Straightness and ability to collect

I rode in a clinic this fall and have been working on the concept of straightness and collection ever since.  I know many of you have read the theory about straightness and collection but I must tell you that if you are riding a very flexible horse the feeling of straightness and crookedness is not so black and white.

My advanced horse, Bacara has amazing flexibility.  Her gaits are very good but I have had trouble with her back locking in the canter and she just raises her head and neck and calls it collection.  So I have been having a goal to really focus on straightness and collection.

My test to determine if my horse is straight and collected has been to perform a canter pirouette.  If Bacara is straight she can easily increase her collection to step under and around.  If she is crooked, she has no chance.  I am getting to the point that if I ask for a pirouette and it starts with a little bit of difficulty, that I can just swing her shoulders into position and solve the problem. 

Oddly a simple warm up sets this up for success.  In the trot and canter 20 meter circles I work on straightness by slightly counter-flexing Bacara's neck and pushing her haunches out a little.  This is a straightening request - that has many benefits for the harder work as the ride progresses.  The best benefit is Bacara's shoulder is way easier to adjust and place in front of the haunches. It almost feels like yoga for the shoulder.

I have taken several clinics with this mare over the years and the clinicians have all wanted her more uphill in the canter.  This by far is the most kind and effective method I have ever been taught.  Her back no longer gets "stuck" in canter collection. 

Now if I could just get her trot as fancy as her canter.  I think that may be another focus of a future clinic.