How to Canter With Your Horse
Take time to get to know your horse as you learn to ride. Talk to him, brush him, let him know you how you feel when you're on his back. First you walk. Get comfortable walking and then you trot. Soon you are ready to canter.
- Difficulty:
- Moderate
Instructions
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1
Keep your eyes pointed toward the direction you want to go. Your body has a tendency to lean towards the direction you are looking. So to keep your horse balanced as you speed up for a canter, don't look into the lean when you turn, look toward the next leg of the route.
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2
Lean up with the leg that is on the inside of a turn. Raise your shoulder and your inside leg about four or five inches, without actually leaning over to confuse the horse. Just lift to counteract your weight as you make a turn.
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3
Start your horse off slowly with the canter gait if she is not used to riding that fast around corners with a rider on her back. Get her to ride the track walking and trotting. When you first get her to canter, do it in short sports of five minutes or so and then back off to a trot. Resume the canter and stop again.
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4
Hold the reins with a light steady grip so that your horse knows you are there and you can guide her, but let her set the pace for the cantor. Don't confuse your horse with too many cues at the same time.
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1
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Comments
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you know who this is, BE CAREFUL.
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CinntiSurf
Jul 06, 2008
Ughhh I don't like this article... nothing is right! First of all when it says move your foot back 6 inches to get the horse to canter, move it back so it is just behind the girth. Second, you should always use both of you legs not just one when your getting the horse to canter. That way your doing even pressure with your legs. Third, you shouldn't get in the habit of clucking to you horse, even more so if you going to do dressage. You can get eliminated in dressage to talking/kissing/clucking to your horse. Fourth, I disagree when it says 60% of your weight should go in the stirrups. That could cause you to lean forward to much. Fifth, in #6, I would just do half-haults about every 4-5 strides depending on the horse you ride. Well... there is more that I don't like about this article but it will work for you people that are just learning. Have fun cantering :P -
CinntiSurf
Jul 06, 2008
Ughhh I don't like this article... nothing is right! First of all when it says move your foot back 6 inches to get the horse to canter, move it back so it is just behind the girth. Second, you should always use both of you legs not just one when your getting the horse to canter. That way your doing even pressure with your legs. Third, you shouldn't get in the habit of clucking to you horse, even more so if you going to do dressage. You can get eliminated in dressage to talking/kissing/clucking to your horse. Fourth, I disagree when it says 60% of your weight should go in the stirrups. That could cause you to lean forward to much. Fifth, in #6, I would just do half-haults about every 4-5 strides depending on the horse you ride. Well... there is more that I don't like about this article but it will work for you people that are just learning. Have fun cantering :P
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bensca
Jan 11, 2008
Please make sure you research your instructor and check references before you trust anyone with your body. I recently returned to the sport and was told not to "rock as if in a rocking chair" when cantering. This led to dealing with a high fever and pain from acute renel impairment a.k.a slight kidney failure. So frusrating because I'm also a mom of 4! Not worth it! I have a new instuctor and am once again enjoying horses with my 6 yr old daughter.We are having a blast!
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bensca
Jan 11, 2008
Please make sure you research your instructor and check references before you trust anyone with your body. I recently returned to the sport and was told not to "rock as if in a rocking chair" when cantering. This led to dealing with a high fever and pain from acute renel impairment a.k.a slight kidney failure. So frusrating because I'm also a mom of 4! Not worth it! I have a new instuctor and am once again enjoying horses with my 6 yr old daughter.We are having a blast!
