How to Canter Your Horse

The canter, or lope, is the fastest of the three gaits. It's a three-beat gait where in one stride the horse's hooves will strike the ground three times.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Long Pants
• Long-sleeved Shirts
• English Reins
• English Saddle
• Western Reins
• Western Saddles
• Breeches
• Cinch
• Headstalls
• Helmets
• Riding Boots
• Riding Helmets
• Saddle Pads
• Helmets

1. Tack your horse with English or Western tack. You should be wearing a helmet.

2. Mount your horse.

3. Sit with your shoulders back, head up and looking forward.

4. Keep 60 percent of your weight in the stirrups and 40 percent in the seat.

5. Allow the horse to walk to get forward movement.

6. Apply slight pressure with both your legs to keep the horse moving forward.

7. Use your leg that's opposite the leg you want your horse to lead with (to get your horse to lead with its right leg, use your left leg, and vice versa). Maintain pressure with that leg while moving it back 6 inches and removing your other leg from the horse so it is no longer touching the horse. This will help it pick up the proper lead (leading with the correct leg).

8. Cluck or kiss to the horse to get it to go forward.

9. Continue the pressure with the outside leg and clucking until the horse canters.

10. Maintain slight pressure with the outside leg while cantering to keep the horse moving forward and on the proper lead.

11. Remember to breathe. Holding your breath creates tension in your body that the horse picks up on.

12. Relax and get in the flow of the horse's movements.

Tips & Warnings

• Cantering is the English name and loping is the Western name for this gait.
• In order to get your horse to move the proper lead leg it must be trained to move away from pressure.
• Give the horse enough rein to move its head. If you hold its head too tightly it won't be able to get moving.
• Allow a horse to warm up sufficiently by walking and trotting before cantering or loping.
• Keep your butt in contact with the saddle by allowing your pelvis to move forward and back in rhythm with the horse.
• Check the girth (cinch) to make sure it is sufficiently tight before mounting. You should be able to slip two fingers between the horse and the girth (cinch) without much difficulty. A girth (cinch) that is too loose will cause the saddle to slip.
• If your horse is confused and not responding to your leg cues, make sure the horse understands leg pressure and knows to move away from pressure created by one leg or the other.
• Do not attempt to canter (lope) a horse that hasn't learned to yield to pressure from the bit.
• If your horse runs away with you, relax, stay calm, and pull one (or one side) of the reins out to the side so your arm is extended out away from your hip. Hold the rein in that position. This should get the horse to turn in a circle, which will naturally force the horse to slow down. Practice this escape route at the walk and trot before attempting to canter.

[cinamon91]

on 6/28/2009 The method profiled is a method of training a western pleasure or all-around horse. Hence this technique is used for showing 4-H, Quarter horses, Appaloosas, and Paints who need to ride one horse in multiple disciplinces. I myself start horses using one leg to canter until I know what they are best suited for. In a world of showing when you can't be in a horses mouth and must show with loose long reins, the one leg canter cue causes there to be little movement which is preferred in the show ring. As an eventer I also understand the benefits of cantering using both legs, but that method of cantering is not beneficial for every discipline.

[CinntiSurf]

on 7/6/2008 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

[bensca]

on 1/11/2008 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!

[bensca]

on 1/11/2008 Please make sure you research your intructor and check references before you trust anyone with your body. Recently returned to the sport and was told not to "rock as if in a rocking chair" when cantering. This lead to me 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.

[horseluver4996]

on 12/30/2007 Cantering-"The canter, or lope, is the fastest of the three gaits."

Actually, horses have four main gaits, but in truth the trot is the fastest out walking,trotting,and cantering.It might be an easier gait, and it might be said before the canter,but it's the fastest.