Certificate, signed by Thomas and Shana.

Lifetime Access  - Lifetime access with upgrades to future runs of the Canter Transformation Program course for a small admin fee (including all of the Q&As).

 
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🐴 The Total 25-week Canter Transformation Program     (Value €3700)
Includes:
   ⭐️ Pre-Canter Preparation
   ⭐️ Main Canter Development Program
   ⭐️ The Counter-Canter finishing course
🐴 Guided, Proven Process
🐴 Gymnastic Exercises for the Horse
🐴 Classical Training, Biomechanics-based principles
🐴 Canter Course Completion Certificate     (Value priceless!)
🐴 Lifetime access with upgrades to future runs of the Canter Transformation Program course for a small admin fee

🐴 "Mobility for All" Feldenkrais Lessons for your seat     (Value €250)
🐴 Rider Imagery Lessons to help develop your seat further    (Value €250)
🐴 Curated weekly yoga lessons to help your seat even more (priceless)
🐴 Additional Demonstration Videos from our Demo Rider Team (Value €500)
🐴 Feedback on your videos all the way through (€1000)

🐴 Support & Feedback from Thomas Ritter and the team of Ritter teachers (Value €500)
 🐴 ALL your questions answered along the way - even questions not related to the canter (Value €500)
🐴 "Come one, come all" Office hours Q&A coaching program     (Value €1000) 

🐴 Lifetime Access to the Amazing Canter Transformation community  (Value €250)

 

TOTAL VALUE = 7950 ($8495 USD)

 
Today's Price = €750  ($805 USD)*
 
Yes! I'm Ready to Transform my Canter

This comes down to only €30 ($32.53 USD) per week for all the videos, instruction, PDFs, Q&As,  support, and feedback. Not to mention lifetime access! You will not find a better deal. It's like putting yourself and your horse into training for 6 months at €125 per month. You will NEVER find training and support this good for anywhere near that price.  

2024 Enrollment Options
 
 BEST DEAL
One Single Payment   €750

Other Currencies Available:
USD $805
GBP £635
AUD $1205
CAN $1099
NZD $1318
ZAR R14735

We accept Credit Card and PayPal with our secured checkout process. Paying in full with one payment is the best price.
Email [email protected] for payment help or to pay via bank transfer within the EU.

Comes to only €46,87  per week!!! ($50.93/per week USD)

 3-Pay Plan
3 Payments
x €275/mo

Other Currencies Available:
USD 3 payments x $295
GBP 3 payments x £235
AUD 3 payments x $445
CAD 3 payments x $405
NZD 3 payments x $485
ZAR 3 payments x R5405

We accept Credit Card with our secured checkout process. Paying in full with one payment is the best price - you save €75 by paying in full compared to spreading it out over 3 payments.

* This is a payment plan, not a subscription.

 

12-Pay Plan
12 Payments
x €75/mo

Other Currencies Available:
USD 12 payments x $97
GBP 12 payments x £77
AUD 12 payments x $122
CAD 12 payments x $110
NZD 12 payments x $132
ZAR 12 payments x R1475

We accept Credit Card with our secured checkout process. Paying in full with one payment is the best price - you save €150 by paying in full compared to spreading it out over 12 payments.

* This is a payment plan, not a subscription.

ENROLL NOW

Email [email protected] for payment help or to pay with bank transfer within the EU only.

 
 BEST DEAL
One Single Payment   €750

Other Currencies Available:
USD $805
GBP £635
AUD $1205
CAN $1099
NZD $1318
ZAR R14735

We accept Credit Card and PayPal with our secured checkout process. Paying in full with one payment is the best price.
Email [email protected] for payment help or to pay via bank transfer within the EU.

Comes to only €46,87  per week!!! ($50.93/per week USD)

Enroll Now (full pay)
 3-Pay Plan
3 Payments x €275/mo

Other Currencies Available:
USD 3 payments x $295
GBP 3 payments x £235
AUD 3 payments x $445
CAD 3 payments x $405
NZD 3 payments x $485
ZAR 3 payments x R5405

We accept Credit Card with our secured checkout process. Paying in full with one payment is the best price - you save €75 by paying in full compared to spreading it out over 3 payments.

* This is a payment plan, not a subscription.

 

Enroll Now (3 payments)
12-Pay Plan
12 Payments x €75/mo

Other Currencies Available:
USD 12 payments x $97
GBP 12 payments x £77
AUD 12 payments x $122
CAD 12 payments x $110
NZD 12 payments x $132
ZAR 12 payments x R1475

We accept Credit Card with our secured checkout process. Paying in full with one payment is the best price - you save €150 by paying in full compared to spreading it out over 12 payments.

* This is a payment plan, not a subscription.

Enroll Now (12 payments)

Email [email protected] for payment help or to pay with bank transfer within the EU only.